A. Board Of Trustees Created; Membership: A board of trustees to be known as the trustees of the firefighter's disability fund is hereby created and shall consist of the following persons: mayor, city clerk-treasurer, city attorney, chief of the fire department and one member of the fire department who shall be selected by a majority of the members of the Cut Bank fire department. The fire department member shall be selected at a meeting to be held between May 1 and May 10 of each year in which a mayor is elected and shall hold office during the incumbency of the mayor. In the event that the office of the fire department member should become vacant, a majority of the members of the fire department shall elect a successor to hold the balance of the term.
B. Audit Of Funds: The board of trustees shall audit the disability fund from time to time and at least twice during each fiscal year, and report the condition of the fund annually to the city council, which report shall be made on or before April 1 of each year. No payment shall be made from the disability fund, except upon the order of the council, upon the written recommendation of the board of trustees of the fund.
C. Use Restricted: The fund shall not be used for any purpose whatsoever other than the relief of firefighters belonging to the fire department of the city. Said fund shall remain in the city treasury and shall be drawn upon by warrant of the mayor, countersigned by the clerk-treasurer, in such sum as may be allowed as hereinafter provided. When such fund shall be exhausted, no further warrants may be drawn thereon.
D. Benefit Allowance; Rates:
1. Benefits shall only be allowed on the recommendation of the board of trustees, or a majority thereof, approved by the city council. Whenever the board of trustees shall recommend to the council the payment of any benefit to any member of the fire department, disabled in the line of duty, the recommendation shall be in writing, stating the name of the beneficiary; the character of the disability; when, where and how received; and the amount to be allowed and paid the said beneficiary. The benefit paid to any member of the fire department shall amount to the loss of salary and reasonable cost of medicine and medical services incurred by any such member on account of said disability, and in the event of any member of the fire department becoming disabled for life, or suffering death in the line of duty, the board of trustees of the fund may, subject to the approval of the council in each instance, make a suitable allowance to such member or his heirs.
2. The rates governing the payment of benefits under this section shall be determined by the city council. (Ord. 2.28; amd. 2006 Code)