(A) Reimbursement Program. That a Volunteer Member Reimbursement Program to reiimburse volunteer members of the Fire/EMS Department for expenses resulting from their participation in the programs of the Department through the payment of a nominal fee is hereby established as hereinafter set out.
(B) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
“FULL SHIFT.” A specific 12 hour time period, usually 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., in which a member is serving on a scheduled shift at a fire station.
“HALF SHIFT.” A specific six hour time period, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. or 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m., in which a member is serving on a scheduled shift at a fire station.
“OFF DUTY-ON CALL.” A member who is immediately available for response from his or her residence or a location that is within one mile from the city and/or fire district limits.
“ON DUTY-IN STATION.” A member who is in station and serving on a scheduled shift, either partial, half or full.
“PARTIAL SHIFT.” A specific time slot other than six or 12 hours in which a member is serving on a scheduled shift at a fire station.
(C) Eligibility.
(1) Members with the title of "volunteer firefighter" must complete all required training and participation requirements, on a yearly basis, to be eligible for reimbursement.
(2) New members with the title of "recruit-volunteer firefighter" who possess little or no firefighting experience, are not eligible to receive reimbursement until they have completed all required training and a department orientation. Final eligibility for reimbursement of these members shall be at the discretion of the Fire/EMS Chief.
(D) Reimbursement rates. Volunteer members shall be reimbursed at the following rates:
(1) Members who are considered "off duty-on call" shall be reimbursed at the rate of $10 per call answered. This rate applies to all positions and all ranks.
(2) Members who are considered "on duty-in station" shall be reimbursed $18 for half shift, $36 for full shift or a proportional amount for a partial shift. No additional reimbursement is paid out for run response by a member while he or she is on duty in station. This rate applies to all positions and all ranks.
(E) Run hours.
(1) Each member must run a minimum of 24 hours "on duty-in station" in each calendar month, unless excused by the Fire/EMS Chief.
(2) Each member shall be limited to run a maximum of 180 hours "on duty-in station" in each calendar month. Any member who violates this policy and runs additional hours beyond 180 will receive no reimbursement for those hours above 180.
(3) Each member shall be permitted to run a maximum of 48 consecutive hours of "on duty-in station" duty after which they must take a minimum of 12 hours off.
(4) There is no limit on the number of "off duty-on call" runs a member may respond to.
(F) Off duty-on call volunteers answering calls:
(1) When an off-duty member responds to a run, he or she shall receive $10 per run provided that said member responds immediately and arrives at the station within ten minutes of the dispatch of the incident. Members who arrive late, or after an incident has been terminated, shall not be reimbursed. Exceptions to the "ten minute rule" include the following:
(a) During a long incident, a member who arrives at the station after the initial ten minutes and remains on standby, assists with relief at the scene as directed, and/or assists with clean up activities after companies return to the station shall be reimbursed for the run.
(b) In the event a run is dispatched, and is quickly canceled prior to any company responding from that station, off duty members who are enroute to the station shall terminate their response. No reimbursement shall be paid. If the first company has left the station, but is quickly canceled, personnel enroute to the station may continue on a non-emergency basis and sign the Incident Response Roster. These members will be reimbursed for the run. Members who do this are required to remain at the station until the company returns to quarters.
(2) In the event that multiple runs dispatched within one hour (i.e. as a result of storms, and the like), each responding off duty member will be reimbursed $10 for the initial response. After one hour in service, these members shall be reimbursed at the "on duty-in station" rate. All responding, off duty members shall be reimbursed for responding to an incident, whether they responded on the apparatus or stood by at the station. Responding members who arrive at the station after the dispatched company(s) have left must remain on standby at the station until all companies from that station have returned to quarters and/or all members have been excused by Battalion Commander.
(G) Written policy. The Chief of the Fire/ EMS Department shall promulgate and implement a written policy establishing guidelines and procedures for the administration and operation of the reimbursement program established in this section.
(Ord. O-03-01, passed 3-13-01; Am. Ord. O-12-10, passed 9-28-10)