(A) The Fire Department shall consist of so many members as may be decided by the Board of Trustees. The members may organize themselves in any way they may decide, subject to the review of the Board of Trustees. The Fire Chief shall appoint no more than 40 members for each fire department company subject to review and approval of the Board of Trustees. All vacancies shall be filled in this manner.
(B) All members of the Fire Department shall be subject to such rules and regulations, and shall perform such duties, as may be described or required of them by the fire chief or the Board of Trustees. Members of the Fire Department shall, during the time of a fire or great public danger, have and exercise the powers and duties of police officers and shall have full power and authority to arrest all persons guilty of any violation of the Code of Morrill or the laws of the State of Nebraska.
(C) Members of the Fire Department may hold meetings and engage in social activities with the approval of the Board of Trustees. The secretary shall, upon request, keep a record of all meetings and shall make a report to the Board of Trustees of all meetings and activities of the Fire Department.
(D) Members of the Fire Department shall be considered to be employees of the village for the purpose of providing them with workers compensation and other benefits. The Board of Trustees may compensate or reimburse any member of the fire department for expenses incurred in carrying out his or her duties in an amount set by resolution.
(E) The Board of Trustees shall purchase and maintain in force a policy of group term life insurance to age 65 covering the lives of all of the village's active volunteer fire and rescue personnel, except that when any such person serves more that one municipality or rural or suburban fire protection district, the policy shall be purchased only by the first municipality or district which he or she serves. The policy shall provide a minimum death benefit of $10,000 for death from any cause and shall at the option of the insured, be convertible to a permanent form of life insurance at the age of 65. The coverage of such policy shall terminate as to any individual who ceases to be an active volunteer member of the Fire Department of the Village.
(Neb. RS 35-108)
(F) For purposes of Neb. RS 33-139.01, volunteer fire fighters and rescue squad members testifying as witnesses in that capacity alone shall not be deemed employees of the village.
(Neb. RS 33-139.01)
(Am. Ord. D-295, passed 10-9-2012)
Statutory reference:
Witness fees prohibited, see Neb. RS 33-139.01
General regulations, see Neb. RS 35-101 through 35-103
Life insurance required, see Neb. RS 35-108