(A) Definitions.
(1) VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER. A person who has volunteered to assist, for nominal compensation, in fighting all fires occurring within the corporate boundaries of the city, who has made a written application for membership, has been approved and appointed by the Board of Public Works and Safety to membership in the volunteer fire squad, and who has taken and signed a pledge to comply with all orders that are given by the Chief, Assistant Chief, or other officer in charge of the volunteer fire squad relative to any matter pertaining to the work of the volunteer fire squad.
(2) VOLUNTEER RUNNER. A person who has volunteered to assist, for no compensation, in fighting all fires occurring within the corporate boundaries of the city, who has made a written application for membership, has been approved and appointed by the Board of Public Works and Safety to membership in the volunteer runner squad, and who has taken and signed a pledge to comply with all orders that are given by the Chief, Assistant Chief, or other officer in charge of the volunteer runner squad relative to any matter pertaining to the work of the volunteer runner squad.
(B) Membership, rules, appointment, training and termination.
(1) The volunteer fire squad shall consist of up to six members.
(2) To the extent his or her budget allows per year, the Fire Chief shall have discretion as to the number of members in the volunteer runner squad.
(3) Applications shall be made for acceptance into the volunteer fire squad or volunteer runner squad and the Fire Chief of the Fire Department shall prepare an application and criteria for consideration, said application and criteria subject to approval by the city Board of Public Works and Safety.
(4) If space and budget appropriations permit, the Chief of the Fire Department shall submit an individual’s name to the city Board of Public Works and Safety for approval and appointment to the volunteer fire squad or volunteer runner squad.
(5) Members of the volunteer fire squad or volunteer runner squad may be taken off of the roster of the volunteer fire squad or volunteer runner squad at any time, with or without cause. The Chief of the Fire Department shall immediately notify a volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner if his or her name has been taken off of the roster and the Fire Chief shall also obtain from the individual any equipment furnished by the city to the volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner.
(6) The Chief of the Fire Department shall prepare rules and regulations and/or standard operating procedures for the volunteer fire squad and the volunteer runner squad subject to the approval of the city Board of Public Works and Safety.
(7) A volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner is not an employee of the city or its Fire Department for purposes of fringe benefits. Nothing in this section shall render a volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner as an employee of the city or its Fire Department entitled to fringe benefits.
(C) Compensation and benefits.
(1) Members of the volunteer fire squad shall be paid pursuant to the annual salary ordinance adopted by the Common Council of the city.
(2) Members of the volunteer runner squad shall receive no compensation unless the runner pulls a shift for a regular member of the Fire Department for which the runner will be paid an hourly rate as a part-time employee.
(3) A volunteer firefighter and a volunteer runner shall be furnished with the following equipment at no cost to the volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner:
(a) Pager;
(b) Charger; and
(c) Two batteries.
(4) A volunteer firefighter and a volunteer runner may be furnished with the following equipment at no cost to the volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner:
(a) Hat;
(b) Coat;
(c) Bunker;
(d) Boots; and
(e) Gloves.
(5) The city shall procure insurance in the name of and for the benefit of each member of the volunteer fire squad and the volunteer runner squad as required by I.C. 36-8-12-1 et seq. under a group plan. All expenses incurred for premiums on the insurance required by statute shall be paid out of the general fund.
(6) A volunteer firefighter or volunteer runner is covered by the medical treatment or burial expense provisions of the worker’s compensation law (I.C. 22-3-2 through 22-3-6).
(D) Other provisions for the volunteer fire Squad or volunteer runner squad shall be made by rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures, as adopted, and provisions for said squads in the Indiana Code and Indiana Administrative Code.
(Ord. 93-23, passed 12-13-93; Am. Ord. 93-30, passed 12-27-93; Am. Ord. 04-20, passed 7-12-04))