(A) Purpose. As prescribed by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-81w, this section authorizes incentives to promote the recruiting and retention of volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and fire police in the town.
(B) Program year. The program year as defined in this section will be May 1 through April 30 of each year.
(C) Awards.
(1) The town shall award up to 60 emergency responder awards to volunteers serving in the two Fire Departments. The qualification criteria will determine how many awards are earned and how the number of awards is divided between the two Fire Departments.
(2) Awards will be initiated in July of the town fiscal year immediately following each program year.
(3) Volunteer firefighters, EMTs and fire police who meet the qualification criteria for an annual award shall receive the following.
(a) The volunteer members selected for an award will receive an abatement of up to $1,000 on real estate taxes levied by the town in the next fiscal year (commencing July 1).
(b) No abatement of taxes levied on motor vehicles or personal property will be allowed for any award recipient.
(c) The $1,000 abatement of taxes owed on real estate can in no instance exceed the amount of tax levied. Thus, for an individual, if only $900 is owed, that is the limit of the abatement. If two qualified recipients share property and jointly owe real estate taxes, the amount abated will be $2,000, or less if the tax due is less than $2,000. In no instance can any portion of the abatement be used for prior or future years.
(D) Qualification guidelines and approval.
(1) Qualification criteria. Criteria for these awards are outlined in the town firefighter/EMS/fire police incentive program, approved at the March 3, 2003 Board of Selectmen meeting; revised on April 28, 2006, and most recently revised at the July 19, 2017 special town meeting to include the following: “or any individual who is a retired volunteer firefighter, fire police, emergency medical technician or emergency responder who has reached the age of 59 and has completed at least 25 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, fire police, emergency medical technician or emergency responder in the town.” Oversight and administration of the qualification program is provided by the Fire Chiefs of the Town Volunteer and Gardner Lake Volunteer Fire Departments.
(2) Review of qualification criteria. The qualification criteria proposed by the Fire Chiefs to determine award recipients in the next program year will be shared with the Board of Selectmen at the regular March meeting of said Board. Upon their review, the Board of Selectmen may require adjustments to the qualification criteria. Records of the Fire Marshal and KX Dispatch Center are available to verify sufficient participation to earn awards. The final criteria will be agreed upon by the Fire Chiefs and the Board of Selectmen at the regular May meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
(3) Recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. The Fire Chiefs will recommend the names of those who qualify for an award at the end of the most recently concluded program year (April 30) at the regular May meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Names of members who qualify (during the previous program year) for an award shall be submitted in writing. The Board of Selectmen shall review the Fire Chief recommendations. Upon approval, the Board of Selectmen shall direct the Tax Collector to apply the appropriate tax abatements for members who qualified for abatements. Records of abatements shall be maintained by the Treasurer and the Tax Collector.
(Ord. passed 7-19-2017)