(A) The Fire Department shall consist of so many members as may be decided by the City Council. The members may organize themselves in any way they may decide, subject to the review of the City Council. The Fire Chief shall appoint no more than twenty-five (25) members for each fire department company subject to the review and approval of the City Council. 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 prescribed or required of them by the Fire Chief or the City Council. The 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 municipal code 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 City Council. The secretary shall, upon request, keep a record of all meetings and shall make a report to the City Council of all meetings and activities of the Fire Department.
(D) Members of the Fire Department shall be considered to be employees of the city for the purpose of providing them with workers’ compensation and other benefits. The City Council 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 City Council shall purchase and maintain in force a policy of group term life insurance to age sixty-five (65) covering the lives of all of the City’s active volunteer fire and rescue personnel, except that when any such person serves more than 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 age sixty-five (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 city. (Ref. 35-108 RS Neb.)
(F) For purposes of section 33-139.01 RS Neb., volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members testifying as witnesses in that capacity alone shall not be deemed employees of the City. (Ref. 33-139.01 RS Neb.) (Amended by Ord. No. 639, 1/6/04)