HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-18-2012 - 5i ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 18, 2012
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-i
SUBJECT: Trustee Appointments to the Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund
Board
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Request Letter from New Hope Fire Chief David Sykes, 919-245-6125
F. R. Montes de Oca, 919-245-6140
PURPOSE: To appoint two (2) Trustees to the Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund
Board.
BACKGROUND: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 58 provides for certain benefits to
be provided to firefighters. Rural fire districts serviced by an organized fire department may be
eligible to receive funds to support the local firemen's relief fund. All insurance companies that
write fire insurance premiums in North Carolina finance this program. The monies are
distributed to the State Firemen's Association and local relief fund boards by the North Carolina
Department of Insurance in accordance with N.C. General Statute 58-84-25. Local relief fund
boards are eligible to receive monies derived from fire insurance premiums collected for
respective fire districts.
In each fire district, a five member board of trustees administers the relief fund in accordance
with General Statute 58-84-35. Two trustees are elected by the membership of the fire
department, two trustees are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners upon
recommendation by the fire department, and one trustee is appointed by the North Carolina
Insurance Commissioner based upon a recommendation by the fire chief. The trustees may
make disbursements of local relief fund monies for specified purposes including the following:
• to safeguard firefighters in active service from financial loss caused by sickness or injury
received in the performance of official duties;
• to support the dependents of firefighters who may lose their lives;
• to assist any destitute firefighter who has served for a period of at least five years and
provide insurance benefits for qualified firefighters.
Two members of the Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board of Trustees can no
longer serve, leaving vacant the two positions that are appointed by the Board of
Commissioners. New Hope Fire Chief Mike Tapp has requested in the attached letter that the
2
Board of Commissioners appoint Mr. Eddie Walker and Mr. Brian Blalock to fill the vacant
positions on the Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board. Mr. Walker and Mr.
Blalock both reside in the fire district.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: These appointments will have no financial impact on the County, as the
Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board administers the relief fund.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board appoint Mr. Eddie Walker
and Mr. Brian Blalock to the Orange New Hope Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board.
Street Address(Station 1): Mailing Address: 3
44110
4,111TA."I"
"OW1 4012 Whitfield Road
Chapel Hill,NC 27514 P,O Box 16484
.
Chapel Hill,NC 27516
(919)493-1001
55 559'
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department of Orange County, Inc.
August 22, 2012
Mr. David Sykes
Assistant Fire Marshal
Orange County Emergency Services
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear David,
The New Hope Fire Department is in the process of appointing members to serve on the firemen's
relief fund board, as several members can no longer serve in that capacity. Two members of the
local board must be appointed by the County Commissioners in accordance with North Carolina
General Statute 58-84-30. We are requesting that the Commissioners appoint Mr. Eddie Walker
and Mr. Brian Blalock as Trustees to the New Hope Fire Department Local Relief Fund Board. Mr.
Walker and Mr. Blalock reside in the fire district
Thank you for your assistance with this project, please contact me if you need additional information.
Regards,
11.44, .aipec))
Mike Tapp, Fire Chief