HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-03-2005-5jORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 3, 2005
Action Age ~a
Item No. ~_
SUBJECT: Trustee Appointment to the South Orange Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carrboro Fire Chief Letter of Request Mike Tapp, 968-2050
PURPOSE: To appoint a Trustee to the South Orange Fireman's Local Relief Fund Board, for
the South Orange Fire District. The Carrboro Fire Department, through a contract with the
County, services the South Orange Fire District.
BACKGROUND: North Carolina General Statutes 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. Insurance companies that write fire and
lightning insurance in North Carolina finance this program, The monies are distributed to the
State Firemen's Association and local relief fund boards by the Department of Insurance, Local
relief fund boards are eligible to receive one half of one percent of fire and lightning premiums
collected for respective fire districts,
In each fire district, afive-member board of trustees administers the relief fund. Two trustees
are elected by the membership of the fire department; two trustees are appointed by the
governing body based on recommendations by the fire department; and one trustee is
appointed by the Insurance Commissioner based on recommendations by the fire chief, The
trustees may make disbursements of local relief fund monies for specified purposes including:
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 to
provide insurance benefits for qualified firefighters,
Mr. Iby George, former Deputy Fire Chief and a Commissioner appointee to the South Orange
Relief Fund Board, is unable to continue to serve as a trustee to the South Orange Firemen's
Local Relief Fund Board. Mr, George has accepted a fire chiefs job in another state. The
Carrboro Fire Chief is requesting that the Board of Commissioners appoint Carrboro Deputy
Fire Chief Travis Crabtree to fill the vacant position on the board,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The appointment will not create any financial impact on the County, as
the South Orange Relief Fund Board administers the relief fund.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board appoint Mr. Travis
Crabtree to the South Orange Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board.
CA~ORO FIRE DEPARTMENT
CARRBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
Mike Tapp, Fire Marshal
P,O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, N.C 27278
Milce,
The N,C. Department of Insurance requires the County to annually file a certification of eligibility in order
to receive Firemen's Relief Funds. The certification requires the County Commissioners appoint two
trustees. Mr. Boyd Ellington currently serves as one of the Commissioner's trustees. The last trustee
appointed by the Commissioners was Mr, Iby George. He has presently taken the Fire Chief's job in
Athens County, Georgia. In his absence, I request that Mr. Travis Crabtree, Carrboro's Deputy Fire Ghief,
be designated as Mr, George's replacement.
Gould you place this on the Commissioners Agenda for approval?
Thanks,
Rodney Murray
Carrboro Fire Ghief