HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-10-2002-8jORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 10, 2002
Action Agenda
Item No. ..~
SUBJECT: Trustee Appointment to the South Oran a Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Carrboro Fire Chief Letter of Request
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nick Waters, ext. 3030
Mike Tapp
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To appoint a Trustee to the South Orange Firemen'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 provide 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 provide 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 recommended by the fire department, and one trustee is appointed by the
Insurance Commissioner as recommended 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. John Boone, 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. The
Carrboro Fire Chief is requesting that the Board of Commissioners appoint Carrboro Deputy
Fire Chief Iby George 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. Iby George to
the South Orange Firemen's Local Relief Fund Board.
G"""~"~ E CARRBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT a- 3
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Orange County Board of Commissioners
Ref Firemen's Relief Fund
All insurance companies licensed to do business in North Carolina are required to report
the Firemen's Relief Fund tax, One half of One percent (1/2 of 1%), of fire and lightning
premiums collected for each rated fire district in North Carolina.
The purpose of this fund is tb financially assist a firefighter that has been injured or killed
while performing fire department duties.
Fire departments must meet the following requirements to receive the tax that is collected
within their fire district:
• Member of the North Carolina State Firemen's Association
• Submit Firemen's Relief Fund financial statement to the NC State Firemen's
Association
• Establish a Firemen's Relief Fund Board of Trustees. This board consist of; two
position's elected by the fire department, two positions appointed by the City or
County Commissioner's, one position appointed by the Insurance Commissioner.
One of the five (5) board members will be elected as the Treasurer
Presently the two (2) members that were appointed by the Orange County Commissioners
are Mr. John Boone and Mr. Boyd Ellington. Due to the illness of Mr. John Boone and
his inability to serve I would like to request that the Commissioners replace Mr. Boone
with our present Deputy Fire Chief, Iby George.
Thank you for considering this matter and if I can assist with any questions you have
please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rodney W. Murray
Fire Chief, own of Carrboro
919 918-7348
301 w'EST 1-lAIN STREET, CARRBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27510 PHO\E (919) 966-7715 FAJi (919) 968-77.15
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