Title
Carrboro Fire-Rescue Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board of Trustees Appointments
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Council appoint two members to the Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board of Trustees.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Fire-Rescue Department
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Will Potter, Interim Fire Chief, wpotter@carrboronc.gov <mailto:wpotter@carrboronc.gov>, (919) 918-7349.
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate ____ Comprehensive Plan _X_ Other
Council Direction Statement
This agenda item is to ensure compliance with statutory requirements for the Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board.
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Information
INFORMATION: The Firefighters’ Relief Fund (FRF) was established in 1907 to financially assist firefighters who are injured while performing their duties and to ensure that no firefighter would become financially destitute through no fault of their own. Currently, the FRF is governed by North Carolina G.S. 58-84 (link <https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/byarticle/chapter_58/article_84.html>). Since the inception of the FRF, the fund has assisted firefighters who experience injury or loss of life while performing fire department duties.
The FRF is funded by a portion of the Gross Premium Tax (GPT) (G.S. 105-228.5(d)(3)) on insurance policies containing fire and lightning protection, as well as certain automotive policies. Of the total GPT collected, 20% is dedicated to the FRF. The fund is distributed by the Commissioner of Insurance to local firefighter relief funds annually. The Carrboro Fire-Rescue FRF receives approximately $16,752 annually.
Funds from the FRF have been used to assist members diagnosed with cancer that was likely caused by their service, to offset the cost of annual firefighter physicals, and to assist members with significant physical injuries that caused them to be unable to work.
Fire departments must meet the following requirements to receive the tax collected within their fire district:
• Be a current member of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association (NCSFA)
• Submit Firefighters' Relief Fund bank & financial statement(s) to the State Firefighters' Association by October 31 each year.
The FRF is managed by a local Board of Trustees. The makeup of the Board of Trustees is identified in Article 30 of G.S. 58-84 and shall consist of the following:
• Two (2) positions elected by the fire department;
• Two (2) positions appointed by City or County Commissioners;
• One (1) position appointed by the Insurance Commissioner.
One of the five (5) board members will be elected as Treasurer.
Current FRF Board of Trustees:
|
Name |
Role |
Appointee Type |
|
Crabtree, Robert H. |
Chairman |
Fire Department Appointee |
|
Hardee, Steven D. |
Treasurer |
NC Department of Insurance/Insurance Commissioner Appointee |
|
Freeman, Carl W. |
Secretary |
Fire Department Appointee |
|
Lacock, Forrest W. |
Member |
Town Council Appointee (2017) |
|
Dunn, Jefferson R. |
Member |
Fire Department Appointee |
|
CFRD Fire Chief |
Ex Officio Member |
N/A |
Current fire department appointees were selected through an election process held by the Fire Department. Fire department appointees serve at the pleasure of the Fire Department.
The Commissioner of Insurance appointee is appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance and serves at the pleasure of the Commissioner.
To ensure compliance with FRF statutory requirements, the Town Council is requested to appoint Deputy Chief (Ret.) Forrest Wayne Lacock and Lieutenant (Ret.) Jefferson Ray Dunn to the Board of Trustees.
Deputy Chief (Ret.) Forrest Wayne Lacock
Deputy Chief (Ret.) Forrest Wayne Lacock was appointed to the FRF Board of Trustees by the Board of Aldermen on 2 May 2017. The original appointment was for a two-year term; however, the general statute was amended by Session Law 2016-51 on June 23, 2016 to remove the length of terms and to include the language that “appointees serve at the pleasure of the governing body.” Deputy Chief Lacock was last reappointed to a term with an expiration date of December 31, 2018 rather than no expiration per amended Session Law 2016-51.
Deputy Chief Lacock has been a resident of Carrboro for over 70 years. Deputy Chief Lacock served the country in the Army with an honorable discharge. After discharge he served the Town of Carrboro and the Fire-Rescue Department in various roles, eventually retiring as the Deputy Chief of Operations in 2002. He is an active member of Antioch Baptist Church and has served on several committees at Antioch Baptist Church and Damascus United Methodist Church. Deputy Chief Lacock is a founding member and board member of the South Orange Rescue Squad. Deputy Chief Lacock lives in the fire district and is qualified and eligible for this appointment.
Lieutenant (Ret.) Jefferson Ray Dunn
Lieutenant (Ret.) Jefferson Ray Dunn is currently serving on the FRF Board of Trustees as a Fire Department Appointee. Based on the required makeup of the Board of Trustees an additional Town Council Appointment is needed. As such it is requested that Lieutenant Dunn be appointed to the Board of Trustees by the Town Council. Lieutenant Dunn has served on the Board of Trustees for over 10 years and is an excellent choice for appointment by the Town Council.
Lieutenant Dunn has lived in Carrboro for over 60 years. Lieutenant Dunn joined the Carrboro Fire-rescue Department in 1990 and served the department in various roles for over 30 years. He served as a Fire Driver, Mechanic, and Lieutenant, and served as Acting Captain on many occasions. Lieutenant Dunn has been and continues to be a fire service instructor and a mentor to many current and past members of the department. Lieutenant Dunn is still active in the fire service as a volunteer with the White Cross Fire Department. Lieutenant Dunn lives in the fire district and is qualified and eligible for this appointment.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal or staff impacts associated with this agenda item.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Town Council approve the resolution to appoint Forrest W. Lacock and Jefferson R. Dunn to the Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board of the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department.
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