The Pagosa Springs Fire Protection District (PFPD) Board of Trustees is looking to amend the district’s bylaws concerning volunteer firefighter requirements necessary to be eligible for pension.
During a regular meeting on July 1, the board unanimously approved a motion to bring back an amendment to the board’s bylaws at its next meeting in October.
The amendment would remove the public education event participation requirement, which currently requires volunteer firefighters to attend at least two public education events per year in order to be eligible for pension.
PFPD Chief Robert Bertram explained to the board that in order to be eligible for pension, the current bylaws require volunteer firefighters to complete 36 hours of training, and respond to 12 calls and attend two public education events per year.
He noted that, according to state statute, the only requirement the district is required to have in place for volunteer firefighter pensions is the 36 hours of training.
Bertram mentioned that through the years the district has had people ultimately not meet all three requirements, noting the district’s policies to be an active member have always had those requirements.
“We haven’t held to that over the years,” he said.
Bertram explained that last year the district changed its pension requirements “to keep everything the same,” in that if someone is able to meet the requirements for active membership, “you should then be qualified for pension, not the other way around, with less requirements for pension than to stay active on the fire department.”
Bertram also noted that multiple members were not able to attend public education events last year.
“That’s been something that has not regularly been done,” he said, noting the district has had recordkeeping errors, “but ultimately we’re not holding everybody accountable for the same thing.”
Bertram commented that he was trying to decide if this should be a “sticking point” or if the public education event participation requirement should be eliminated, mentioning the majority of public education events happen during the week when volunteer firefighters are working other jobs.
He also clarified that the board would not be able to make an official change to the bylaws during the July 1 meeting, noting an amendment to the bylaws would be proposed at the board’s October meeting.
“But, I’d like to look at eliminating the event requirement for pension,” he added, explaining, “As a department, we can make additional [requirements],” other than the statutorily required 36 hours of training.
Bertram also commented that with having a good pension fund, “you have a little bit higher requirements than the average membership. It should be kind of an incentive. We’ve done it the opposite way around.”
He explained that, over the years, some people could’ve gotten credit for pension based on the 36-hour training requirement, but never attended a public education event or responded to a call.
He noted public education “is one of our weaknesses across the board.”
PFPD’s attorney, Dino Ross, explained that 36-hour statute requirements have been in effect since the 1980’s.
“[Public education] is not in there and it wouldn’t qualify as training hours, so that’s an additional requirement that isn’t required by the statute,” Ross said.
Bertram clarified that the public education event requirement was added to the district’s pension requirements last year “to align with our current policies.”
Bertram went on to explain that the district’s policies are in place in order for members to remain active year to year, and that if the district were to hold everyone accountable over the years for those who did not meet the requirements, “they shouldn’t continue the following year as a volunteer because they didn’t meet the requirements.”
He noted that all that was required for pension before the changes made last year was the 36 hours of training.
Board member James Martin suggested doing a “hard final cut doesn’t seem appropriate” and that the district may want to phase in the requirements to be fair, noting these “not earth-shattering issues to begin with.”
Bertram commented that the district relies on its volunteers mainly for “training and calls are where we really need ‘em,” and that he’d rather have volunteers commit to meeting those requirements than attending public education events.
Martin commented that volunteers signed up to help fight fires, “not entertain people.”
The board then unanimously approved a motion for Bertram to bring back a proposed amendment in October to remove the public education event requirement for volunteer firefighter pension eligibility.
clayton@pagosasun.com
>