MI Fire Board Eyes Fill-In Compensation

Oct. 24 -- CUTLERVILLE, MI -- Officials on the Cutlerville Fire Board have been trying to find a way to compensate full-time firefighters who step into leadership roles when a captain is absent for some time, and their latest recommendation may finally accomplish just that.

At a meeting held Thursday, Oct. 18, members of the fire board, acting on a suggestion by Fire Chief Todd Szakacs, unanimously agreed to make a recommendation of approval to the Byron and Gaines township boards that non-captain, full-time firefighters be paid a $40 per day stipend when acting as an officer in the absence of other department leadership.

To qualify to serve as an acting officer, full-time firefighters must have:

• Completed the probation period as defined by the Cutlerville Fire Department's Standard Operating Guidelines.
• Completed at least two years of service.
• Attended and completed the Michigan Fire Officer I/II training series and all co-requisites.
• Attained the Michigan Fire Officer I and II credential based on requirements set forth by the state's Bureau of Fire Services Firefighter Training Division.

Gaines Township Supervisor Robert DeWard, who chairs the fire board, said he had been pushing for some type of stipend for full-time firefighters taking on temporary leadership roles at the department for some time.

"Different ways of compensation have been tossed around and rejected," DeWard said. "When Todd suggested and endorsed the $40 a day stipend, we all jumped on it as a legitimate way of compensating the full-time firefighters for taking on the extra responsibility."

DeWard acknowledged that the move still needs to be approved by both of the township boards, but he said Szakacs had already plugged enough money into the latest version of the fire department's 2019 budget to cover the extra cost of the stipend.

The proposed budget was approved by the Byron Township Board on Monday, Oct. 22, with a 4-2 vote, but it is still waiting for approval from Gaines officials, whose next regular meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 12.

The $40 per day stipend recommendation comes on the heels of the defeat of a similar compensation recommendation for non-captain, full-time firefighters, which was voted on during a joint meeting of the Byron and Gaines boards on Sept. 24.

The recommendation before the boards at that time was to pay a $250 per month stipend to the full-time firefighter commanding the station when a captain is not present. The Gaines contingent approved that figure unanimously, but Byron Township Supervisor Tom Hooker's motion to approve the recommendation on the Byron side died on the vine.

Hooker said he thinks the latest recommendation has a shot for approval by both boards, which will likely vote on the stipend in November.

DeWard suggested making the change retroactive to Oct. 1, but that date is by no means set in stone as the township boards will have some discretion as well.

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