NORTH LEWISBURG – The Northeast Champaign County Fire District (NECCFD) Board of Trustees on Monday agreed to a one-time disbursement of vacation hours for the district’s three full-time employees following the recent implementation of a new vacation policy.
Under the old policy, full-time employees were given the following lump sum vacation hours at the beginning of each year based on years of service: 48 hours (0-2 years of service), 96 hours (2-5 years), 144 hours (5-7 years), 192 hours (7-10 years) and 240 hours (10-plus years).
The newly adopted vacation policy enables full-time employees to accrue the following number of vacation hours per year based on years employed by the district: 48 hours (1-3 years), 72 hours (4-7 years), 120 hours (8-12 years), 168 hours (13-18 years) and 240 hours (19-plus years)
NECCFD Director Jason Dotson said the district’s decision to move from a lump sum vacation policy to an accrual policy beginning in 2017 created an issue in which the full-time employees, accustomed to receiving their full compliment of vacation days come the first of the year, would have entered the new year with no vacation days until they accrued them throughout the year.
To rectify the issue, Dotson drew up a proposal in which all three full-time employees would be given their lump sum vacation hours as they had been in the past on Jan. 1, 2017. After this dispersal, lump sum vacation hours would no longer be awarded, and the new policy of accruing vacation hours would take effect.
“It gives them the vacation benefit they expected and allows them to start accruing (vacation time) as they transition into the new policy,” Dotson said. “To me, this is the cleanest way to reconcile it so there are no surprises on this side (the board) and these guys (full-time employees) get what they thought they were getting.”
Following discussion, the board passed a motion agreeing to the proposal.
In a related matter concerning benefits for full-time district employees, the board passed a motion to pay out holiday pay in one lump sum at the end of each year instead of dispersing holiday pay on a monthly basis.
Other business
•In continuing the board’s efforts to update the district’s standard operating guidelines, Dotson said, he is working on policies concerning promotions and training.
•After learning from Interim Operations Manager Sarah Page that the refrigerator used by district personnel is no longer working, the board passed a motion agreeing to purchase a new refrigerator at a cost not to exceed $500.
•Fiscal Officer Jenny Jenkins informed the board that Perry & Associates has been awarded a contract from the state auditor’s office to perform the NECCFD’s audit for fiscal period Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016, at a cost not to exceed $4,450. Jenkins added the district will see savings; the previous audit cost $4,797.
•Full-time Firefighter/Paramedic Josh Furlong informed the board that all of the department’s old, unusable turnout gear was sent to Black Helmet, a Florida-based company that makes products like wallets from the recycled material. In return, Black Helmet paid for shipping and will send the district a check for $400.
•The board passed a motion authorizing Dotson to communicate on behalf of the district with its EMS billing provider, Medicount.
Dotson said by being authorized to get reports from Medicount, he can take a closer look to make sure “the monies the board has decided they want to go after and try to collect are actually being collected the way they hope they are.”
