Chapter 2.80
FIREMEN’S PENSION
Sections:
2.80.030 Enrollment – Relief and compensation.
2.80.040 Enrollment – Retirement pension.
2.80.050 Annual fees – Retirement pension.
2.80.060 Annual fees – Relief and compensation.
2.80.070 Board of trustees – Created.
2.80.080 Board of trustees – Membership.
2.80.090 Board of trustees – Chairman.
2.80.100 Board of trustees – Secretary-treasurer.
2.80.110 Board of trustees – Duties of secretary-treasurer.
2.80.120 Board of trustees – Duties.
2.80.130 Board of trustees – Meetings.
2.80.140 Board of trustees – Powers and compensation.
2.80.160 Appointment of physician.
2.80.170 RCW 41.24.150 and 41.24.160 adopted by reference – Disability and death payments.
2.80.180 RCW 41.24.230 adopted by reference – Funeral expenses.
2.80.190 RCW 41.24.240 adopted by reference – Assignability.
2.80.010 Membership limited.
The membership of the volunteer fire department of the city is limited to a membership of 35 firemen. (Prior code § 1.36.010).
2.80.020 Purpose.
Whereas the state has established by Chapter 41.24 RCW the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund, providing certain protection for all enrolled firemen and their families, from death or disability arising from the performance of their duties as firemen, and requiring every municipal corporation maintaining and operating a regularly organized fire department to make provision, by appropriate legislation for the enrollment of its volunteer firemen; the city, maintaining and operating a regularly organized fire department and desiring to give its volunteer firemen the protection from death or disability provided in the act and wishing to abide by the state law, believes it to be to the best interest of the city to provide by ordinance those things necessary to bring the city and its firemen under the provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW. (Prior code § 1.36.020).
2.80.030 Enrollment – Relief and compensation.
Every fireman of the Colville fire department shall be enrolled under the relief and compensation provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW, known as volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund. The clerk of the city is authorized and directed to take such steps as are necessary for the enrollment of every fireman of the fire department, under the relief and compensation provisions of the chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.030).
2.80.040 Enrollment – Retirement pension.
Every member of the fire department shall be enrolled under the provisions of the retirement pension provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW, and the clerk of the city is authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for the enrollment of every fireman of the fire department under the retirement pension provisions of the chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.040).
2.80.050 Annual fees – Retirement pension.
On or before the first day of March of every year there shall be paid by the city to the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund the annual fees provided by law for each and every fireman as long as he continues to be a member of the fire department of the city, and it is further provided that the city treasurer shall be authorized to collect from each fireman enrolled in the fire department his share of such fees as by law provided and remit the same as provided in this chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.050).
2.80.060 Annual fees – Relief and compensation.
On or before the first day of March of every year, there shall be paid by the city to the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund, or to such other fund as by statute provided, the annual fee as by law provided for each and every fireman, as long as he continues to be a member of the fire department of the city. (Prior code § 1.36.060).
2.80.070 Board of trustees – Created.
There is created and established in the city a board of trustees for the administration of this chapter and for the administration of Chapter 41.24 RCW as the same applies to the city. (Prior code § 1.36.070).
2.80.080 Board of trustees – Membership.
The board shall consist of the mayor, the city clerk, one councilman, the chief of the fire department, and one member of the fire department. The one councilman shall be selected by vote of the council. The one member of the fire department shall be selected by vote of the fire department. The one councilman and the member of the fire department shall be elected for a term of one year, and annually thereafter. (Prior code § 1.36.080).
2.80.090 Board of trustees – Chairman.
The mayor shall be chairman of the board of trustees. (Prior code § 1.36.090).
2.80.100 Board of trustees – Secretary-treasurer.
The city clerk shall be secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees. (Prior code § 1.36.100).
2.80.110 Board of trustees – Duties of secretary-treasurer.
The secretary-treasurer shall handle all correspondence concerning the fire department, and shall keep a public record of all proceedings of the board of trustees, and of all receipts and disbursements made by the board of trustees, and shall make an annual report of the expenses and disbursements of the board of trustees, with a full list of the beneficiaries of the fund in the city. Such record shall be placed on file in the city, and a copy filed with the State Auditor. (Prior code § 1.36.110).
2.80.120 Board of trustees – Duties.
It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to:
A. Provide for the enrollment of all members of the fire department under the death and disability provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW, known as the Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act;
B. Provide for disbursement of relief and compensation;
C. Hear and decide all applications for relief or compensation under the Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act; and
D. Direct payment of all claims from the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund to those entitled thereto under the terms of Chapter 41.24 RCW. Vouchers shall be signed by the chairman and secretary-treasurer of the board and issued to the persons entitled thereto for the amount of money ordered paid to such persons from the funds by the board. Vouchers shall state for what purpose payment is to be made. The board shall send to the state treasurer after each meeting a list of all persons entitled to payments from the fund, stating the amount of such payments and for what granted. This list shall be certified and signed by the chairman and secretary-treasurer of the board, attested under oath. (Prior code § 1.36.120).
2.80.130 Board of trustees – Meetings.
The board of trustees shall meet on the call of its chairman on a regular monthly meeting day when there is business to come before it, which regular monthly meeting day shall be the first Monday of every month. The chairman shall be required to call a meeting on any regular meeting day at the request of any member of the fund or his beneficiary claiming any relief or compensation therefrom. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum and no business shall be transacted when a majority is not present. (Prior code § 1.36.130).
2.80.140 Board of trustees – Powers and compensation.
The board, in addition to other powers granted in this chapter, shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses to testify before the board on all matters connected with the operation of the Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act, Chapter 41.24 RCW, as the same applies to the city, and the board chairman, or any member of the board, may administer oaths to such witnesses. The board shall have the further power to make all rules and regulations for its guidance, in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and with the provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW; provided, however, that no compensation or emoluments shall be paid to any member of the board for any duties performed as such trustee. (Prior code § 1.36.140).
2.80.150 Claims.
Decision of the board of trustees on all claims for relief or compensation shall be final and conclusive, and not subject to revision except by the board. No claim shall be allowed where a majority of the board has not voted favorably thereon. The board shall have the power and authority to ask for the appointment of a guardian, whenever and wherever the claim of a fireman or his beneficiary would, in the opinion of the board, be best served thereby. (Prior code § 1.36.150).
2.80.160 Appointment of physician.
The board shall make provisions for the appointment of a regularly licensed, practicing physician for examination of persons making application for membership in the fire department. Such appointed physician shall visit and examine all sick and injured firemen, perform such services and operations and render all medical aid and care necessary for the recovery of firemen on account of sickness or disability received while in the performance of duty. Any physician appointed by the board to attend upon any fireman shall report his findings in writing to the board, and the physician shall be paid from the volunteer firemen’s relief fund as by statute provided. (Prior code § 1.36.160).
2.80.170 RCW 41.24.150 and 41.24.160 adopted by reference – Disability and death payments.
RCW 41.24.150 and 41.24.160, together with all amendments hereafter made thereto, are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth in this chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.170).
2.80.180 RCW 41.24.230 adopted by reference – Funeral expenses.
The provisions of RCW 41.24.230, with all amendments hereafter made thereto are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth in this chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.180).
2.80.190 RCW 41.24.240 adopted by reference – Assignability.
The provisions of RCW 41.24.240, with all amendments hereafter made thereto are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth in this chapter. (Prior code § 1.36.190).