Composition
The Local Board of Trustees is responsible for the local administration of the Volunteer Firefighters’ and Reserve Officers’ Relief and Pension Act.
If a fire department operates under the authority of the city council, the members are the mayor (chair), one city councilperson, the city clerk (secretary), the fire chief and one firefighter elected annually by the other firefighters in the department.
The Local Board of Trustees for fire protection districts which operate under the authority of the fire commissioners consists of the chair of the fire commissioners (chair), one other commissioner, the secretary to the commissioners (secretary), the fire chief and one firefighter elected annually by the other firefighters.
The local board for a county sheriff’s department consists of two members of the county legislative authority (one is chair) and the county auditor (secretary), or their designees, the sheriff and one reserve officer who is elected annually by the reserve officers of the county.
The local board for a city or town law enforcement agency consists of the mayor (chair) and one member of the municipality’s legislative body (or two members of the legislative body if there is no mayor) or their designees, the clerk, comptroller or chief fiscal officer (secretary), the head of the law enforcement agency and one reserve officer elected annually by the other reserve officers.
Duties
It is the duty of the Local Board of Trustees to keep a public record of all proceedings, receipts and disbursements made by the board and to make an annual report of them. The board is also responsible for enrolling all eligible members under the disability provisions of the Act. This includes payment of all fees. If the commissioners or city council have allowed the firefighters or reserve officers to participate in the pension portion of the Act, the Local Board of Trustees makes provision for the payment of pension fees for all who so choose and determines eligibility for receiving pensions. The Local Board of Trustees also hears all claims and directs payment from the Volunteer Firefighters’ and Reserve Officers’ Relief and Pension Fund. It is responsible for preparation and approval of state vouchers for those entitled to receive benefits. Other duties are to set a regular monthly meeting date, usually in conjunction with a regular council or commissioners meeting, to meet when there is business to conduct, and to make rules and regulations necessary for administration of the Act at the local level.