Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS <br /> One of the solutions identified in these discussions was the <br /> possibility of increasing the number of available volunteers <br /> during the day. This discussion include¢ the prospect of using <br /> the large number of Orange County and Orange County School em- <br /> ployees working in Hillsborough as a potential source of volun- <br /> teers. <br /> Rod visser, orange County,Assistant County Manager identi- <br /> fied 12 county employees who currently held firefighter certifi- <br /> cations. Mr. visser could not comment as to whether these indi- <br /> viduals would be interested. The use of these individuals to re- <br /> spond to fire calls during the day would have to be explored <br /> further. Mr. visser suggested that the Orange County Board would <br /> have to establish a policy to allow employees the ability to <br /> volunteer and respond to fire calls while working, it this ap- <br /> proach were to be pursued further. <br /> Keith Cook, School Board member had identified a total of <br /> three school system employees who currently held firefighter <br /> certifications. Two of these employees are interested in volun- <br /> teering and the School Board has agreed to give permission to <br /> these employees in the maintenance division to respond to fire <br /> calls. <br /> Eric Swanson reported that the Town of Hillsborough has two <br /> employees who currently hold firefighter.certifications. Both of <br /> these employees respond regularly to calls and are afforded <br /> administrative leave for the period of time that they are absent <br /> from the job site. <br /> It was agreed that efforts to increase the number of volun- <br /> teors during the day should be pursued. The majority of the <br /> group felt strongly that all or the Boards should take whatever <br /> action necessary to encourage the use of, these volunteers. This <br /> included changes to current personnel policies and other similar <br /> directives that would support and increase the likelihood that <br /> county, town and school system employees that are currently <br /> certified as firefighters can volunteer and respond to fire calls <br /> from their job site. <br /> HIRING rULL-TIME PERSONNEL <br /> The increase in the use of volunteers was identified as a <br /> short term solution. Long tern it was agreed that full tine <br /> firemen will be needed to address the present fire loss potential <br /> and future growth within the districts. Initially it was agreed <br /> that three firefighters would need to be employed. The Town of <br /> Hillsborough would assume administrative responsibilities within <br /> the present town employee organizational structure. <br />