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PERRY TWP. -- Perry Township volunteer firefighters will start receiving a per-call stipend every six months starting next year.
Both trustees and fire officials worked on the plan in hopes the twice-a-year payment will serve as an incentive to attract more volunteers and to have more people respond to calls.
"We decided it would be better to offer a stipend to offset their costs," Trustee Chair Steve Bailey said.
The trustees approved the call stipend plan at their meeting Monday, also approving the new list of officers for the volunteer fire department, with Brandon Smith selected by the fire association as the new chief starting Jan 1.
He'll be stepping into the spot currently held by Chief Bruce Whitcher, who's stepping away from being chief due to time and distance constraints but will continue serving the department as a firefighter and mentor.
Previously, the trustees paid $10,000 to the association for the fire department, but individual firefighters didn't receive compensation as they do in some other area volunteer departments. Fire levies cover equipment costs.
Under the new plan, the trustees will pay $5,000 per six-month period, with the money split based on the total number of personnel responding to calls during the time period. Time periods will be from Dec. 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021 and then from June 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2021. Firefighters will get paid in June and December.
An example provided by trustees based on a year's worth of calls noted that if there were 331 calls and 1,549 volunteers who responded for the year, the $10,000 would be divided by 1,549 to come up with a per-call stipend of $6.45 per call. If a firefighter had 220 calls, that would equal a stipend of $1,419 for the year.
To receive a full stipend, a firefighter must attend a minimum of 18 hours of training per six-month cycle. If the training requirement isn't met, the firefighter will only be eligible for 50 percent of the stipend.
Trustee Don Rudibaugh said maybe they'll get more participation with the stipend paid.
Smith worked with Bailey on the call stipend plan and said it's a reimbursement to firefighters for fuel and wear and tear on their personal vehicles when responding to scenes or the station. He's hopeful it can draw some people in, noting the department is down to 19 firefighters and could use more volunteers.
Anyone interested in joining the department can call the north station at 330-332-4676 and leave a message with their name and contact information. The township pays for the Firefighter 1 class, which is 120 hours.
New chief in the township
Smith, who graduated from Salem High School in 2000 and lives in Salem, has been with the department 18 years and worked his way up, becoming a captain and then serving as assistant chief the past four years under Whitcher, who has served as chief for nine years and been with the department since 1992.
He offered his thanks to Whitcher for his service as chief and said he's been a good friend and mentor, both at the department and in life. The trustees also said thanks to Whitcher for his service, with Rudibaugh adding, "He's really done a great job for the township."
The trustees also said they're looking forward to working with Smith as chief, saying he'll do a good job and has a lot of experience.
"Growing up, I could never decide if I wanted to be a cop or a fireman," Smith said.
He has the best of both worlds, serving as a full-time police sergeant with the Salem Police Department and as a volunteer firefighter for Perry Township. The rest of the slate of fire officers includes Assistant Chief Doug Messimer, who's being promoted from captain, and Captain Dave Panezott and Lieutenant Brandon Planisky.
Smith said he'll continue with what Whitcher has been doing in getting new equipment and new gear. The department just got a new dryer and is getting a new washer to wash their turnout gear, using Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds. He wants to go after some grants and said he's looking forward to working with the area chiefs at surrounding departments from Salem, Winona, Green Township, Leetonia and Damascus, possibly on some joint training. He's also looking forward to working with trustees.
Whitcher, who moved out of the township to Sebring, said it didn't feel right trying to serve as chief since he was further away, but he's still going to serve on the department and help out and work with the newer firefighters. He believes in getting everyone trained to the same level so they all have a good working knowledge.
When asked about the call stipend, he said "it's nice that they're going to do something like that."
When it comes to firefighting, he said "you gotta want to do it." It's all about serving the community.
mgreier@salemnews.net