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Board To Review Volunteer‑Services Policy After Fire‑Rescue Raises Concerns
Summary
Fauquier County’s proposed Human Resources Policy 14‑B on volunteer services drew questions about its effect on personnel who serve both as career and volunteer firefighters; Chief Smith told the board the policy could affect about 15 employees and up to roughly 50 operational calls annually.
Fauquier County staff presented a draft Human Resources Policy 14‑B governing volunteer services and asked the Board of Supervisors April 10 to place the item on the agenda for approval and further discussion.
The policy would prohibit county employees from volunteering for activities that are the same type of work they are paid to perform. Staff said approval of volunteer activities would be contingent on four criteria, including compliance with federal, state, and local laws; no adverse impact on the employee’s assigned duties; no interference with scheduled hours or on‑call requirements; and compliance with the state and local government conflict of interests act.
Chief Smith, who addressed the board during the agenda review, said the policy could affect about 15 of the department’s personnel who remain enrolled in volunteer rosters after being hired as career firefighters. He said those individuals have continued to respond on their off duty hours, in some cases as part of duty crews, and estimated that the county’s current records indicate those volunteers participated in “at the most, maybe 50 calls out of a 12 month period.” Chief Smith described the work as high‑risk and said accurate reporting of post‑call activity will be important if volunteer participation continues under the policy.
Chief Smith also noted that some volunteers hold life membership with their volunteer companies and said the draft policy would not remove that status. He urged board members to allow further discussion, suggesting a lunchtime follow‑up to review operational details.
County staff said the policy review will include an assessment of Fair Labor Standards Act implications and conflict‑of‑interest rules. The item was presented for further review and scheduled for discussion at a later meeting; no final action was recorded during the agenda review.
