Washington County personnel committee members reviewed a draft handbook addition to provide paid emergency‑response leave for volunteer firefighters and asked staff to add verification language before returning the item for formal approval.

The draft, presented by an HR staff member, would add a paid emergency‑response leave for county employees who are volunteer firefighters. “We didn't ask for proof, so to speak,” the staff member said while explaining the current draft. Committee members pressed for clearer documentation requirements and operational limits.

Committee members said verification should be included. “There's gotta be a 911 call,” Supervisor Pierre said, and several others suggested the employee should bring a letter from their fire chief as supporting documentation. The HR presenter agreed: “We can add a line and bring it back next month.”

Members also raised operational concerns about mutual aid calls and whether standby duty should qualify. One supervisor described mutual aid and standby arrangements and asked how the policy would treat situations when a firefighter is stationed at another department before their work shift begins. The committee discussed a provision in the draft requiring employees to obtain approval to leave work for an emergency response and noted practical problems getting approval before or during shared mutual aid responses.

Committee members repeatedly emphasized not penalizing employees for responding to emergencies. “You don't want to penalize the employee for doing the right thing and being involved here on emergency response,” a committee member said. Several members recommended specifying acceptable verification (for example, a 911 record or a signed letter from the chief) and excluding non‑active standby from paid leave unless the department certifies it as an active response.

Action and next steps: staff were asked to revise the draft to add a verification requirement (examples discussed: 911 record, letter from the fire chief) and to clarify language on mutual aid, standby status, and approval procedures. The committee did not adopt the policy at this meeting and expects to review the revised handbook language at the next monthly meeting.