Fluvanna supervisors approve revised volunteer incentive plan after debate over retroactivity and process

The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors on May 7 approved a revised incentive program for county fire, EMS and water-rescue volunteers, following extended discussion about how payments would be tracked and whether the amended plan would apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2025.

County staff and members of the Fire & Rescue Association (FRA) presented a points-based revision tailored to different functions: a points system for fire personnel, duty-hour thresholds for EMS, and a separate points scale for water rescue. The dollar amounts previously approved by the board did not change, but the subcommittee reworked how volunteers qualify for tier 1 and tier 2 incentives. Under the revised plan, members must obtain a minimum of 50 points to qualify for the top tier in the fire schedule (with lower thresholds for other functions); EMS continues to be tracked by duty hours.

Supervisors debated implementation details at length. Some supervisors said the FRA had not formally voted on the proposal at an FRA meeting and urged the FRA to adopt formal recommendations in the future; others said the subcommittee and several company chiefs had approved the changes. Supervisors also discussed whether thresholds and payout levels should be halved for the Jan. 1–June 30, 2025 tracking window. County staff and the interim director of emergency services said departments had been tracking volunteer activity in ImageTrend and other local forms and that the data were available.

Supervisor Hodge moved and amended a motion to approve the updated incentive program retroactive to the board’s earlier February approval, with tracking to begin Jan. 1, 2025. Supervisor O’Brien seconded; the motion passed 5-0. The board directed staff and volunteer chiefs to proceed with implementation and to ensure clarity about how points and hours are recorded for the half-year period.