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Council to amend payroll ordinance so volunteer firefighters can be reimbursed for Paterson mutual‑aid shift
Summary
Officials said an Old Tappan squad and firefighters deployed to Paterson on Aug. 17 to draft and deliver water; the borough expects FEMA‑rate reimbursement for equipment and discussed amending the salary ordinance to allow pay for volunteers who assisted.
Councilors reviewed an August 17 mutual‑aid deployment in which an Old Tappan squad assisted Paterson by drafting water from the Passaic River to fill tenders. Administration noted the borough can be reimbursed at FEMA equipment rates and that Paterson indicated it would pay firefighters; the email trail provided to council listed an equipment rate and a per‑firefighter rate to be reimbursed.
Because the Old Tappan department is volunteer, council and staff said the borough’s salary ordinance needs an amendment to explicitly authorize per‑hour payments for mutual‑aid events before disbursement. Staff proposed drafting an ordinance amendment that lists the per‑hour rate and then paying firefighters after the ordinance completes its required readings. The council directed staff to prepare the necessary paperwork (resolution/contract and ordinance amendment) for a future meeting rather than voting on pay tonight.
