Danbury News Times
BROOKFIELD, Conn. — Town firefighters from Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department and Candlewood Company want the town to increase its awards program for volunteers.
Firefighters asked the Board of Selectmen on Monday to review the volunteer awards program, which began in 1995 and makes a volunteer firefighter eligible when they turn 65 to receive money based on their years of service.
A firefighter has to have at least five years of service and meet minimum requirements of going to annual physicals, responding to at least 10 percent of calls per year, going to meetings and doing other maintenance-type things for the department to start getting $10 per month. A volunteer can receive a maximum of $250, which would mean they would have 25 or more years of service.
For example, Candlewood Company volunteer firefighter Paul Garizio Sr., who turned 65 today, has been with the department since 1962. When the program began in 1995, every person who had been at one of the two town fire departments for five years or more automatically got five years of service toward the award’s program. That means this year Garizio would have 16 years of service and could receive $160 a month from the program if he applies.
Full Story: Brookfield firefighters ask for more compensation