Members of Oakmont council have passed a new incentive in an effort to gain fire department volunteers.
Beginning in 2025, active members will receive a stipend of $65 per month. Borough manager Scot Fodi said that the stipend came after the state gave options for credits for active members in the form of real estate taxes and income tax.
He said they ran into obstacles with both options because of differences in living styles of volunteers in the department.
“Some of the volunteers rent and don’t own property, and some don’t work because they are still in school or retired,” Fodi said.
He said they ended up following a format used in North Huntingdon by giving active members the stipend.
“It’s a way of thanking them,” Fodi said of the firefighters.
Volunteer fire Chief Joe Flanick will assess the activity of each member and decide who will get the stipend, Fodi said.
Flanick did not respond to requests for comment.
