HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgreement_General_11/12/2015 (13) Village of Tequesta
Interim Employment Agreement
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 12" day of November, 2015,
by and between the VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, a municipal corporation of the State of
Florida (hereinafter referred to as "Village "), and Evan Solensky, an individual,
(hereinafter referred to variously as "Employee" or "Interim Firefighter") as follows:
Section 1. Duties
The Village hereby agrees to hire Employee as an Interim Firefighter to perform the
duties and functions of a Firefighter I, in accordance with the job position description
attached hereto and marked as Appendix "A ". Employee shall be subject to, and abide
by, the Ordinances of the Village, the Village Employee Handbook, Florida Statutes and
Federal laws governing Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians. Employee
agrees to perform duties and responsibilities hereunder and such other reasonable
duties and responsibilities as are assigned to him from time to time by the Fire Chief
and /or the Village Manager.
Section 2. Description of Position
The Village has started an interim firefighter program to assist individuals in obtaining a
career in the fire service and to assist individuals with higher education opportunities.
Interim firefighters serve on an "as needed" basis as determined in the sole discretion
of the Village. Interim firefighters serve at the will of the Village. Interim firefighters can
be relieved of duty at any time for any reason or no reason.
Interim firefighters will receive a copy of the Village Employee Handbook and the Fire-
' Rescue Department's Policy and Procedure Manual at the time of initial employment.
Interim compliance re firefighters responsible for with General Personnel Policies and
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Standards of Conduct as set forth in the Village Employee Handbook. However, other
than rights and benefits specifically listed in this Agreement, interim firefighters are not
entitled to any rights or benefits set forth in the Village's Employee Handbook, including,
but not limited to, any grievance procedure rights.
Section 3. Term
This Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect for a
period of three (3) years. This Agreement can be renewed for an additional three (3)
year term by mutual consent of both parties. No modifications, changes or
amendments to any provision of this Agreement can be implemented without express
written agreement being executed by both parties.
Employee agrees that he is an at -will employee and will serve at the pleasure of the
Village Manager and /or Fire Chief. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or
otherwise interfere with the right of the Village Manager or Fire Chief to terminate the
services of the Employee. Employee agrees that he has no property rights in
employment with the Village and does not have the right to file a grievance concerning
any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement or otherwise.
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or otherwise interfere with the right of the
Employee to resign his employment with the Village, subject to the provisions with
Section 4 (Termination).
Section 4. Termination
In the event that Employee is terminated before the expiration of the aforesaid term of
employment for reasons other than moral turpitude, the Village agrees to pay the
Employee for any accrued sick leave and vacation benefits in accordance with the
provisions of the Village Employee Handbook applicable to full time Village employees.
The Employee will also be eligible for his portion of the Education Assistance Funds
(defined below) that he has earned, for a period of time up to twelve (12) months from
his date of termination. Education Assistance Funds not utilized within this twelve (12)
month time frame shall be forfeited to the Village.
If Employee is terminated for moral turpitude, he shall forfeit his accrued sick leave,
vacation pay and education assistance funds.
If the Employee voluntarily resigns from the position of interim firefighter prior to the
expiration of this agreement, Employee shall forfeit all accrued sick leave, vacation pay
and education assistance funds to the Village as liquidated damages.
Section 5. Salary
The Village will compensate Employee at the prevailing minimum wage for all hours
worked during his normal workweek. The normal workweek for Fire Department
employees is forty -eight hours. This is based on working one hundred and forty -four
(144) hours in a twenty -one (21) day cycle. The Village reserves the right to adjust the
normal workweek hours as needed and in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards
Act.
Employee will occasionally be needed to work extra hours. The Village provides
compensation for extra hours worked at a rate of one and one -half (1 -112) times the
normal hourly rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of the normal work cycle. For
the purpose of computing hours worked, annual leave, sick leave and time lost due to
an on -duty injury shall be considered time worked.
Employee is entitled to receive any across the board increases granted to the non -
unionized firefighters by the Village and his hourly rate of pay will be adjusted
accordingly.
Section 6, Benefits
a. Vacation: Employee will receive two
weeks of paid vacation for each year Employee
is employed under this interim program. At the
successful completion of Employee's twelve-
month probationary period Employee is entitled
to use Emolovee's vacation leave in
accordance with the policies governing such
usage. However, Employee will not be
compensated for time off, if granted, during
Employee's probationary period.
b. Sick leave: Employee is entitled to
Sick Leave benefits as applied to full time
Village employees and in accordance with the
policies governing such.
c. Holiday Pay: The Village will provide
Holiday Pay to Employee as they would to full
time employees and in accordance with the
policies governing such.
d. Health and Life Insurance: Interim
Firefighters are eligible for Village sponsored
health care benefits. This coverage will be
identical to the coverage plan offered to non -
unionized employees.
Life insurance is provided, but only to the extent that is required by law.
e. Retirement benefits: Employee is
not eligible for Retirement Benefits.
f. Education Assistance: Employee
may earn up to a maximum of $5,000.00 per
year for education assistance ( "Education
Assistance Funds "). Education Assistance
Funds are earned at a rate of $1,250.00 per
three months of employment. Therefore, if
Employee works one three -month quarter
under this program Employee is entitled to use
the $1,250.00 earned during the next quarter,
or any time during Employee's employment,
and up to twelve (12) months after the
expiration of this contract.
Education Assistance Funds can be used for any tuition costs, book
expenses or lab fees associated with Employee's higher education. There are
no restrictions on the type of courses that the Employee can attend as these
funds are to be considered Employee's money and Employee can use it for any
courses, technical education or any type of degree Employee desires.
If the Employee is not State of Florida certified as a Firefighter and /or
Emergency Medical Technician upon execution of this Agreement, the Village
will advance Education Assistance Funds to pay for these certifications for the
Employee. Once Employee is eligible to earn the Educational Assistance
Funds, the Village will utilize these funds to reimburse the Village for the all
costs associated with obtaining the Firefighter and /or Emergency Medical
Technician certifications. After the tillage is reimbursed, the employee may
then earn and utilize Education Assistance Funds for the purposes set forth
above.
g. Exchange of time: Interim
firefighters are eligible to exchange time with
other employees as long it is in accordance
with department guidelines. This procedure is
for situations that cannot be scheduled around
Employee's shift work, for the attendance of
classes or for events that Employee has no
control over.
h. Incentive Pay: Based on the
department needs, the Fire Chief will
determine whether or not a certified Interim
Fire Fighter shall receive the Dive pay and the
State Certified Inspector pay.
Section 7. Applicable Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed pursuant to the laws of the State of
Florida. Employee irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and waives any
objection it may have to either the jurisdiction or venue of such courts. Further,
Employee waives trial by jury if litigation is filed to enforce any terms of this Agreement.
Venue shall be Palm Beach County, Florida.
Section 8. Severability.
If any terms or part of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid, illegal, or
unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the
remaining part of such term or the validity of any other term or provision of this
Agreement shall not in any way be affected. All provisions of this Agreement shall be
construed to be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.
Section 9. Acknowledgment
By signature below, Employee acknowledges that he has read this Agreement and has
received a copy of the Village Employee Handbook and the Fire - Rescue Department's
Policy and Procedure Manual, and agrees to accept the terms of Interim Employment
described herein.
Interim Employee Signature Date
epartment Head Sign a re Date
Human Resources Administrator Date
Village Manager Signature Date
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APR N6 0
��ppgs FIRE RESCUE POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL
EFFECTIVE PKEI REVISION DATE EjAGENLIIVIBER TOTAL PAGES POLICY SECTION
OCTOBER 01, 1993 SEPTEMBER 05, 2013 1 4 240.00
��A� SUBJECT: CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN
APPROVE BY: JAMES M. WEINAND, FIRE CHIEF MICHAEL COUZZO, VILLAGE MANAGER
240.00 Career Development Plan — The Village of Tequesta has developed this
Career Development Pan to maximize your professional growth and
performance. In conjunction with your professional growth, this plan
establishes realistic expectations of the competency levels needed to
maintain a long -term career in this department.
240.01 Developing your career is an investment in both you and in the future of
our department. By helping you hone your skills, we strengthen our entire
workforce. This in return, sets a superior level of care and service for our
community.
240.02 Firefighter I: This is the entry -level position for individuals starting their
career with Tequesta Fire Rescue. Individuals in this grade must be a
State of Florida certified Firefighter and State of Florida certified
Emergency Medical Technician.
240.03 After at least twelve months in the classification of Firefighter I, employees
may advance to the Firefighter II classification in the career development
plan providing they have all the qualifications listed in Section 240.04.
240.04 Firefighter II: This is a firefighter's second career development level. To
achieve this level individuals must be a State of Florida certified Pump
Operator and must successfully complete the following courses:
• 40 Hour class in Aerial Operations and;
• 40 Hour class in Vehicle Extrication and;
• At least one of the following electives:
• Confined Space Rescue I
• Rope Rescue I & II
• Dive Rescue 1
240.05 After at least twelve months in the classification of Firefighter 11,
employees may advance to the Firefighter III pay grade providing they
have all the qualifications listed in Section 240.06.
240.06 Firefighter III: This is the third career development level. To achieve this
level individuals must have completed all the requirements of Firefighter II,
and the following:
• Obtain (3) credits in Microcomputer Applications (CGS -1100) and;
• Obtain (3) credits in Building Construction (FFP -2120) and;
• Obtain (3) credits in Fire Service Course Delivery (FFP- 1740);
• Individual must than choose a career track from the following categories
and successfully complete 80 hours of advanced educational
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