Firefly Admin Inc.

STRATEGIC THINKING

April 3, 2019

A year or two ago I attended some training given by Krieger Solutions. The training was called “Communicating to Connect”, and in the training we learned how to understand our own communication style and how others communicate. By having this understanding, we are then able to more effectively communicate with one another. It was a…

REPEAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE RESTRICTION

April 2, 2019

Up until December 2015, § 217(f) the New York State General Municipal Law stated the following: In computing credit for those active volunteer firefighters who also serve as paid employees within a political subdivision of the state, credit shall not be given for activities performed during the individual’s regularly assigned work periods. This section of…

FIRE DISTRICT LOSAP EXPENDITURES

April 1, 2019

There is a lot of very good information available from the State of New York regarding government spending. Financial data for each type of government is available for download and review. The LOSAP expenditure falls under the group heading of Employee Benefits. The specific category is labeled LOSAP/Miscellaneous, and I am unsure what type of…

THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE IS CHANGING BUT LOSAP STAYS MOSTLY THE SAME

March 29, 2019

A little background on me, from December 1998 to September 7, 2001, I worked at One Park Avenue in NY. My wife worked for a company that took care of plants in office buildings all over metro NYC, including the Twin Towers. My last day of work was the Friday before 9/11 – I was…

PLAY BALL!

March 28, 2019

Today is opening day. Everyone in my house knows all the words to take me out the ballgame. Now you will too: Katie Casey was baseball mad,Had the fever and had it bad.Just to root for the home town crew,Ev’ry souKatie blew.On a Saturday her young beauCalled to see if she’d like to goTo see…

ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN LOSAP

March 27, 2019

We’ve been asked several times over the last two-three weeks about the eligibility to participate in LOSAP. In particular, if “administrative only” members are eligible to participate. So we thought we would address it now. As usual, we cannot give legal advice – this is meant to help guide you and your attorney in making…

LINE OF DUTY DISABILITY POINTS

March 26, 2019

Were you aware that awarding points for periods of line-of-duty disability is actually optional? It is true, but not well known! This section of the statute is actually one of the point system categories. Since it is a point system category, it is technically optional – a sponsor does not have to include every category.…

I DON’T THINK THAT IS WHAT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS DO PRIOR TO THE SEASON

March 25, 2019

So for today I’m going to go a little off topic. Those that know me, know I’m a very big Mets fan. I’m tempted to say there is no bigger fan than me, but there is always someone bigger. But I’m a former season ticket holder, watch/listen/follow every game, and you can guarantee the only…

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MILITARY LEAVE POINTS?

March 22, 2019

General Municipal Law § 217 (h) states the following regarding military leave: (i) A participant whose volunteer fire service is interrupted by full-time extended obligatory military service or by a single voluntary enlistment not to exceed four years in the armed forces of the United States shall be considered on military leave. During such period of military…

POINTS FOR TEACHING A TRAINING CLASS?

March 21, 2019

A question came in regarding a volunteer member of a fire department teaching a training class, and if points can be awarded to that member for teaching the class rather than attending the class. This is not an easy one with a black-and-white answer. It mostly comes down to interpretation and determining what is in the spirit of the…