2772                            County Local Laws

which regulations shall cover all paid employees of the fire depart-
ments and rescue squads. These regulations shall include provision
for uniform minimum entrance requirements, uniform minimum
medical standards and common eligible lists for entrance level posi-
tions. The committee shall consult with the County's Personnel
Director and the County Personnel Board in the preparation of
personnel regulations and minimum standards, including promotions
and pay standards.

(b)     The personnel committee, subject to approval of the
Fire Board and the availability of funds, shall establish a program of
uniform fringe benefits for paid employees equivalent to that accorded
to county merit system employees which shall include a system of
leave, retirement pay, life insurance protection, group hospitalization
and medical program, Workman's Compensation coverage, Social
Security coverage, and professional development programs.

(c)    Any employee with career status under the personnel
regulations who is removed, demoted, or suspended, shall have as a
matter of right an opportunity for a hearing before the Personnel
Board of the County, and in such event, the charges against him shall
be stated in writing in such form as the Personnel Board may re-
quire. The decision of the Personnel Board in such appeals shall be
final and shall be binding, and shall not be subject to review except by
a court of competent jurisdiction, upon appeal taken within 30 days
of the decision. Decision of the Board, or if appealed, the decree of
the court, shall be enforceable by the Fire Board or by the County.
The committee shall include in the personnel regulations rights of
appeal to the County Personnel Board by paid employees of fire de-
partments and rescue squads which rights shall be essentially the
same as accorded merit system employees under County personnel
regulations.

(d)    The personnel committee, subject to approval of the
Fire Board and availability of funds, shall establish a uniform pay
scale.

2. Personnel System for Volunteer Members of Fire Depart-
ments and Rescue Squads.

(a)    The personnel committee shall prepare and adopt uni-
form personnel regulations and minimum standards, subject to the
approval of the Fire Board, governing all volunteer members of the
several fire departments and rescue squads.

(b)    The personnel committee, subject to approval of the
Fire Board and the availability of funds, shall establish a program
for volunteer members to provide financial protection for the volun-
teer and his family in the event of the volunteer's disability or death
in the line of duty. The committee shall also determine what other