Executive Order Meant to Help Broome Volunteers

Employees of Broome County Government who volunteer their time as emergency responders have less to worry about when a call for help comes in.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar has signed an Executive Order that allows county employees who are active emergency responders to leave work during their shifts to respond to emergency events.

County officials say the intent is to increase the number of responders available to serious emergency incidents.

Volunteer fire and emergency medical services often find it is difficult to fill the need during an emergency call with volunteers maintaining full-time jobs.

For County employees, the order helps eliminate a fear of repercussions at work if they have to leave to respond to an emergency.

Employees eligible for the leave must provide their Department Head with written documentation regarding their volunteer status.  Employees would be required to use paid vacation, holiday or compensatory leave time, if available, to account for absences. If no paid time is available, the employee may use unpaid leave.