LIBERTY TWP.

Liberty Twp. Fire Chief Paul Stumpf and others on the fire department are pooling some of their unused sick and vacation time to help out a fellow firefighter/medic who has run out of sick days.

Stumpf and Captain Jim Limerick have each turned over a total of 160 hours of sick and vacation time so one of their own wont be out any money while he is on sick leave.

Stumpf told the Journal-News this person to protect his privacy the Journal-News is not revealing his name has had family illnesses to contend with and now he himself is out of commission for six to eight weeks. Stumpf said since the injury occurred on his own time, workers compensation cant be drawn so his brothers and sisters on the department want to help.

Limerick said they have done this before when other people have been injured or ill and he is glad to help.

I feel obligated to do it, he said. I like helping staff and were in the business of helping people so why not help our own when we can.

Limerick has been with Liberty Twp. more than 20 years and Stumpf, who is retiring in September, has been there 45 years.

Stumpf said other firefighters also plan to work shifts for the man while he is out. He said they dont want to stack up too many days, especially since they dont know exactly when the firefighter will be returning. He said there were three people who needed sick time last year.

This was kind of the quickest, easiest way to get him through a couple weeks, Stumpf said. Last year everybody wanted to donate.

Between the two men they have accumulated 328 hours of vacation time and 2,570 hours worth of sick time. The townships policy allows employees to accrue a maximum of 1,600 hours of sick time, anything over that they get credit for one hour of pay for every four hours. Employees with 10-plus years of service get four weeks of vacation and one week can be carried into the next year.

Trustee Tom Farrell said the department should be commended for giving so much to their co-worker.

I think it is very admirable and I support it, Farrell said. It is our policy that they are allowed to do that, thats their choice, thats their money. For them to take money out of their own pocket and give it to their family like that is very respectful, its amazing.

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