Westville council authorizes overtime for EMR training and updates personnel handbook

The Westville Town Council unanimously authorized overtime pay to cover shift coverage for emergency medical responder (EMR) and medical training and adopted revisions to the Westville Fire Department employee handbook.

Speaker 4 described EMR training that will give staff expanded medical response capability and asked the council to authorize overtime for shift coverage through Sept. 27, 2025. Albert moved to authorize overtime for EMR and medical training up to Sept. 27; Mrs. Deagle seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

Council then considered suggested handbook edits: raising the business travel/meal per diem from $30 to $50; clarifying adjusted work schedule language to avoid exceeding 40 hours in any single week; and changing vacation-accrual bands (new proposal: no vacation first year, then revised accrual tiers for subsequent years). Council discussed whether work-boot reimbursements are part of an existing $300 clothing allowance and asked staff to return with clarification if needed. A motion to adopt the proposed handbook changes was moved and approved 5-0.

Council instructed staff to implement the handbook updates and to incorporate overtime authorization for training where necessary. No changes to staffing levels or additional ongoing budget allocations were recorded.