Town of South Berwick, ME Use of Town Vehicles

The Town recognizes that certain employees are required to be "on call" during off-duty hours. This policy is intended to assure that these employees are able to have the vehicles at their disposal necessary to fulfill the duties of their positions while at the same time ensuring only those uses authorized by the Town are permitted. Except as stated in this policy, the use of Town vehicles while off duty is strictly prohibited.

Fire/EMS and law enforcement. Employees whose positions require that they be available during off-duty hours to respond to emergency calls may, with the prior approval of the Town Manager and the Police or Fire Chief, use the Town's marked emergency response vehicles while "on call" during off-duty hours. Marked emergency response vehicles used during off-duty hours shall be used exclusively within the Town's municipal boundaries, except that those employees who live outside the Town's municipal boundaries may also use such vehicles to travel to and from the employee's home and de minimis personal use but for no other use outside the Town's municipal boundaries.

[Amended 6-15-2009]

Chief of Police. Due to the unique nature of the twenty-four-hour supervisory responsibility of the Police Chief, it is understood that the Town of South Berwick will continue to honor the past agreement between the Town and the present Chief of Police. As a result, the Police Chief is permitted to utilize the Town vehicle to monitor and supervise the continuous police operation, thereby allowing the Chief to utilize the Town vehicle for incidental personal use.

Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to take home a Town vehicle to allow him/her during off-duty hours to respond to emergency calls for service. Because commuting to and from work is a taxable benefit under IRS regulations, the commuting miles and de minimis personal use will be treated as personal use and taxed as a taxable fringe benefit. Under IRS "Commuting Only Rule," a three-dollar per-day noncash taxable fringe benefit amount will be included in the employee's gross income, quarterly, based on the number of workdays for the quarter. Any other personal use of the Town's vehicles during off-duty hours is strictly prohibited.

Other pool vehicles. Except as stated in this policy, Town employees shall not be permitted to use the Town's marked or unmarked vehicles for any other purpose while off-duty.

Smoking. Smoking is not permitted in any Town-owned vehicle.