By Elle Wood

MILFORD – An agreement with the city of Milford will give Carlisle Fire Company firefighters an incentive to own property withing the city.

At a June 24 city council meeting, a memorandum of understanding was approved by the council and signed by the Carlisle Fire Company.

The part of the MOU that was discussed in council was the residency incentive that was added after a yearlong discussion.

“Last year when city council created a residency incentive for those firefighters who owned property and occupied property within the city, we agreed that we would come back this year and revise MOU between us and the fire company,” said Mark Whitfield, the city manager in Milford.

The incentive will provide volunteer firefighters who own and occupy legal residence within the city a property tax refund up to $1,000.

In order to receive the refund, they must provide certification from the Carlisle Fire Company chief that the firefighter has responded to 30 percent of the total fire calls for a 12-month consecutive period and provide proof of residency through a Delaware-issued driver’s license or ID or a passport.

They must also have owned and occupied the residence a full 12 months prior to the end of the past fiscal period year (June 30) and provide a receipt of a paid City of Milford Property Tax bill prior to June 30.

The city has the right to determine final eligibility for the residency incentive and can refuse applicants that are unable to demonstrate ownership and eligibility, according to the signed MOU.

The MOU has a one year term that begins July 1 and will automatically renew each year unless either party notifies the other in writing by June 1 of that year.