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Borough of River Edge, NJ
Bergen County
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Table of Contents
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[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge 5-1-2000 by Ord. No. 1289. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 33.
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is hereby created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Law of 1997, to reward members of the volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members for their loyal, diligent and devoted services to the residents of the Borough of River Edge.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each active volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth below; that such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Borough of River Edge pursuant to P.L. 1977, c.388; and that such plan shall be administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, the United States Internal Revenue Code and this chapter.
Commencing January 1, 2001, LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions for each eligible member who meets the criteria as follows:
A. 
As per Schedule A and B attached hereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules A and B are on file in the borough offices.
B. 
Five years of service are required for vesting.
C. 
The annual contribution shall be $1,000 per eligible member.
D. 
The LOSAP shall not provide for any prior years of service.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated as follows: for regular annual services, $77,000 per year.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited for volunteer services provided to the volunteer fire department or ambulance corps in accordance with the schedule attached hereto.
This chapter shall not take effect unless it is approved by voters as a public question at the next general election.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter was approved by the voters at the general election held 11-7-2000.
Volunteers who are also paid employees of the Borough of River Edge may not receive credit toward the LOSAP for responses and activities during their normally scheduled work hours, but are eligible for this incentive for any of the responses and activities they participate in outside of those work hours.
A volunteer may only be credited for one LOSAP benefit per year pursuant to this chapter if that volunteer participates in more than one emergency service organization within the Borough of River Edge.
The annual maximum LOSAP contribution as set forth herein may be increased annually in accordance with the changes in the consumer price index (CPI) as established by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services within the Department of Community Affairs.
A. 
Each volunteer service organization shall furnish to the borough a list of all volunteer members, certified under oath, and shall identify those volunteer members who have qualified for credit under the program for the previous year from January 1 to December 31. Such lists shall be submitted annually. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an active emergency service volunteer may request that their name be deleted from said list as a participant in the program. Such request for deletion shall be in writing and shall remain effective until withdrawn in the same manner.
B. 
The governing body of the borough shall review the list of each volunteer emergency service organization and approve the final annual certification. The approved list shall be posted at the office of the Municipal Clerk and at the emergency service facilities for a period of at least 30 days for review by the members.
The following referendum question shall be submitted to the voters of the Borough of River Edge at the November 7, 2000, general election:
SHALL THE BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE BE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM (LOSAP) FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND AMBULANCE CORPS MEMBERS THAT SERVE THE MUNICIPALITY PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
1.
The program shall provide for annual contributions to a deferred income account for each active volunteer member that meets the eligibility criteria in accordance with the schedules adopted by the Borough of River Edge.
2.
The proposed annual contribution for an active volunteer member shall be $1,000.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated to be $77,000 per year (77 active volunteers $1,000 per participating member.)
EXPLANATION:
THE BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE HAS DECIDED TO CREATE A LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM (LOSAP) FOR MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMBULANCE CORPS THAT SERVES THE CITIZENS OF THE BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE. THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A LOSAP ARE SET FORTH IN STATE LAW (N.J.S.A. 40A:L4-183 ET. SEQ.).
EACH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER/AMBULANCE CORP MEMBER WHO PERFORMS A REQUIRED MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SERVICE EACH YEAR WILL HAVE THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 DEPOSITED INTO A TAX DEFERRED INCOME ACCOUNT THAT WILL EARN INTEREST FOR THE VOLUNTEER.
THE COST WILL BE BUDGETED ANNUALLY IN THE BUDGET OF THE BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE AND IS ANTICIPATED TO BE $77,000 PER YEAR.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM MAY BE FOUND IN ORDINANCE 1289 ADOPTED BY THE BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION, ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE STATE ENABLING LAW AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 705 KINDERKAMACK ROAD, RIVER EDGE, NEW JERSEY 07661 DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.