[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Lacey 8-14-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-33. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Volunteer Fire Department — See Ch. 43.
A.
A Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) is herewith
created in accordance with P.L. 1997, c. 388, to reward members of
the Fire Companies and First Aid and EMS Squads of the Township of
Lacey for their loyal, diligent and devoted services to the residents
of the Township of Lacey.
B.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions
to a deferred-income account for each volunteer member that meets
the criteria set forth herein. Such contributions shall be made in
accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Township of
Lacey pursuant to P.L. 1997, c. 388, and said plan shall be administered
in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, the United
States Internal Revenue Code and this chapter.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions
to each eligible member that meets the criteria as follows:
A.
Any active volunteer member shall be eligible to participate
in the plan immediately upon commencement of active emergency services.
B.
Termination of service. Any participant who terminates
service as an active volunteer shall cease to participate hereunder.
A former participant will become a participant immediately upon returning
to the service of the plan administrator as an active volunteer member.
The estimated total cost of the program has
been calculated at $276,000 for regular annual services, based on
the maximum number (240) of active volunteer members of the First
Aid and EMS Squads and the Fire Companies. The estimated total annual
program cost will vary from year to year based upon estimated maximum
Volunteer Fire Company and First Aid and EMS Squad membership for
the year in question.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited
with points for volunteer services provided to the Fire Companies
and the First Aid and EMS Squads of the Township of Lacey in accordance
with the point schedule set forth as follows:
A.
Fire Companies.
(1)
A year of active emergency service shall be credited
under the plan for each plan year in which an active volunteer firefighter
of the Lacey Volunteer Fire Companies accumulates at least 100 points.
A year of active service will commence January 1 and end December
31 of each year.
(2)
Points shall be granted for the following activities
and upon the approval of the plan administrator, whom shall be the
governing body unless and until designated otherwise by resolution:
(a)
Fire academy training courses (state and federal):
one point per course hour to a maximum of 16 points. Must produce
certificate for verification.
(b)
Company drills: three points per drill.
(d)
Attendance at general Fire Company business
meetings: two points per meeting.
(e)
Participation in fire call responses. Points
for responding to a percentage of total calls in a plan year are outlined
below:
|
Percentage of Participation
|
Points Earned
| |
|---|---|---|
|
60% or higher
|
50
| |
|
50 to 59%
|
40
| |
|
40 to 49%
|
30
| |
|
30 to 39%
|
20
| |
|
20 to 29%
|
15
| |
|
1 to 19%
|
10
|
(g)
Fund-raising events: five points for each event.
(h)
Longevity: one point for every year of service
as a member in good standing, as defined in the bylaws.
B.
First Aid and EMS Squads.
(1)
A year of active emergency service shall be credited under the plan for each plan year in which an active volunteer member of the Lacey Volunteer First Aid and EMS Squads accumulates at least 100 points, 20 points of which must be earned for call response pursuant to Subsection B(2)(c) below. A year of active service will commence January 1 and end December 31 of each year.
(2)
Points shall be granted for the following activities
and upon the approval of the plan administrator, whom shall be the
governing body unless and until designated otherwise by resolution:
(a)
Drills, EMS and rescue training (25 points maximum):
one point per continuing education unit. Instructors shall receive
double credit up to the point maximum. All of the training herein
must be approved by the Captain or, in his/her absence, a line officer.
(b)
Squad monthly meetings (12 points maximum):
one point for every membership meeting attended.
(c)
Participation in emergency call responses (50
points maximum).
[1]
Points for responding to a minimum number of
calls in a plan year are outlined below:
|
Number of Calls Answered
|
Points Earned
| |
|---|---|---|
|
20 to 24 calls
|
20
| |
|
25 to 30 calls
|
30
| |
|
31 to 49 calls
|
40
| |
|
50 or higher
|
50
|
[2]
Points earned under this subsection are not
cumulative and are assessed based upon total number of calls answered
in the plan year.
(d)
Squad activities/events (30 points maximum):
one point for every two hours of assignment. Such activities/events
include, but are not limited to rig maintenance, parades and other
community or Squad functions. Captain or Squad President shall assign
a point schedule prior to an event under this subsection.
(e)
Cleanup/building maintenance details (12 points
maximum): one point per detail as scheduled by the Vice President
or President.
(f)
Specialty teams (10 points maximum): one point
for each hour of participation. Members must actively participate
in at least 50% of the Technical Rescue Team, Bike Team, Extrication
Team or similar training and/or meetings to be eligible for points
under this subsection.
(g)
On call and rig checks (50 points maximum):
one point for each duty crewmember who is available “on duty”
for 10 hours.
(h)
Officers (25 points maximum):
(i)
Longevity (25 points maximum): one point for
each year of active service. To qualify for points under this subsection,
members must have been an active volunteer member of the First Aid
and EMS Squads prior to January 1, 2001.
The maximum contribution for each active volunteer
member shall be $1,150 per year of active emergency service, subject
to periodic consumer price index increases pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-185.
A copy of this chapter, once approved by the
voters pursuant to the public question required by P.L. 1997, c. 388,
shall be filed with the Division of Local Government Services within
30 days of the date of the referendum.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 2003-33 was approved
at the general election held in November 2003.
All provisions of the Emergency Services Volunteer
Length of Service Award Program Act, P.L. 1997, c. 388, and regulations
promulgated herewith, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.1 et seq. as well as any revisions,
amendments or additions to the Act or the regulations, are hereby
incorporated by reference and made a part of this chapter.
