[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Stafford 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-15. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Volunteer fire companies — See Ch. 25.
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 EMS Squad of the Township of Stafford for their
loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents of the Township
of Stafford.
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
Stafford 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 $198,950 for regular annual services, based on
the records of the Companies and the EMS Squad which reflect a total
of 173 active volunteer members.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited
with points for volunteer services provided to the Fire Companies
and EMS Squad of the Township of Stafford in accordance with the point
schedule set forth as follows:
A.
Fire Companies. A year of active emergency service
shall be credited under the plan for each plan year in which an active
volunteer firefighter of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Companies accumulates
at least 50 points. A year of active service will commence January
1 and end December 31 of each year. Points shall be granted in accordance
with the following system. Such system shall provide that points shall
be granted for the following activities and upon the approval of the
plan administrator, who shall be the governing body unless and until
designated otherwise by resolution. The fixed annual contribution
to a deferred-income account for each active or life member who successfully
earns a minimum of 50 points shall be $1,150. A volunteer must serve
for five years before the benefits of participation in this length
of service award program vest.
(1)
Training courses: 20 points maximum; one point per
every two hours attended, excluding travel time.
(2)
Drills: one point per drill.
(4)
Attendance at regular Fire Company meetings: one point
per meeting.
(5)
Participation in fire call responses. Points for responding
to a minimum number of calls is outlined below:
|
Percentage of Participation
|
Points Earned
| |
|---|---|---|
|
60% or higher
|
30
| |
|
50% to 59%
|
25
| |
|
40% to 49%
|
20
| |
|
30% to 39%
|
15
| |
|
20% to 29%
|
10
| |
|
1% to 19%
|
5
|
(6)
Fire Company sanctioned events: two points.
(7)
Fund-raising events: one point for each day of participation;
minimum of two hours of participation per day to qualify.
(8)
Life member: 25 points per year.
B.
EMS Squad. A year of active emergency service shall
be credited under the plan for each plan year in which an active volunteer
member of the Stafford Volunteer EMS Squad accumulates at least 50
points. A year of active service will commence January 1 and end December
31 of each year. Points shall be granted in accordance with the following
system. Such system shall provide that points shall be granted for
the following activities and upon the approval of the plan administrator,
who shall be the governing body unless and until designated otherwise
by resolution. The fixed annual contribution to a deferred-income
account for each active or life member who successfully earns a minimum
of 50 points shall be $1,150. A volunteer must serve for five years
before the benefits of participation in this length of service award
program vest.
(1)
Certification: EMT/paramedic: 15 points.
(2)
CPR: one point.
(3)
PHTLS (pre-hospital trauma life support) certification:
five points.
(4)
CEVO or EVOC (certified emergency vehicle or emergency
vehicle operator) course attendance: two points.
(5)
Call response: one point for every eight calls. Maximum:
25 points.
(6)
Duty crew: five points for participation in a duty
crew for 44 out of 52 weeks.
(7)
Meeting attendance: one point for each meeting attended.
(8)
Squad drills as required by the Captain or his designee:
one point for every two hours.
(9)
Committee members: four points for each Committee.
(10)
Committee Chairperson: five points for each Committee.
(11)
Squad event as specified by the Captain or his designee:
one point for every two hours.
(13)
Life member: 25 points per year.
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. 2003-15
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.
