[Adopted 8-8-2001 by Ord.
No. 2001-9]
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith created in accordance
with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997 to reward members of the volunteer fire company and first aid
organizations for their loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents
of the Township of Mansfield.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to a deferred income
account for each 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 Township pursuant to P.L. 1997, 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 article.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member
that meets the criteria as follows:
A. During the calendar year for which a volunteer member
can be eligible, the volunteer member must earn at least 25 points from any
combinations of categories on the following list.
(1) Regular meetings, 15 points maximum:
(a) One point each for attending regular meeting of the Franklin
Fire Co. No. 1 (the Fire Co.) or the Mansfield Township Ambulance Corp. (the
Ambulance Corp.).
(b) Three points will be given for 100% attendance.
(2) Regular drills, 15 points maximum:
(a) One point each for attending regular drills of the Fire
Co. or the Ambulance Corp.
(b) Three points will be given for 100% attendance.
(3) Emergency calls, 35 points maximum:
(a) Dispatched calls from Burlington County for the Fire
Co.:
|
Percentage
|
Points
|
---|
|
50% +
|
35
|
|
31% to 49%
|
30
|
|
25% to 30%
|
25
|
|
15% to 24%
|
15
|
|
10% to 15%
|
10
|
(b) Dispatched calls from Burlington County for the Ambulance
Corp. (Volunteer):
|
Percentage
|
Points
|
---|
|
25%+
|
35
|
|
16% to 20%
|
30
|
|
11% to 15%
|
25
|
|
9% to 10%
|
15
|
|
5%
|
10
|
(4) Fire Co./Ambulance Corp. positions, 10 points
maximum:
(a) If more than one position is held, only ten-point maximum.
[1] Ten points for Chief and/or President.
[2] Five points for all other line officers, all other executive
officers, Relief Association President, Secretary and Treasurer.
[3] Five points for an active volunteer elected to serve
as a delegate to the New Jersey State First Aid Council, and/or Burlington
County First Aid Council.
(5) Classes, 25 points maximum:
(a) Any class approved by the Fire Co. or the Ambulance Corp.:
[1] Classes under 20 hours: one point per hour; maximum 10
points.
[2] Classes 25 to 45 hours: one point per hour; maximum 15
points.
[3] Classes over 45 hours: 20 points.
(6) Nonemergency events, 10 points maximum:
(b) The following will qualify:
[7] Ambulance Corp. committees (three-point maximum).
[8] Any event at Chief's or President's discretion.
(7) Duty crews, five points maximum:
|
Months
|
Points
|
---|
|
10 to 12
|
5
|
|
9
|
4
|
|
7
|
3
|
|
6
|
2
|
(8) The amount credited to the deferred-income
account of each eligible member is determined as follows:
(a) For purposes of this article, the initial dollar value
per point shall be $20. Furthermore, for purposes of this article, the Township
shall appropriate $36,000 in the year 2002 budget for the LOSAP. A volunteer
member's contribution is then determined by multiplying points earned by the
point value. Contribution per eligible volunteer member is $100, and the maximum
annual contribution per eligible volunteer member shall not exceed $1,150.
(b) The dollar value per point as well as the minimum annual
contribution and the maximum annual contribution per eligible volunteer member
shall be adjusted yearly in accordance with the percentage difference in the
United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price
index as established annually. Township contributions to individual eligible
volunteer member accounts shall be made during the month of March of the following
year.
(c) There shall be a thirty-day review and a thirty-day challenge
period for each individual eligible volunteer member account.
(9) A list of the eligible volunteer members and
the amount of contribution per each eligible volunteer member account shall
be submitted to the Township Finance office and the Clerk/Administrator's
office for review monthly and for the current year no later than January 10
of the following year. Any payout of an individual eligible volunteer member
account shall be made in the month of March of the year following a request
for payout.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated as follows:
A. For regular annual services: $36,000 per year (includes
administrative costs) (estimated for year 2002).
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided to the volunteer fire company members and first aid in accordance with the preceding schedule in §
62-3 above.
This article shall not take effect unless it is approved by voters as
a public question at the next general election.
[Adopted 6-27-2001 by Ord.
No. 2001-10]
The Township of Mansfield (Township) hereby chooses to participate in
the tuition credit program authorized by N.J.S.A. 18A:71-78.1 et seq.
The Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute an agreement with
eligible volunteers and their family members, pursuant to which said volunteers
and family members pledge four years of service to the municipality, either
through the Mansfield Township Ambulance Corp. or the volunteer fire company,
in exchange for the tuition credit authorized by this statute.
The Township Clerk is hereby authorized to issue letters of eligibility
in favor of any volunteers first approved by the Township Committee, stating
that said individual is a member in good standing of the respective organization.