[Adopted 7-10-2000 by Ord. No. 1787]
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is
herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997
(N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq.), to reward members of the North Arlington
Volunteer Fire Department and North Arlington Volunteer Emergency
Squad for their loyal, diligent and devoted service to the residents
of the Borough of North Arlington.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions
to a deferred contribution 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
Borough of North Arlington 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. A year of service shall be credited under a service
award program for each calendar year after establishment of the program
in which an active emergency service volunteer accumulates at least
50 points.
B. Five years of service are required for vesting in
the program.
C. Any member who has completed 10 years of service to
the community as of January 1 following the approval date of this
article will be considered vested.
D. If an active volunteer member meets the year-of-active-service
requirement, the Borough of North Arlington will provide a contribution
of $1,150 per year per member.
While the maximum contribution amount is set
by statute, it is subject to periodic increases that are tied to the
consumer price index (N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-185f). The permitted maximum
contribution amount shall be issued by the Director of the Division
of Local Government of the Department of Community Affairs annually.
The Mayor and Council, by a majority vote, may then increase the maximum
amount by an amount not to exceed the increase issued by the Director
of the Division of Local Government Services of the Department of
Community Affairs.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated
as follows: for regular annual services: $161,000 per year.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited
with points for volunteer services provided to the Fire Department
or first aid squad in accordance with the following schedule:
A. Fire Department: See Schedule A attached hereto and
adopted as part of the North Arlington Fire Department Rules and Regulations.
B. Emergency Squad: See Schedule B attached hereto and
adopted as part of the North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad Bylaws.
This article shall not take effect unless it
is approved by voters as a public question at the next general election.
The effective date will be the January 1 following the approval by
voters.
[Added 10-11-2012 by Ord. No. 2107]
A. The LOSAP Committee shall be comprised of the Chief Financial Officer
of the Borough, one representative of the North Arlington Fire Department
as selected by the North Arlington Fire Department and one representative
of the North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad as selected by the
North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad.
B. The Committee shall be authorized to serve as the local plan administrator
of the plan, to represent the Borough of North Arlington and to execute
individual participation agreements.
C. All financial withdrawals from the plan by any member must be approved,
in writing, by at least two members of the Committee.
D. Upon any change in the membership of the Committee, the governing
body shall pass a resolution ratifying such change and authorizing
the newly selected individual to act as a signatory for the plan.