[1997 § 35-17; Ord. No. 09-2000]
A Length of Service Awards Program, hereinafter referred to as LOSAP, is herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997, to reward members of the Absecon Volunteer Fire Department and the Absecon VFW Volunteer Ambulance Squad for their loyal, diligent, and lengthy services to the residents of the City of Absecon.
[1997 § 35-18; Ord. No. 09-2000]
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each volunteer member who meets the criteria set forth in Section 35-19; that such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the City of Absecon 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 contributions to each eligible member that meets the criteria as follows:
A. 
Each active volunteer who would be eligible for LOSAP shall accumulate points and be provided a LOSAP payment from the City of Absecon according to the following schedule:
500 points = $1,150 per year
475 to 499 points = $575 per year
450 to 474 points = $525 per year
425 to 449 points = $475 per year
400 to 424 points = $425 per year
300 to 399 points = $375 per year
B. 
Points shall be awarded according to Schedule A (attached) for the Absecon Volunteer Fire Department and Schedule B (attached) for the Absecon Emergency Services, Inc.
C. 
In all case the following schedule represents the maximum and minimum points that can be awarded within the categories listed on Schedules A and B. Operations must represent a minimum of 60% of all points in order to qualify for an annual award. Administration can only represent 10% maximum of the points awarded for an annual award and Training can represent 30% of the points awarded annually.
D. 
The annual contribution for the City of Absecon for each qualifying volunteer shall be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-185(f).
[1997 Code § 35-20; Ord. No. 09-2000]
Ten years of service are required in order for each member to become vested in the LOSAP. Prior service years shall be recognized and credited for vesting purposes only, up to a maximum of five years.
[1997 Code § 35-20; Ord. No. 09-2000; Ord. No. 19-2007]
The estimated cost of this program will be $69,000 in the first year and has been calculated as follows:
Fire Department (45 members @ $1,150 each)
$51,750
Ambulance Squad (15 members @ $1,150 each)
$17,250
Total
$69,000
[Ord. No. 19-2007 § 6]
This section shall not take effect unless it is approved by the voters of the City of Absecon as a Public Question at the next general election, which will be held on November 6, 2007. (The Public Question was adopted by the voters on November 6, 2007.)