A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997 to reward volunteer firefighters of the Reliance Fire Company for their loyal, diligent and devoted services to the residents of the Borough of Woodstown.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Woodstown 8-26-2003 by Ord. No. 584; amended in its entirety 8-12-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-16. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Editor's Note: The Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) was approved by the electorate of the Borough of Woodstown at the General Election of November 4, 2004. Ordinance No. 2025-16, which amended this chapter in its entirety, was approved at the General Election of November 4, 2025.
Be it ordained by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Woodstown, in the County of Salem and State of New Jersey.
A.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed 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 Borough of Woodstown 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 U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code and this chapter.
B.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member of the Reliance Fire Company who, in accordance with the bylaws of their organization, attains not less than 85 points in accordance with Schedule A, attached hereto,[1] during the calendar year. Due to the fact that the Reliance Fire Company also services the Township of Pilesgrove, the total contribution shall be shared equally by Pilesgrove Township and the Borough of Woodstown. Each member who qualifies shall receive a maximum of $2,091 for a full year of service, subject to periodic Consumer Price Index increases as permitted by law. The benefit shall be funded at a rate of 1/2 by the Township of Pilesgrove and 1/2 by the Borough of Woodstown. The exact amount of the benefit shall be based on the number of members who attain not less than 85 points. Any member who shall serve for less than one year shall have his or her benefit prorated based upon the length of service in that year.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A referred to herein may be found at the end of this chapter.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated as follows:
A.
For regular annual services: $52,000 per year, funded at a rate of 1/2 by the Township of Pilesgrove and 1/2 by the Borough of Woodstown.
Since the Reliance Fire Company provides services in two municipalities, separate LOSAP programs must be established in each municipality using the same point system and benefit plan. Pursuant to state regulations these LOSAP programs will be coordinated through an interlocal agreement to be adopted between the Township of Pilesgrove and the Borough of Woodstown in which the Borough of Woodstown will serve as the lead agency. Said interlocal agreement will provide for a common contractor to implement the established benefit plan.
Schedule A LOSAP Point System | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 85 points. Points shall be granted in accordance with a system adopted by the Woodstown Borough Council and Pilesgrove Township Committee. The initial point system which shall be governed by the constitutions and by-laws of the Reliance Fire Company and the American Legion Ambulance Association shall provide the following: | ||||
I. Training Courses — 25 point maximum | ||||
1. Courses under 20 hours duration — 1 point per hour, with a maximum of 5 points. | ||||
2. Courses of 20 to 45 hours duration — 1 point per hour for each hour over initial 20 hours, with a maximum of 10 points. | ||||
3. Courses over 45 hours duration — 15 points per course. | ||||
II. Drills — 25 points maximum | ||||
1. 2 points per drill, minimum 2-hour drill. | ||||
III. Duty Crew or Stand-by — 25 point maximum | ||||
1. Duty crew — 1 point each shift. | ||||
2. Stand-by — 1 point each. A stand-by is defined as line of duty activity of the volunteer fire company lasting for 2 hours, not falling under one of the other categories. | ||||
IV. Elected or Appointed Positions — 25 point maximum | ||||
Elected or appointed position means line officers, department or company officers or any county or state office. | ||||
1. Completion of 1-year term in an elected or appointed position — 25 points. | ||||
2. An active volunteer firefighter serving as a voting member to a firefighter's convention shall also be eligible to receive 1 point per meeting. | ||||
V. Attendance at Meetings — 20 point maximum | ||||
1. Attendance at any official meetings of the department or any county or state meeting as an official representative of the company — 2 points per meeting. | ||||
VI. Participating in Emergency Responses — 25 points for each category responding on the minimum number of calls, as outlined below: | ||||
Station Calls company | ||||
Total number of calls volunteer company responds to annually | 0-75 | 76-150 | 151-300 | 301 & up |
Minimum percentage of calls volunteer must respond to annually in order to receive 25 points credit | 45% | 35% | 25% | 15% |
VII. Miscellaneous Activities — 25 points maximum | ||||
1. Participation in inspections and other activities not otherwise listed — 1 point per activity. | ||||