[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Jackson 6-28-2022 by Ord. No. 20-22. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish an incentive program
in an effort to increase enrollment with respect to volunteer firefighters
and first aid squad members within the Township of Jackson, and to
reward such volunteers who are residents of Jackson Township for their
volunteer efforts and many hours spent to preserve and protect the
health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township. The provisions
of this chapter shall be limited solely to residents of Jackson Township
who are volunteers in any volunteer fire company or volunteer first
aid squad located within the territorial or jurisdiction of Jackson
Township and who are certified as members in good standing, life members
or survivors, by the Chief Executive Officer of their respective volunteer
fire company or first aid squad, as well as immediate family members.
Such a certification shall be filed annually, no later than January
15, with the Township Clerk by the Chief Executive Officer of each
volunteer fire company and volunteer first aid squad. It is not the
intention of this chapter to provide such incentives to paid EMS or
firefighters, and this program is strictly limited to those who volunteer
their services without compensation. The Township recognizes that
if the municipality was required to utilize fully paid emergency services,
such as paid fire and paid EMS, the cost to the taxpayers would far
exceed any potential incentives it could provide to encourage greater
voluntary participation in these first responders. Statistics indicate
that the number of volunteers within the State of New Jersey, particularly
for EMS services, has decreased nearly 40% over prior years. It is
the intention of this chapter to provide such an additional incentive
to hopefully increase the number of volunteers in the municipality.
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall
have the following meanings:
A spouse or son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter who is
less than 21 years of age and whose legal residence is the same as
the legal residence for the volunteer.
An individual who has participated and given volunteer service
in a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid squad within the
Township for the required number of years of faithful service to the
volunteer organization as established by the bylaws or constitution
of said organization which excuses the individual member from payment
of dues and/or maintaining a certain percentage of attendance at required
meetings, drills, etc., as the term "life member" may be individually
defined by each individual service organization.
Any person who shall have served at least one year of continuous
volunteer service in a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid
squad within the Township and who has been certified as such, in writing,
by the Chief Executive Officer of such volunteer fire company or volunteer
first aid squad.
The surviving spouse of any individual who dies while a volunteer
in any volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid squad while a
member in good standing or life member as defined in this section
while said survivor remains a resident of the Township.
Any individual contributing services to a volunteer fire
company or volunteer first aid squad located within the territorial
jurisdiction of the Township of Jackson who performs such services
without remuneration or without a formal agreement or contract for
hire and who is a bona fide resident of Jackson Township.
The required percentage of activity or participation to qualify
as a bona fide member of a volunteer fire department or volunteer
first aid squad.
A.
Every member in good standing and his/her immediate family members,
or a life member and his/her immediate family members, or survivor
of a member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid squad
shall be entitled to the following benefits from the Township:
(1)
Exemption from the payment of any Township fees for Township recreation
activities;
(2)
Township training programs;
(3)
Township licenses and permit fees;
(4)
Fees for the use of Township buildings and facilities and Township
programs, provided the fee or charge is for the personal and nonprofit
use of such members and his/her immediate family members.
B.
As to any and all fees which include monies payable to the state
and/or county, only the municipal portion of said fees are to be waived.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, no person shall
be qualified for benefits hereunder, unless the Chief Executive Officer
of the volunteer fire company or first aid squad shall annually submit
the certification set forth below which certifies such person is entitled
to the benefits of this chapter.
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CERTIFICATION
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I, __________, being of full age, upon my oath, certifies and
says:
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1.
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I hold the office of __________, of the __________ located in
the Township of Jackson. Such office is the Chief Executive Officer
of the organization.
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2.
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I have read Jackson Township's Incentives for Service Volunteers Ordinance, § 34-1 et seq. (Ordinance), understand it and the terms used in it.
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3.
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I certify that the list of persons attached hereto as Exhibit
A are:
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a.
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Bona fide residents of the Township of Jackson as of the time
of this certification;
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b.
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Bona fide members in good standing of the organization; or
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c.
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A life member of the organization; or
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d.
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The surviving spouse of a person who, at the time of his/her
death was a member in good standing or life member of the organization.
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4.
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I understand that by certifying the persons set forth on Exhibit
A, it will entitle each to receive the equivalent of a monetary benefit
at public expense.
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5.
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I certify that I have diligently undertaken to verify that each
of the persons set forth in Exhibit A meet each requirement of the
Ordinance and certify as to his/her entitlement to the Ordinance benefits.
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I hereby certify the foregoing statements made by me are true.
I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are
willfully false, I am subject to punishment.
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Dated:
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__________
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