[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Medford 3-18-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-5.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance amended in its entirety Ch. 19, Length of Service Awards Program, adopted 8-27-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-30 and approved by voters at the 11-5-2002 general election; amended in its entirety 4-3-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-6.
A Length of Service Awards Program ("LOSAP") is herewith created in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Laws of 1997,[1] to reward members who volunteer for the for the Township of Medford Department of Fire and EMS, for their loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents of the Township of Medford.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq.
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 the laws of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and this chapter.
If the enabling ordinance or resolution did not provide for an automatic annual CPI adjustment, the sponsoring agency may choose to provide a CPI adjustment from time to time. LOSAP contributions may be increased up to a maximum equal to the cumulative percentage increase since the time the award was last set.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member that meets the criteria as follows:
A. 
Volunteer members who may participate in the program shall include all active firefighters, active probationary firefighters, active sworn members of the fire police, active emergency medical technicians, and active probationary emergency medical technicians, who maintain an active status by attending responses and drills required by Standard Operating Procedure 2027 for Fire and Standard Operating Procedure 6702 for EMS. These procedures identify the minimum response levels and training requirements for volunteer members. Responding members shall be required to meet the criteria as stated in Standard Operating Procedure 2027 for fire and Standard Operating Procedure 6702 for EMS, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said procedures are on file in the Township offices.
B. 
A volunteer may be eligible to participate in the LOSAP immediately upon commencement of active service, assuming the volunteer satisfies the criteria of attendance of the minimum responses and drills for the year and earns at least the minimum points during the year. No member's contribution shall be vested until the volunteer has completed at least five years of active service in any emergency service organization in the state.
C. 
Any member who achieved life member status with the Union Fire Company, Taunton Fire Company, or Medford Emergency Medical Services prior to January 1, 2008, and has a minimum of three Township contributions to the LOSAP system shall be considered vested and shall be eligible to the funds in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and this chapter.
D. 
An active volunteer must earn a minimum of 100 points during the calendar year in order to be eligible for an award. Contributions shall be awarded according to the number of points earned by each volunteer as follows:
Points Earned
Amount Credited
100-199
$700
200-299
$900
300-399
$1,100
400-499
$1,300
500 or more
$1,750
E. 
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Participation in Fire Department responses/EMS responses: (no maximum points). Each member shall receive one response credit for each Fire Department/EMS response and two response credits for each response from 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM that is officially recorded in the records of the Department, and for which attendance was recorded manually or electronically.
(2) 
Training and preventive drills. Volunteers will receive five points for each weekly/monthly drill, special drill or training session conducted by the Fire Company, Fire Department or EMS, as well as for all schools, seminars, conferences, and company/business meetings conducted on/off site by other agencies.
(3) 
Elected or appointed positions.
(a) 
Fire. Each officer who serves a complete year as an active officer in the offices of Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be credited with 25 points.
(b) 
EMS. Each officer who serves a complete year as an active officer in the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and Engineer shall be credited with 25 points.
(4) 
Duty crew.
(a) 
EMS responding members taking a 12-hour weekend duty crew per month will earn 12 points per duty crew.
(b) 
Regular duty. EMS responding members taking a minimum of six hours of duty crew per week will earn six points per duty crew.
(c) 
Saturday night duty crew will earn 10 points.
(d) 
Members who respond to incidents dispatched as all calls including night calls will earn two points per call.
(e) 
Fire responding members who participate in a scheduled duty crew with a minimum of four hours will earn four points per duty crew.
(5) 
Credits for prior service. Volunteers will be awarded 20 points for each year of prior active service (as described above), going back 10 years. 20 points shall be awarded for each year of active service to Medford Township Department of Fire and EMS with a maximum of 200 points.