[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township of Howell 7-7-2003 by Ord. No. O-03-27. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is hereby created in accordance with Public Law 1997, Chapter 388 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq.) to reward the members of the Howell First Aid Squad, the Howell-Farmingdale First Aid Squad and the Ramtown First Aid Squad for their years of loyal, diligent and devoted service to the residents of Howell Township.
For the purposes of this chapter, the operative words and terms shall have the meanings set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-184, and N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.1, as those provisions may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
ACTIVE VOLUNTEER MEMBER
A person who has been so designated by the governing board of a duly created emergency squad recognized by the Township Council of the Township of Howell, and who is faithfully and actually performing volunteer service in that organization according to the organization's bylaws.
BENEFICIARY
The person, persons or legal entity designated by a participant to receive any undistributed compensation which becomes payable in the event of the participant's death.
CERTIFIED CALL QUOTA
No later than January 15 following the close of each point year, the Captain and President of each squad shall certify to the Municipal Manager the amount of calls dispatched to the individual squad. This shall be the basis for percentage requirements for response points. Dispatched requests for mutual aid or coverage outside the primary response area of a squad shall not be utilized in the calculation for total certified calls. However, completed responses to calls outside the primary response area may be included in an individual squad member's total responses when calculating the response point percentage.
CONTRACTOR
Any person or entity, other than the Township of Howell, authorized to do business in New Jersey that provides investments or services or both regarding the Township of Howell's Length of Service Awards Program.
DISPATCHED CALLS
For the purpose of this plan, each incident shall be counted as one call assignment regardless of the number of dispatch alarms required to staff the incident. The call shall be counted for the squad responsible for that primary response area.
EMERGENCY SERVICE SQUAD
The duly incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency or volunteer ambulance or rescue squads recognized by the Township Council of the Township of Howell.
LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM (LOSAP)
A program established to provide tax-deferred income benefits to active volunteer members in good standing of an emergency service squad.
LIFE MEMBER
An individual member of a recognized emergency service squad who has been awarded life membership in the respective squad in accordance with the squad's bylaws.
LOCAL PLAN ADMINISTRATOR (LPA)
The individual responsible for acting as the agreement representative with respect to the contractor and to perform agreement duties, if any, that are not to be performed by the contractor under the terms of the LOSAP plan agreement.
POINT YEAR
The period from January 1 through December 31 during which points may be awarded for service.
PRIMARY RESPONSE AREA
The area designated for emergency medical response by each first aid squad's charter. Tri-squad dispatches will not be included in the percentage requirement for those squads assisting in covering other primary response areas.
VESTING
The length of time a bona fide volunteer must serve in order to secure the right to receive benefits of participation in a length of service award.
YEARS OF ACTIVE EMERGENCY SERVICE
A twelve-month period from January 1 through December 31 during which an active member participates in the first aid service and satisfies the minimum requirements of participation under the point system established by this chapter on a consistent and uniform basis.
The Howell Township LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth herein. Such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Township Council pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq., and such plan shall be administered in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of New Jersey pertaining thereto, the United States Internal Revenue Code and this chapter. The plan shall have the following provisions:
A. 
Benefits shall become fully vested upon the completion of five years of active volunteer emergency service under the LOSAP Plan.
B. 
There shall be a forfeiture provision for a break of service of two consecutive years prior to vesting.
C. 
Benefits shall be payable after 10 years, at age 55, or upon another qualifying event, such as death, pursuant to law.
D. 
As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-188, points will be awarded according to certain criteria herein. To qualify for the full award for a calendar year under the plan, an active volunteer member shall be required to accrue 100 points in that point (calendar) year.
E. 
The Municipal Manager shall serve as the local plan administrator.
The Howell Township LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible active volunteer member of a first aid squad who meets the following criteria. All volunteers must be members of squads in good standing in accordance with the individual squad's bylaws to qualify for an award.
A. 
To be eligible for a LOSAP award, an individual must have served one year as an active volunteer member of the Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad, the Howell-Farmingdale First Aid Squad or the Ramtown First Aid Squad.
B. 
The amount of the award for a point year under the program shall be based upon the points accrued in a calendar year in accordance with the following point schedule: Each member must accumulate a minimum of 100 points.
(1) 
One point for every one hour of training exercise completed. A maximum of 16 points shall be awarded in this category.
(2) 
One point for every one hour of drill completed. A maximum of 16 points shall be awarded in this category.
(3) 
One point for every meeting attended. A maximum of 12 points shall be awarded in this category.
(4) 
One point for each work detail completed. A maximum of 12 points shall be awarded in this category.
(5) 
Life members shall be awarded one point for each year of service up to a maximum of 15 points.
(6) 
Response to call points shall be awarded in accordance with the following schedule:
(a) 
Ten percent of the member's squad's certified call quota: 60 points.
(b) 
Fifteen percent of the member's squad's certified call quota: 70 points.
(c) 
Twenty percent of the member's squad's certified call quota: 80 points.
(7) 
Fifteen points for service as captain or president.
(8) 
Ten points for service for all other officers.
(9) 
Ten points for certified instructors who conduct at least one training class per point (calendar) year for the squads covered by this chapter.
(10) 
An approved college student on temporary leave during the academic year shall be eligible for a 50% benefit, provided he or she accumulates at least 65 points.
(11) 
A certified active life member of a squad shall be eligible for 50% of the benefit, provided he or she accumulates at least 65 points. A certified life member may receive a full benefit in the event the member can achieve 100 points.
(12) 
Active members of the military reserve shall be subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 38:23-1 et seq.
C. 
The Captain and President of each squad shall certify to the Municipal Manager the number of points awarded to each member in good standing, no later than January 15 following the close of the point year. The report to the Manager shall also certify the names of all members, certified life members and approved college students on temporary leave of the squad and the year and month each began service in the squad.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member that meets the criteria as follows:
A. 
The annual contribution shall be $1,150 per eligible member per qualifying year subject to periodic consumer price index increases pursuant to law.
B. 
The estimated cost of the program annually has been calculated as follows: 125 members X $1,150 per member = $143,750.
Contracted packages for benefits shall be reviewed and recommended to the Township Council by the LOSAP Committee in consultation with the First Aid Squads duly recognized by the Township Council of the Township of Howell. After the initial adoption of a contracted package, any proposed changes to the package or the LOSAP program shall be subject to the review of the majority of the original enabling LOSAP Committee and the participants of the plan.
The following referendum question shall be submitted to the voters of the Township of Howell at the November 4, 2003, general election:
Shall the Township of Howell be authorized to establish a Length of Service Awards Program for the Howell First Aid Squad, the Howell-Farmingdale First Aid Squad and the Ramtown First Aid Squad members that serve the Township of Howell, pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
1.
The program shall provide for annual contributions to a deferred income account for each active volunteer member that meets eligibility criteria and in accordance with the schedule adopted by the Township of Howell.
2.
The proposed annual contribution for an active volunteer member shall be $1,150, subject to the consumer price index annual increases.
3.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated as $143,750 for regular annual service.
YES ______ NO _______
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Township of Howell desires to sponsor a Length of Service Awards Program for the active volunteer members of the emergency service or organizations operating within the Township. The awards program would consist of an annual contribution to a deferred compensation program for all qualifying members. Members of the Howell First Aid Squad, the Howell-Farmingdale First Aid Squad and the Ramtown First Aid Squad would earn points for organization-related activities, and they would qualify for the annual contribution upon earning 100 points per year. Details of the point system are available for public view in the Office of Howell Township Clerk and are posted in the Howell Township Main Administration Building. The proposed maximum annual contribution for each qualifying active member of the Howell First Aid Squad, the Howell-Farmingdale First Aid Squad and the Ramtown First Aid Squad is $1,150, subject to the consumer price index annual increases, and the proposed estimated total amount to be budgeted for the program is $143,750.