[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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The duly incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency or volunteer
ambulance or rescue squads recognized by the Township Council of the
Township of Howell.
A program established to provide tax-deferred income benefits
to active volunteer members in good standing of an emergency service
squad.
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.
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.
The period from January 1 through December 31 during which
points may be awarded for service.
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.
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.
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:
(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:
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:
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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:
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1.
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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.
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2.
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The proposed annual contribution for an active
volunteer member shall be $1,150, subject to the consumer price index
annual increases.
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3.
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The estimated cost of the program has been calculated
as $143,750 for regular annual service.
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YES ______ NO _______
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
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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.
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