[Added 1-16-2008 by Ord. No. 3838]
A. 
The Volunteer Firefighters Assistance Plan is hereby established to provide financial assistance to eligible members of the fire companies that comprise the Lower Merion Fire Department.
B. 
Effective date of the plan. The plan shall be effective on or after January 1, 2008.
C. 
A plan description establishing who may participate in the plan, the type or types of assistance which may be made available, and the procedure for requesting benefits shall be adopted by the Board of Commissioners, and may be amended by it at any time.
The plan shall be funded and maintained through contributions made by citizens in the community and others and by appropriations from Township funds. Such funds shall be maintained in a segregated account(s) and used exclusively to provide benefits to eligible participants so long as the fund continues. All expenses related to the maintenance and operation of the fund shall be paid by the Township.
A. 
Board of Trustees. The Plan shall be managed and administered by a Board of Trustees comprised of five individuals. Three trustees shall be the Township Manager, the Chief Fire Officer, and the Chair of the Fire Committee of the Board of Commissioners, all of whom shall serve ex officio with all rights and duties of a trustee. The other two trustees shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. One trustee shall be appointed for two years and the other trustee shall be appointed for four years. Thereafter, each appointed trustee shall serve a term of four years. Each appointed trustee shall be a resident of Lower Merion Township or the Borough of Narberth. Preferably appointees will have had experience in municipal fire service. No appointed trustee may be a member of the Board of Trustees of any fire company, nor be a participant in the plan or be eligible as such.
B. 
The fund shall be managed and administered under an appropriate deed of trust prepared by the Township Solicitor and approved by the Board of Commissioners.
C. 
Plan administrator.
(1) 
The Township Manager shall be the plan administrator to handle the day to day operation of the plan, including the expenditure of the plan's funds for the benefit of its participants. The Township Manager may serve through a designee appointed by him, unless the Board of Commissioners shall appoint another individual or entity.
(2) 
The plan administrator or designee shall keep minutes of the Board of Trustees' proceedings and all dates, records, and documents pertaining to the Trustees' administration of the fund.
The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to amend, modify or wholly discontinue the plan at any time; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the previously acquired rights of any participant in the plan. Upon discontinuance of the plan, any funds remaining after the payment of expenses shall be distributed to the Township.