[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Medford 8-27-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-30;[1] amended in its entirety 4-3-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-6.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter was approved by voters at the
11-5-2002 general election.
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is
herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997,[1] to reward members of the volunteer Medford Fire Department
and Township Emergency Squad, for their loyal, diligent and devoted
services to the residents of the Township of Medford.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A14-183 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.
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
and active sworn members of the fire police, who maintain an active
status by attending responses and drills required by Standard Operating
Procedure 2027. This procedure identifies the minimum response levels
and training requirements for volunteer members. Responding members
shall be required to meet the criteria as stated in the Medford Volunteer
Emergency Medical Services, Inc., Constitution & By-laws[1] and Standard Operating Procedure 2027, a copy of which
is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said constitution and by-laws
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.
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
|
$400
|
|
200-299
|
$600
|
|
300-399
|
$800
|
|
400-499
|
$1,000
|
|
500 and above
|
$1,250
|
D.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with
points for volunteer services provided to the volunteer first aid
organization 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 responder from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. that is officially recorded
in the records of the Department, and for which an attendance sheet
was authorized and prepared.
(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 division,
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 in the
offices of Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant,
Engineer, President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be credited with
25 points.
(b)
EMS: Each officer who serves a complete year in the
offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief,
Battalion Chief/Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and Engineer
shall be credited with 25 points.
(4)
Duty crew.
(a)
EMS responding members taking a twelve-hour weekend
duty crew per month will earn 10 points.
(b)
Regular duty. EMS responding members taking a minimum
of six hours of duty crew per week will earn five points.
(c)
Saturday night duty crew will earn 10 points.
(d)
All calls, including night calls, will earn two points.
(e)
Fire
responding members weeknight scheduled duty crew with a minimum four
(4) hours will earn four (4) points.
(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. Twenty points shall be awarded for each year
of prior active service with a maximum of 200 points.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated
at approximately $83,000 per year.
