[Ord. #1576, § 1, 8-27-2002, added; Ord. #2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
a. 
The Township deems it appropriate and necessary to act to ensure retention of existing members and to provide them incentives for recruiting new volunteer members for the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 and the First Aid Squad of the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 (BRFCFA), the Liberty Corner Fire Company (LCFC), and the Liberty Corner First Aid Squad (LCFAS).
b. 
The Township has determined that the creation of a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) will enhance the ability of the Township to retain and recruit volunteer LCFAS, BRFCFA and LCFC members.
[Ord. #1576, § 1, 8-27-2002, added; Ord. # 2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
LOSAP is created, in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq.), to reward active volunteer members of the LCFAS, BRFCFA and LCFC for their loyal, diligent and devoted services to the residents of the Township. An "active volunteer member" is defined by the state law governing LOSAP; specifically, 5:30-14.1 states: "Active volunteer member" means a person who has been so designated by the governing board of a duly created emergency service organization and who is faithfully and actually performing volunteer service in that organization.
[Ord. #1576, § 1, 8-27-2002, added]
a. 
LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred-income account for each active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA and LCFC who meets the criteria set forth below or hereafter provided by amendment to this section.
[Ord. # 2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
b. 
Such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan established by the Township and administered in accordance with the law of the State of New Jersey, the United States Internal Revenue Code and this section.
[Ord. #1576, § 4, 8-27-2002, added; Ord. # 2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible, active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA and LCFC who meets the criteria as follows:
a. 
The number of points required for an active year of service for an active volunteer LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFA member is 100. Points are earned in accordance with the attached schedules.
b. 
An active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC shall not be eligible if on probation or inactive status.
c. 
Probationary or inactive status per Paragraph b, are determined by the bylaws and/or other governing documents of the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC, as the case may be, and/or the officers of each respective organization.
d. 
An active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC shall become eligible to participate in LOSAP immediately following the termination of probation or inactive status.
e. 
Current active volunteer members shall become eligible to participate in LOSAP as of the date that the voters approve LOSAP, except that members of LCFAS shall become eligible to participate in LOSAP as of January 1, 2009.
f. 
Any active member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC who obtains 100 points or more in a calendar year will be eligible to receive $1,182 deferred contribution or such other amount as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services may set as the maximum amount of a LOSAP contribution for that year, for his/her active volunteer status on the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC as the case may be.
g. 
No person who is an active volunteer member in more than one volunteer emergency services organization shall be permitted to receive total deferred contribution for his/her active status in said organizations for more than $1,182 per calendar year, or such other amount as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services may set as the maximum amount of a LOSAP contribution for that year.
h. 
Any active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA and/or LCFC who is receiving a public pension from or through the State of New Jersey shall be permitted to receive such deferred contribution unless otherwise prohibited by law.
[Ord. #1576, § 4, 8-27-2002, added; Ord. # 2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
LOSAP shall not provide for contributions for prior services by any active volunteer member of the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC.
[Ord. #1576, § 6, 8-27-2002, added]
The estimated maximum cost of this program has been calculated as $118,200.00 per year, based on an estimated 100 participants at $1,182.00 per participant in Year 1. In October of each year thereafter, the Director of New Jersey Department of Local Government Services shall adjust the maximum contribution for each LOSAP member in accordance with changes in the consumer price index (CPI). Sponsoring agencies shall be informed of the adjusted amount through the issuance of a Local Finance Notice and publication of a public notice in the New Jersey Register.
[Ord. #1576, § 7, 8-27-2002, added Ord. # 2028, 9-9-2008, amended]
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided to the LCFAS, BRFCFA or LCFC in accordance with the attached schedules.
[Ord. #1576, § 6, 8-27-2002, added]
a. 
The attached ballot question and explanatory statement[1] shall be submitted to the Clerk of Somerset County for the purpose of presenting said ballot question to the voters of the Township at the next general election to be held on November 5, 2002.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said ballot question and explanatory statement are on file with Ord. #1576 in the Township offices.
b. 
This section shall not take effect until and unless the voters of Bernards Township approve the same. In the event that the voters of the Township approve this section, LOSAP shall become effective in calendar year 2003 as of January 1, 2003.[2]
Bernards Township LOSAP Point System For BRFC and LCFC
[Ord. #2100, 3-9-2010, amended; Ord. #2124, 9-14-2010, amended]
Total points required each year for an annual benefit:
100
Emergency calls
Point for each percentage of total calls answered
1
Duty time
For every 30 hours assigned*
3
Drills (maximum points allowable = 40)
In-house instruction lasting at least 1 hour
2
Training (maximum points allowable = 30)
Under 20 hours (per class)
5
20-45 hours (per class)
10
45+ hours (per class)
15
Work Detail (maximum points allowable = 30)
In-house detail lasting at least 1 hour
1
Elected positions (maximum points allowable = 20)
Top Line Officer
20
Other Line Officer
15
Top Administrative Officer
15
Other Administrative Officer
10
Relief Representative/Delegate
4
Appointed positions (maximum points allowable = 15)
Operations Officer
5
Administrative/Committee Head
4
Meetings (maximum points allowable = 15)
Regular company business meeting
1
Special company meeting
1
Years of service (maximum points allowable = 30)
10 - 15 years
10
16 - 20 years
15
20 - 25 years
20
26+ years
30
Other (maximum points allowable = 10)
At the discretion of the Chief/President
1
NOTES:
* Duty Time.
(1)
Volunteer must sign up for a minimum of 30 hours per month for a minimum of 8 months to be eligible for any points in this category.
(2)
6 of the 30 hours must include weekend time (weekend time is defined as Friday at 18:00 hrs to Sunday at 23:59 hrs)
(3)
Volunteer will forfeit his/her block of duty time if he/she misses an emergency call while assigned to duty time.
Bernards Township LOSAP Point System for LCFAS[3]
[Ord. #2124, 9-14-2010, added]
Total points required each year for annual benefit
100
Response to emergency dispatches (maximum points allowable = 50)
Points for each 1% of total annual squad emergency calls
3
(points calculated as of year end; minimum points needed to qualify in this category is 15; must be on crew or at scene prepared to serve as crew)
Duty time
Each month meeting minimum duty time requirements for regular members
3
(minimum points needed to qualify in this category is 24; monthly points forfeited if a member misses a call while on duty without having scheduled a substitute)
Drills and training (maximum points allowable = 30)
Each monthly squad drill attended
2
Each CEU earned outside of squad drills
1
Meetings
Each regular squad meeting attended
2
Years of service (maximum = 30 points)
Each year of active service from 1 through 15
1
Each year of active service over 15 years (e.g. 18 years of service = 21 points; only calendar years in which a member holds regular, exempt or daytime status for more than 6 months are counted
2
[2]
Editor's Note: Ordinance #1576 was approved at the general election held on November 5, 2002.
[3]
Editor's Note: The former LOSAP Point System for LCFAS, as added 9-9-2008 by Ord. #2028, was repealed 3-9-2010 by Ord. #2100.