Township may begin LOSAP program Pension program for emergency workers will be put to the vote

Staff Writer

By dave goldberg

Township may begin LOSAP program
Pension program
for emergency workers
will be put to the vote


DAWN MARIE SANNWALDT  South Brunswick resident Andrew Tsang, 17, practices his backhand on the tennis courts at Woodlot Park on New Road over the weekend.DAWN MARIE SANNWALDT South Brunswick resident Andrew Tsang, 17, practices his backhand on the tennis courts at Woodlot Park on New Road over the weekend.

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Township Council will be introducing an ordinance that could create a Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for the town’s emergency volunteers.

"This program is designed to enhance the first aid squad and the volunteer Fire Department in the town," said council Vice President Leo Ryan. "This is an incentive we have put into place for these groups."

The LOSAP program is a pension plan given to the town’s emergency volunteers in the form of $700 per year. The program, which must be passed by referendum, will appear for a public vote in November.

Councilman Francis "Mack" Womack said that the town needs to take advantage of this program.

"This is a good program that we need to put through to support volunteers 100 percent," Womack said. "The Legislature has made this available, allowing us to help the first aid squad and the volunteer firemen."

Ryan said that he hopes to do more for these organizations.

"At this point, this is the least we can do; I would like to do a lot more," Ryan said. "I’m glad that we were able to implement it into the budget. I am very happy to see it as a part of North Brunswick."

Councilwoman Maureen Little said that it is a way for the town to give back to volunteers.

"It is a wonderful program," Little said. "It is a way for the town to give back to the volunteers. It is also something to entice other volunteers to get involved. I think it is great; we appreciate the hard work that they contribute to the community."

Mayor David Spaulding said that there is an opportunity to attract more people to volunteer.

"It can be very frustrating to try to attract more members," Spaulding said. "This is a tool that can be used to attract more people. These are services in town that we rely upon. I encourage people to vote for this. These volunteers are people work who many hours during the week and weekends. And, it is more of a challenge to draw more people."

Ryan also believes that this will help increase membership in those organizations.

"We were able to find room in the budget to fit this item in," Ryan said. "We have added it as an enhancement for those organizations. I am confident that it will increase membership. These organizations are well-deserving of whatever we can do for them."

Spaulding said that the incentives may be the answer to membership problems.

"In order to attract, if that is what we need to do, then it should be implemented," Spaulding said.

Womack said that it will bring advantages to the town.

"Authorized by the state Legislature, the LOSAP program is volunteer appreciation," Womack said. "There are many advantages; the only question will be if we are giving enough. It will fit in the budget."

The most significant part of the LOSAP program is that the town will have the opportunity to give back to volunteers for the last five years.

"The most significant part of this program is that we go back for the last five years in benefits," Womack said. "We will be going back five years to give back. After this year, we will be continuing to give every year for volunteers. This first year will be the only year that we will allocate the five years back pay."