squad members
Plan provides pension benefit for active
squad members
BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE
Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Officials can now offer a small token of thanks to borough First Aid volunteers for what they say is a tremendous job well done.
After an overwhelming win at the polls on Nov. 4, the borough will now reward first aid department volunteers and offer an incentive to new members by implementing the state-sponsored Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) pension.
After getting the question on the ballot in August, the reward measure was approved overwhelmingly with a 2,014 to 822 vote.
While other area fire departments have taken the lead in getting the program on the books, Tinton Falls has fire districts which have their own LOSAP pension in place.
The fire department’s LOSAP is independent of the governing body’s jurisdiction, because under state law, fire departments that have fire districts are their own tax-funded entity, Borough Council President LuAnn Catlin explained in a past interview.
Though fire officials are volunteers too, being a part of fire districts affords the fire department with its own budget, elected commissioners, separate elections in February of each year, and independent purchasing power, she said.
The LOSAP question for the fire department went on the election ballot during the district elections and was approved.
With the program in place, right now about 24 active EMS volunteers, in addition to the firefighters, stand to benefit from the pension.
The first aid LOSAP will be administered through the borough.
In order to qualify for the benefit, which was generated from the state Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services and signed into law in 1998, volunteers must put in a certain amount of time and service to their designated volunteer fire or first aid company.
Points are awarded for completing various tasks annually, from attending meetings to responding to emergency calls.
The program, according to Local Government Services literature, is a statute defined as "a system established to provide tax-deferred income benefits to active volunteer members of an emergency service organization."
Borough officials are requesting that each eligible first aid volunteer receive a maximum of $1,150 per year, which is the state’s maximum allowable amount. The pension contribution is usually scaled to the extent of service each volunteer has invested. Those with the most points awarded for time invested as an active member and duties accomplished will receive the maximum benefit.