BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — On Election Day, Oceanport voters will not only be electing three council members, they will also be asked to approve a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP).
On Nov. 2, borough ballots will include the question, “Shall the mayor and council of the Borough of Oceanport be authorized to establish a LOSAP for its volunteer Fire, Fire Police and Emergency Medical Services members?”
“Our emergency services came to us and asked if we would consider putting LOSAP on the ballot,” Mayor Maria Gatta said. “Hopefully, this will be an incentive to not only reward the current volunteers who are on call 24/7. We would also like it to attract people who want to join. There is a shortage of volunteers.”
If approved by voters, LOSAP would provide a maximum of $1,150 to be deposited annually in a LOSAP account for each active volunteer in the borough’s emergency services — fire department, first aid squad and fire police department — who meet the criteria required by the LOSAP ordinance.
The fire departments and the first aid squad have each created their own LOSAP point system where a specific point value is assigned to the different duties within the department.
Each active volunteer must accumulate 50 points annually in order to qualify for LOSAP.
“This is not an automatic,” Gatta said. “In order to qualify, you must earn the points.”
She said the points are earned for exceeding the responsibilities of a volunteer.
“You don’t get points for just responding to calls,” she said. “The points [are acquired] from training classes and extended education. ”
Among the criteria for the fire department are: completing the 90-hour basic firefighter training program for 50 points; completing company drills, two points per drill; and serving as chief, 30 points.
Criteria for the First Aid and Rescue squads include: completing the basic EMT (emergency medical technician) course for 15 points; being elected or appointed captain, 15 points; and fund-raising, one point per two hours.
There are 24 active volunteers in the first aid department and 60 in the fire department. Of the 84 total active volunteers, 60 are eligible to qualify for LOSAP, Gatta said.
The estimated cost to the borough for LOSAP would be $69,000 a year.
She said the borough opted to create LOSAP because the fire department and first aid squad are completely served by volunteer members who do not receive monetary compensation for their dedicated service to the community.
“This service includes not only responses to fire and first aid calls, where the safety and well-being of the volunteers and the public are at risk, but also the extensive training each member must continually maintain,” according to the ordinance establishing LOSAP.
The council recognizes the time and commitment the volunteers put into serving the community, according to Gatta, who said the program was designed to reward them for their services.