Benefit Increase on the Table For Sparta Volunteers

By Michael Daigle

Taking one more step to complete a task begun in the spring, the Sparta Township Council Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would increase the retirement benefits for volunteer first aid responders.

The ordinance, which will have a public hearing on Aug. 6, increases the rewards under the LOSAP, or the Length of Service Award Program, for certain committee posts and for certain activities undertaken by the Sparta Ambulance Squad.

LOSAP is a program approved by the state that is designed to provide a contribution to a retirement fund for volunteer emergency service members such as ambulance squad members or firefighters.

The awards are based on active participation in the squad’s activities, and can range from $100 to $1,150 annually per qualified member.

The council, minus members Jerry Murphy and John Schon, introduced the ordinance without comment.

Squad members who serve on the following squad committees will be awarded one point for every two verified hours of service, up to a maximum of 12 points: building and grounds; building rental; equipment and supplies; LOSAP; quality assurance; rig maintenance and repair; and statistics.

Squad members who participate in the following events will be credited with one point for each event attended, up to a maximum of 12 points: trade shows; memorial services; township meetings; special conferences; New Jersey First Aid Council 12th District meetings; community services and outreach service.

In the spring, Sparta Ambulance Squad Capt. Robert Shurgard had presented the council with a list of members who served on various  squad committees, saying that the committee work should be recognized as qualified time for LOSAP.

Shurgard said when Sparta authorized LOSAP for ambulance squad members it chose to only include time on service calls as the qualifying duty. Since that time, committee work, and supporting local events like parades, race and football  games have become important parts of the squad’s activities and should be included, Shurgard said.

The additional LOSAP credits would only be given to active members, he said. Of the 76 members of the squads, about half are active.

He said if the council expands the qualifications, 21 members could reach the 100 percent level of award, and possibly five to 10 others would move to higher levels of qualifications. He said that some members reach the qualifying number of hours of service in two months.

The award in Sparta after three years of service reaches $1,000 annually, Shurgard said.