297.2015 Amending Vol. Firefighter Service Award Program - Certified RESOLUTION AMENDING TOWN'S
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SERVICE AWARD
PROGRAM PLAN DOCUMENT AND POINT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION NO.: 297,2015
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Brian Clements
WHEREAS, in accordance with New York State General Municipal Law §216, the
Queensbury Town Board previously adopted a defined contribution Volunteer Firefighter
Service Award Program (the "Program"), as described in General Municipal Law §216, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to amend portions of the Volunteer Firefighter
Service Award Program Plan Document and the Point Accumulation System to be consistent with
recent changes in General Municipal Law; and
WHEREAS, such an amendment is authorized, subject to a mandatory referendum,
pursuant to Article 11-A of the New York General Municipal Law; and
WHEREAS, the amendment is not expected to result in any increase in cost to property
owners in the Town;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby amends the Volunteer Firefighter
Service Award Program Plan Document to provide that, effective January 1, 2016, at Benefit
Commencement Date a Participant will have the option to be paid his or her Accrued Service
Award in one of the following forms:
i. A one-time lump sum.
i. Two (2) annual installments. If a Participant elects to be paid his or her Accrued
Service Award in two (2) annual installment payments, the first payment shall
equal one-half(1/2) of the lump-sum he or she would have otherwise been paid.
The second payment shall be equal to the remaining balance of the Accrued
Service Award calculated as of the next following December 31, reflecting actual
investment income and/or expenses or other transactions that occurred during the
Program Year, and payable as of January 1St. If the Participant dies before being
paid the second installment, the Participant's designated beneficiary will be paid
the second installment as scheduled.
and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that in order to conform the number of points granted for the performance
of an activity and the amount of an activity required to earn the points granted for the
performance of the activity with New York General Municipal Law, the Town Board hereby
adopts the attached "Town of Queensbury Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award
Program Point System" which was prepared by Penflex, Inc. as the official point system for the
Program, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the amendments to the Point Accumulation System include the
following:
(1) Attendance at Training Sessions: A category is added allowing for 25 points per
course over 100 hours.
(2) Participation in Sleep-in or Stand-by Session: Sleep-in session is defined as
staying at the fire house from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and must be authorized by
the Chief or his designee.
(2) Holding a Specified Elected or Appointed Positions: The way that points are
credited is revised to require that points will only be awarded for completion of a
term as an officer that is established in the Fire Company by-laws.
(3) Attendance at Official Fire Department Meetings: The way that points are
credited is revised to require that the meeting must be an Official Fire
Company/Department Meeting (Regular or Special) called by the President or
Chief that all firefighters are expected to attend, which does not include
committee meeting which are now included in the Miscellaneous Category.
(4) Participation in Department Responses: The maximum points for this activity is
increased from 30 to 50 if running both fire and first response calls. The number
of points earned for responding to the minimum number of call shown in the chart
in the Point System document is increased from 15 to 25. The requirement to
earn 15 points from this category is deleted.
(5) Miscellaneous Activities: The way that points are credited is expanded to include
participation in activities covered by the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law and
listed in the Point System document.
(6) Teaching Fire Prevention Classes: A new category is added allowing credit of
one point per class up to 5 points per year maximum as described in the Point
System document.
(7) Line of Duty Disability: A new category is added allowing credit of 5 points for
each complete calendar month of certain disabilities up to 60 points per year, all
as described in the Point System document.
and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Service Award Program shall continue to be administered by the
Town of Queensbury, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that any other amendments to related Program documents required to
effectuate the intent of this Resolution are hereby authorized and approved, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the revisions to the Service Award Program approved in this
Resolution are subject to mandatory referendum and the Town Board hereby authorizes and
directs the Town Clerk and Town Counsel to prepare a proposition relating to this Resolution to
be placed on the November 3, 2015 election ballot for the approval or disapproval of the eligible
voters within the Town, and the Town Clerk, with the advice of Town Counsel, to prepare an
abstract of the proposition, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to
transmit a certified copy of this Resolution together with the proposition and abstract to the
Warren County Board of Elections or other appropriate officials so that the proposition will be
placed on the November 3, 2015 election ballot in all the voting locations in the Town of
Queensbury Fire Protection District, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor,
Town Clerk and Town Counsel to take such additional actions as may be necessary and
appropriate in connection with the mandatory referendum and the Program amendments.
Duly adopted this 20th day of August, 2015, by the following vote:
AYES Mr. Clements, Mr. Strough, Mr. Metivier
NOES None
ABSENT: Mr. Irish
ABSTAIN: Mr. VanNess
This is the Town of Queensbury Volunteer Firefighter Service Award Program Point System, adopted b`
the Town of Queensbury Town Board and approved by referendum of the voting residents of the Town of
Queensbury on November 3, 2015. This Point System replaces the previous Point System that became
effective January 1, 1990. The Point System is intended to comply with Article 11-A of the General
Municipal Law of the State of New York(i.e.,the Service Award Program law).
Each Fire Company (the Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, North Queensbury Volunteer Fire
Company. Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Company, South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company and
West Glens Falls Volunteer Fire Company) has the responsibility to maintain its Point System records.
An Active Member of a Fire Company who is at least age eighteen (18) is eligible to earn points under
this Point System. It is imperative that all Active Members strictly comply with sign-in procedures for
verifying attendance at drills, meetings, calls, etc. These sign in/attendance sheets must be produced upon
demand if the Service Award Program records are audited.
The Town Board may change the Point System but may do so only if the changes comply with all
governing rules, regulations, and laws. In the event that the Point System is changed, a written notice of
change will be given to Active Members within one hundred eight` (180) days of the adoption of such
change.
When reading this document, an Active Member should keep in mind that the intent of the Point System
is to provide all Active Members with ample opportunity to earn benefits under the Service Award
Program. An Active Member who, for whatever reason (such as regular work hours), cannot earn as man`
points under one or more categories as other Active Members, should focus on the total number of points
he or she could earn from other categories.
The Point System contains categories of activities for which Active Members can earn points. To earn
Service Credit for a calendar gear, an Active Member who is at least age 18 must earn at least 50 points
under this Point Svstem during the calendar gear. For more information, please refer to the Town of
Queensbury Volunteer Firefighter Service Award Program Plan Document.
The Point Svstem is as follows:
1. Training Courses—25 point maximum
Based on duration of training courses as follows:
• Under 20 hours: One (1)point per hour; no more than five (5)points per course.
• 20 to 45 hours: Five (5) points plus one (1) point per hour for each hour over twenty hours;
no more than ten(10)points per course.
• Over 45 to 100 hours: Fifteen(15)points per course.
• Over 100 hours: Twenty-five (25)points per course.
NOTE: Training courses should be satisfactorily completed (certification of completion required) and
designated as approved courses by the Chief or the Board of Directors. A list of approved courses will be
posted and updated periodically. Persons who are paid to attend training courses as part of their job or
profession will not receive points for attending such courses.
2. Attendance at Drills—20 point maximum
One (1)point per drill (minimum two hours duration).
3. Participation in Sleep-In or Stand-By Sessions —20 points maximum
• Sleep-ins: Each firefighter who participates in a sleep-in, which shall be defined as staging at the
fire house from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, shall be given one (1) point for each period served. All
sleep-ins must be authorized by the Chief or his designee.
• Stand-by: One (1) point for each session. A stand-by shall be defined as a line of duty activity of
the Altamont Fire Department lasting for at least four(4)hours, not falling under one of the other
Point System categories. One (1) point shall be awarded for each stand-by which shall include
time spent standing by at the firehouse or at another location in response to the direction of the
Chief or the officer in charge.
4. Holding a Specified Elected or Appointed Position —25 points maximum
Twenty-five (25)points are earned for completing a full one-gear term in an elected or appointed position
that is defined in the bv-laws of the Fire Company. No points shall be awarded to a position that is not
defined as an elected or appointed position in the by-laws of the Fire Compan`.
In addition, one (1) point is earned for each convention meeting attended by an Active Member as a
convention delegate appointed by the Fire Company. Proof of meeting attendance will be required.
5. Attendance at Meetings—20 points maximum
Attendance at official Fire Company meetings— One (1)point per meeting.
Must be an official (regular or special) Company-wide meeting that all Active Members are expected to
attend. This does not include committee meetings.
6. Participation in Fire Company Responses—50 points
Points are credited on an all or nothing basis for attending the minimum percentage of calls outlined
below. If the Active Member responds to the minimum percentage of Fire Calls, the Active Member is
credited with 25 points. If the Active Member responds to the minimum percentage of Emergency
Rescue and First Aid Squad Calls (i.e., "EMS Calls"), the Active Member is credited with 25 points. An
Active Member that responds to the minimum percentage of both Fire Calls and EMS Calls is credited
with 50 points. The required minimum percentage of calls is:
Fire Calls
10%if the Fire Company responds to less than X00 Fire Calls during the calendar gear.
7.5%if the Fire Company responds to at least 500 but less than 1,000 Fire Calls during the calendar gear.
5.0%if the Fire Company responds to at least 1,000 but less than 1, 00 Fire Calls during the calendar
year.
2.5%if the Fire Company responds to 1, 00 or more Fire Calls during the calendar gear.
EMS Calls
10%if the Fire Company responds to less than X00 EMS Calls during the calendar gear.
7.5%if the Fire Company responds to at least 500 but less than 1,000 EMS Calls during the calendar
year.
5.0%if the Fire Company responds to at least 1,000 but less than 1, 00 EMS Calls during the calendar
year.
2.5%if the Fire Company responds to 1, 00 or more EMS Calls during the calendar gear.
Example 1: If the Fire Company responds to 400 Fire Calls during a calendar gear, an Active Member
must respond to a minimum of 40 Fire Calls during the calendar gear to earn 25 points (400 x 10%=40).
Example 2: If the Fire Company responds to 700 EMS Calls during a calendar gear, an Active Member
must respond to a minimum of 53 EMS Calls during the calendar gear to receive 25 points (700 x 7.5%_
52.5 EMS Calls, which must be rounded up to 53).
Example 3: If the Fire Company responds to 225 Fire Calls and 350 EMS Calls during a calendar gear, an
Active Member who responds to a minimum of 23 Fire Calls and 35 EMS Calls during the calendar gear
will receive 50 points.
7. Miscellaneous Activities— 15 points maximum
One (1) point for attendance at other activities for which points cannot be earned in another categor`
described herein and at which an Active Member would be covered b`-the Volunteer Firefighter's Benefit
Law while participating in such activity. This includes one (1)point for each committee meeting attended
b`- an Active Member serving on a committee (Active Members not serving on the committee or not
asked to attend the meeting by the committee chairperson cannot receive a point for attendance) except
for meetings of officers only, as these officers are already receiving points for being an officer.
8. Teaching Fire Prevention Classes—5 points maximum
One point per class for an Active Member who at the direction of the Fire Company, and for no
remuneration, presents a public education class on fire prevention to a school, not-for-profit corporation,
or civic organization organized and existing under the laws of this state or authorized to conduct activities
in this state.
9. Line of Duty Disability—5 points per month/60 points per year
In the event that an Active Member is either totally and temporarily disabled, or partially and permanently
disabled, as certified by the Workers' Compensation Board or other competent authority approved by the
Town Board, and the disability occurs during the course of service as a volunteer, while actively engaged
in providing line of duty services, as defined in subdivision one of section five of the Volunteer
Firefighters' Benefit Law, the Active Member shall receive five points for each complete calendar month
during which such disability remains classified as total and temporary or partial and permanent.
EXECUTION
By their signatures affixed hereto, the Town Supervisor of the Town of Queensbury does, on behalf of
said Town, and pursuant to a resolution passed by the Town Board and the approval of Town voting
residents in a referendum held November 3, 2015, hereby adopt this Town of Queensbury Volunteer
Firefighter Service Award Program Point System.
Supervisor Date
Signature witnessed by:
Town Clerk Date
I, Caroline H. Barber, Town Clerk of the Town of Queensbury, Warren County, New York, do
hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing with the original resolution as listed above
adopted at a Regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury held on the 20th day
of August, 2015 at which a quorum was present and that the same is a correct transcript there from
and of the whole original thereof to date.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and the SEAL of said Town of Queensbury,
this 15th day of September, 2015.
SEAL
SIGNED:
Caroline H. Barber
Town Clerk
Town of Queensbury