East Hampton Village Residents To Vote Tuesday On Increasing Benefits For Volunteer Ambulance Members

A referendum will be held at the Emergency Services Building on Cedar Street in East Hampton on Tuesday, December 11, from noon to 9 p.m. to potentially increase LOSAP benefits for East Hampton Village Volunteer Ambulance members.

LOSAP—which stands for Length of Service Awards Program—is similar to a pension program. It is intended to assist emergency service organizations in retaining and rewarding volunteers.

The East Hampton Village Board adopted a resolution in October authorizing a public vote by East Hampton Village residents for potential approval to increase LOSAP benefits.

The amendment, if approved, will be effective on January 1, 2019. It would increase the annual service award accrual from $240 to $360 for each calendar year beginning after December 31, 2018, according to a press release from Village Administrator Becky Hansen. An eligible volunteer earns a year of service credit under the service award program point system.

The maximum monthly service award that could be accrued would increase from $800 to $1,200 based on 40 years of service credit earned, while annual service awards earned prior to January 1, 2019, would remain at the $240 level.

The cost of the service award program for 2018 was $85,107 or $1,330 per covered participant. The annual cost of the current program is projected to approach $97,000 or $1,520 per covered participant over the next five years based on the expected future volunteer participation. The annual cost of the amended program is estimated to increase by $48,000, to $145,000 or $2,270 per covered participant. All costs include administration fees of approximately $4,500 which will not change as a result of the amendment.

For additional information, contact Ms. Hansen at 631-324-4150.