A new pension-style program for firefighters, which will be on the ballot in next week’s village election, would, if passed, help better recruit and retain members, fire officials said.
The village Fire Department, which has responded to more than 3,000 calls per year in recent history, according to Chief Eric Burel, has about 330 members. But, he noted, the department has lost several residents of the village to other departments in neighboring communities who have better Length of Service Award Programs, or LOSAPs.
A proposition to update the village’s LOSAP will be on the ballot in the village’s June 18 election, in which Mayor Francis X. Murray, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, Trustee Michael Sepe and Village Justice William Croutier Jr. are running for re-election uncontested.
The village implemented its current award program for volunteer firefighters in 1994.