The Lawrence-Cedarhurst department, which serves the two villages and the surrounding residential and commercial areas, which comprise the North Lawrence Fire District, is seeking to amend the program for up to 12 members, who at age 65 would begin to receive their service program money. As continuing active members, they would receive a one-time payment at 66, in addition to their monthly payments. The monthly payments would increase as they remain active and continue to accrue service points. “In effect, the volunteer firefighters are considered employees of local governments and just as if they were working for the village,” said Ed Holohan, a pension plan actuary for 22 years with PenFlex in upstate Latham.
The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and applicants who are 40 or older, protecting them through every phase of the employment process, including job postings, interviews, hiring, training, compensation, job evaluation, promotion, discipline, demotion and termination.
State law mandates that a public vote is needed to approve the proposed revision to LOSAP. Though a date was not set, Village of Cedarhurst trustees approved a resolution at Monday’s board meeting that will permit a public vote. The Village of Lawrence has not yet approved a similar resolution. When a date is set, the vote will be held at the Lawrence-Cedarhurst firehouse.
Cedarhurst Deputy Mayor Benjamin Weinstock said that amending the plan would cost the village a total of $32,500 in the next five years. The current eligible firefighters receive between $1,400 and $2,650 in annual payments, according to Weinstock.
“It’s never an issue of trying to help the firefighters that save us,” he said. “It’s an issue of how we are going to pay for it.”
“Although they are volunteers, they still cost a lot of money,” said Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise, who added that the village depends on their services. “Everyone wants to be paid and if you had to pay the volunteers [a salary], could you imagine what it would cost?”
