NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION
PINE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Annual Election of the Pine Island Fire District will take place on December 14, 2021, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the firehouse located on County Route 1, Pine Island, New York for the following purposes:
To elect one (1) Fire District Commissioner for a five (5) year term commencing January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2026; and
To vote upon the following proposition:
“BOARD RESOLUTION OF THE PINE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT (“FIRE DISTRICT”) IN THE COUNTY OF ORANGE, NEW YORK, ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 16, 2021, AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022 OF THAT CERTAIN BOARD RESOLUTION WHICH ESTABLISHED A DEFINED BENEFIT SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF THE PINE ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IF APPROVED, THE AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022 WILL:
- RETAIN THE ENTITLEMENT AGE OF SIXTY-TWO (62) YEARS;
- AUTHORIZE THE CREDITING OF NONFOREITABLE SERVICE CREDIT TO QUALIFIED FIREFIGHTERS OF PULASKI FIRE COMPANY, AND QUALIFIED FIREFIGHTERS OF AMITY FIRE COMPANY, INC. WHO HAVE COMPLETED FIVE (5) YEARS OF SERVICE UNDER THE PROGRAM;
- INCREASE THE MONTHLY SERVICE AWARD PAYMENT BEGINNING AT ENTITLEMENT AGE FROM TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) TO FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15.00) FOR EACH YEAR OF QUALIFIED SERVICE AFTER JANUARY 1, 2022;
- INCREASE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022 THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS OF SERVICE CREDIT THAT CAN BE EARNED BY A PARTICIPATING VOLUNTEER FROM 20 YEARS TO 30 YEARS AND INCLUDE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022 YEARS OF SERVICE CREDIT EARNED BY A PARTICIPATING VOLUNTEER BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2022 IN EXCESS OF 20 YEARS;
- ALLOW THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE FIRE DISTRICT TO AMEND, REVISE OR OTHERWISE CHANGE THE POINT SYSTEM, PROSPECTIVELY ONLY, UNDER WHICH A YEAR OF SERVICE CREDIT IS EARNED;
- INCREASE THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST OF THE SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM TO FIFTY-NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($59,000.00), WHICH INCLUDES AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), BASED ON THE EXISTING NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS;
- INCREASE THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL PER PARTICIPANT COST TO EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY DOLLARS ($870.00), BASED ON THE EXISTING NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS;
- INCREASE THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY BENEFIT UNDER THE PROGRAM FROM TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) TO FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($450.00), BASED UPON A MAXIMUM OF THIRTY (30) YEARS OF QUALIFIED
FURTHER, THE BOARD RESOLUTION OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 APPROPRIATES SAID AMOUNTS THEREFORE, STATES THAT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM, AS AMENDED, WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT; STATES THAT THE SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE PINE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT; STATES THAT DEATH AND DISABILITY PAYMENTS ARE AUTHORIZED TO COMMENCE ON JANUARY 1, 2022 AND REGULAR DEFINED BENEFIT AWARD PAYMENTS ARE AUTHORIZED TO COMMENCE ON JANUARY 1, 2022; AND STATES THAT THE FAILURE OF THE AMENDMENT TO BE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF THE FIRE DISTRICT WILL IN NO WAY AFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM PRESENTLY IN EFFECT.” BE APPROVED?
All residents of the Pine Island Fire District who are duly registered to vote with the Orange County Board of Elections on or before November 22, 2021 shall be entitled to vote at this election.
Any person desiring to have his or her name appear on the ballot for the above office must have filed a petition, signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified electors of the Fire District, with the Secretary of the Fire District not later than November 24, 2021.
PAULETTE WILK RUDY, SECRETARY PINE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT