Galloway Township to Review LOSAP Program

The following news release is from Township Manager Arch Liston. It addresses the Galloway Township Fire Company's Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), a benefits program to help recruit and retain volunteers:

The Township of Galloway funds a LOSAP program for the Galloway Township Fire Company members for approximately $130,000 annually. Members are provided points for their service to the community annually, as provided by an ordinance passed by referendum in 2007.

During the submissions of the point totals for 2012, the Township Manager was advised by members of fire companies that reporting may have been done differently and inconsistently by each company.

Afer further review, statistical anomalies appeared between each company. Since taxpayers spend over $130,000 annually on the program, it was determined that a more in-depth re-examination of records be done.

The Township Manager, in lieu of hiring an auditing firm at over $100 an hour, brought in a former police officer, James Bruennenstuhl, who is familiar with the community and the fire companies, to assist in the review at $25 an hour, with a maximum expense of $1,000. Mr. Bruennenstuhl is also a licensed private investigator through the state of New Jersey. This was submitted and approved by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

A final report and further determination is expected by the end of the month. The Galloway Township Fire Chief, Tim McKenna, has been working with the Township Manager during the process, and we are presently reviewing procedures with members of the Fire Department LOSAP Committee. The report will be presented to the Township Council and made public.

Reviews are being done of all Township departments for cost saving measures and compliance.