Quogue trustees approve LOSAP amendment, place benefit increase before June 20 referendum

The Board of Trustees of the Village of Quogue voted April 22, 2025 to approve a resolution amending the defined-benefit Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for active volunteer firefighters and to place the amendment on a mandatory referendum on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Quogue Firehouse.

Under the amendment adopted by the Board, the monthly Service Award for each year of Service Credit earned on or after Jan. 1, 2026 would increase from $20 to $25. The resolution notes that the maximum monthly benefit could rise from $800 to $1,000 if all Service Credit is earned after Jan. 1, 2026; Service Credit earned prior to Jan. 1, 2026 would remain at the $20 level. The Board recorded an estimated annual contribution increase from about $82,000 to about $102,000 and stated that actuarial and advisory fees of about $10,000 per year would not change as a direct result of the amendment.

Mayor Robert Treuhold and Trustees Randy Cardo, Ted Necarsulmer and Sally Beatty voted Aye on the roll-call adoption recorded in the minutes. The Board also approved a related additional LOSAP contribution payment of $28,091 from line A9089 to cover current obligations.

The resolution was adopted pursuant to Article 11-A of the New York State General Municipal Law; the minutes cite GML § 216 as authority for the Village, as LOSAP sponsor, to amend the program. The full proposition that will appear on the June 20 referendum reiterates the financial effects and asks voters to approve the specified amendment to the LOSAP.

If approved by voters at the referendum, the Village says administrative procedures needed to implement the amendment will be adopted via a revised Plan Document.