PUBLIC NOTICE

ANNUAL ELECTION OF THE RIVERHEAD FIRE DISTRICT

On December 12, 2023

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Election of the Riverhead Fire District will take place on December 12, 2023, between the hours of 3:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. at Fire Headquarters located at 540 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901, for the purpose of electing one (1) Fire Commissioner for a five (5) year term, commencing January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2028 and one (1) Fire Commissioner for a three (3) year term, commencing January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026, and for the voting upon a proposition to amend the Length of Service Awards Program current in effect as stated below:

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that all residents residing in the Riverhead Fire District in the Towns of Riverhead, Southampton, and Brookhaven who were duly registered to vote with the Suffolk County Board of Elections on or before November 20, 2023, shall be eligible to vote at this election.

PROPOSITION

Shall the Resolution of the Riverhead Fire District in the Towns of Riverhead, Brookhaven and Southampton, County of Suffolk, State of New York, entitled:

THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE RIVERHEAD FIRE DISTRICT, TOWN OF RIVERHEAD, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, STATE OF NEW YORK, IN A RESOLUTION ADOPTED AUGUST 30, 2023, APPROVED THE AMENDMENT OF THE LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DISTRICT AND ESTABLISHED FOR ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF THE RIVERHEAD FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE AMENDEMNTS ARE STATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025. A DESCRIPTION OF EACH AMENDMENT IS PROVIDED IN THE RESOLUTION WITH A SUMMARY OF EACH AS FOLLOWS: (1) CHANGE THE NORMAL FORM OF PAYMENT FROM A LIFETIME MONTHLY PAYMENT ONLY TO A LIFETIME MONTHLY PAYMENT WITH THE FIRST 120 PAYMENTS GUARANTEED; (2) EXTEND THE MAXIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE CREDIT FROM 20 TO 50; (3) FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS ONLY AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025, GRANT SERVICE CREDIT FOR CALENDAR YEARS IN WHICH 50 POINTS WERE EARNED AFTER HAVING ALREADY EARNED THE MAXIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE CREDIT OF 20, WITH A SPECIAL PROVISION FOR RETURNING MEMBERS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; (4) INCREASE THE MONTHLY SERVICE AWARD FROM $20 TO $30 EFFECTIVE WITH SERVICE CREDIT EARNED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025 AND THEREAFTER. SERVICE CREDIT EARNED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2025 WILL REMAIN AT THE $20 LEVEL; (5) LOWER THE ENTITLEMENT AGE FROM 65 TO 62 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025 FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF THE RIVERHEAD FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY 1, 2025, WITH AN ADDITIONAL PROVISION FOR RETURNING MEMBERS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025. THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT A PLAN DOCUMENT WHICH WILL OUTLINE ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES TO CARRY OUT THE INTENTION OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

THE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOSAP TRUST FUND IS ABOUT $375,000, WHICH IS $2,400 PER ELIGIBLE FIREFIGHTER THAT EARNS SERVICE CREDIT, PLUS ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF APPROXIMATELY $8,800. THE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOSAP TRUST FUND FOR THE AMENDED PROGRAM IS ESTIMATED TO INCREASE BY $420,000 AS A RESULT OF THIS AMENDMENT AND IS, THEREFORE, ESTIMATED TO BE $795,000, OR $4,400 PER ELIGIBLE FIREFIGHTER THAT EARNS SERVICE CREDIT. THE ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE COST IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO $9,300 AS A RESULT OF THIS AMENDMENT.

SHALL THE STATED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS BE APPROVED?

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that candidates for the Office of Fire Commissioner shall have their names filed in petition form, signed by a minimum of twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, with the Riverhead Fire District Secretary on or before 4:00 P.M. November 22, 2023. Candidates may obtain the petition from the Fire District Secretary at 540 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.

Caitlin Buthmann
Secretary/Treasurer
Riverhead Fire District