Watkins hears about firefighters' incentive plan

WATKINS GLEN--The agenda for the Watkins Glen village board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17 included a presentation from an Albany-area actuary who spoke about how the village can start a new village-funded incentive program for qualifying village firefighters.
Ed Holohan, owner and president of the company Penflex, based in Latham, New York, said his company has worked with firefighters in the nation for the past 20 years. Penflex specializes in administering Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP) for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Currently, Penflex provides these services to the volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers for more than 400 departments nationally.
Penflex began providing its services to volunteer organizations in New York state after the number of volunteer firefighters decreased significantly during the 1980s.
Holohan said previously the Watkins Glen firefighters were benefitting from the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) that was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Holohan said SAFER grant money has been reduced in the 2017 federal budget.
To provide a $700 award per year to firefighters who qualify, Holohan estimates the expense for the village will be under $20,000 per year. Holohan said Watkins fire officials expect only about 20-25 members will qualify per year with fire department participation requirements in effect for the program.
The program Holohan is presenting could start in 2018 if the village votes to approve the plan.