[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Borough
of Longport 4-5-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-02.[1]Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
20, Fire Department, adopted 2-10-1913, as amended.
A.
There is hereby established in the Department of Public Safety in
the Borough of Longport, Atlantic County, New Jersey, a fire department
to be known and designated as "Longport Fire Department." The Fire
Department shall be under the supervision of the Director of Public
Safety, except at a fire scene, drill or disaster at which time the
Fire Chief or other superior officer of the Fire Department in charge
shall have complete control and supervision of the Fire Department.
The Fire Department shall consist of the Longport Volunteer Fire Department
and its members. The Fire Department shall provide life safety, incident
stabilization and property and environmental conservation. In accordance
with, and not in conflict with, the laws of the State of New Jersey,
the Fire Department shall be responsible to respond to fires and explosions,
hazardous material incidents, technical rescue incidents, emergency
medical incidents and provide ambulance services.
B.
The Fire Department shall take part in and comply with mutual aid
plans as required by Atlantic County or the State of New Jersey.
A.
There shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety one member
of the Longport Fire Department to the position of Fire Chief. The
Fire Chief shall be appointed for a term of four years. No member
of the Fire Department shall be eligible for the position of Fire
Chief unless they have held the office of Assistant Fire Chief for
at least one term, at least two years prior to appointment.
B.
There shall be no more than two Assistant Fire Chiefs. The Assistant
Chiefs shall be recommended by the Fire Chief for appointment by the
Director of Public Safety. The Assistant Fire Chiefs shall be appointed
for a term of three years. No member of the Fire Department shall
be eligible for the position of Assistant Fire Chief unless they have
held the office of Fire Captain for at least one term, at least two
years prior to appointment.
C.
There shall be no more than four Fire Captains. They shall be recommended
by the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chiefs for appointment by the
Director of Public Safety. The Fire Captains shall serve for a term
of two years. One Fire Captain shall serve as the Fire Department
Safety Officer as appointed by the Fire Chief. No member of the Fire
Department shall be eligible for the position of Fire Captain unless
they have held the office of Fire Lieutenant for at least one term,
at least two, years prior to appointment.
D.
Safety Officer. The Fire Chief shall appoint an Assistant Fire Chief
or one of the Fire Captains to serve as the Fire Department Safety
Officer, concurrent with his term of office.
E.
The membership of the Longport Volunteer Fire Department shall provide
the Fire Chief with no more than four candidates to be considered
for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant. The names shall be submitted
no later than December 7. The Fire Chief shall then forward the names
to the Director of Public Safety for consideration for appointment
to the position of Lieutenant. No member of the Fire Department shall
be eligible for the position of Fire Lieutenant unless they have been
a member of the Fire Department for at least four years.
F.
Every candidate for an officer position and every officer shall be
and shall remain a member in good standing of the Longport Volunteer
Fire Department. "Good standing" is defined by the Rules and Regulations
of the Longport Volunteer Fire Department.
A.
The Fire Chief shall be the ranking officer in the Fire Department.
B.
The Fire Chief shall have sole authority within the fire lines established
by the Fire Chief or other superior fire officer with respect to all
firefighting operations relating to the protection of lives and property
endangered by such fire.
C.
The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the control, efficiency and
management of the Fire Department and for the enforcement of the rules
and regulations governing the same and for carrying out the lawful
orders of the Director of Public Safety.
D.
The Fire Chief shall establish the Rules and Regulations for governing
the Fire Department, and such Department orders, directives, procedures
and guides as needed.
E.
The Fire Chief shall maintain any and all qualifications as required
by the Division of Fire Safety of the State of New Jersey and in the
Rules and Regulations of the Longport Fire Department.
The Assistant Chiefs shall be subject to the orders of the Fire
Chief and in the absence of the Fire Chief shall perform all the duties
of the Fire Chief in order of seniority. The Assistant Chiefs shall
maintain any and all qualifications required by the Division of Fire
Safety of the State of New Jersey and in the Rules and Regulations
of the Longport Fire Department.
The Fire Captains shall be subject to the orders of the Fire
Chief and the Assistant Fire Chiefs and in the absence of both the
Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chiefs, the Fire Captains in order of
seniority of appointment shall perform the duties of the Fire Chief.
The Fire Captains shall maintain any and all qualifications required
by the Division of Fire Safety of the State of New Jersey and in the
Rules and Regulations of the Longport Fire Department.
The Fire Lieutenants shall be subject to the orders of the Fire
Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs and Fire Captains. In the absence of
the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs and Fire Captains, the Fire
Lieutenants in order of seniority of appointment shall perform the
duties of the Fire Chief. The Fire Lieutenants shall maintain any
and all qualifications as required by the Division of Fire Safety
of the State of New Jersey and in the Rules and Regulations of the
Longport Fire Department.
The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs and Fire Captains shall
be subject to removal from office for just cause. Each officer shall
be afforded an opportunity to a hearing before the Director of Public
Safety or a designated hearing officer. The Officer shall be notified
in writing at least 15 days prior to such hearing.
The officers of the Longport Fire Department shall receive such
compensation from the Borough as the Board of Commissioners may fix
by ordinance.
The Longport Fire Department shall, after the adoption of this
chapter, consist of the Longport Fire Department and Longport Volunteer
Fire Company, and no additional fire companies shall hereafter be
organized in the Borough of Longport, New Jersey.