[Adopted 12-1-1992 by Ord. No. 92-13 (Ch. 7, Part 1, of the 1992 Code)]
The office of Fire Marshal is hereby created in the Township of Middletown; such officer to be appointed by the Township Manager. The Fire Marshal shall report to the Township Manager except on those matters of which he is required by law to report directly to the Board of Supervisors.
The person appointed to the office of Fire Marshal shall be appointed as soon as practicable after the adoption of this article. The aforesaid appointment notwithstanding, the Township Manager retains the right to remove the Fire Marshal at his or her pleasure. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. If for any reason this office is not separately filled by appointment of and with the approval and consent of the Board of Supervisors, the Fire Chief shall be deemed the ex officio Fire Marshal thereof and shall have all the powers and duties hereinafter given to or imposed upon the Fire Marshal. Compensation of the Fire Marshal shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to resolution. The Fire Marshal shall perform all duties and shall have and exercise all powers prescribed by law.
No person shall in any way obstruct or prevent or attempt to obstruct or prevent the Fire Marshal in the discharge of his duties by denying or attempting to deny him access to any premises owned or occupied by such person, either by failing or refusing correct information requested by him in the investigation into the cause, origin or circumstances of any fire.
[Amended 6-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-08]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.