[HISTORY:[1] Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus 12-21-2004 by Ord. No. 892. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 3, Advisory Board of Finance, adopted 8-18-1937 by Ord. No. 167A, was repealed 10-24-1967 by Ord. No. 441.
There shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Borough a committee of two members who shall act as liaison to the Ambulance Corps. Members as hereinafter provided shall comprise the Ambulance Corps of the Borough.
The membership of said Corps shall not exceed 60 in number. Any person of at least 16 years of age, of good moral character, who is a resident of Ho-Ho-Kus, a surrounding community or gainfully employed within the Borough shall be eligible for acceptance to membership in the Corps. Each applicant must be physically fit to perform the duties of a Corps member. Applicants must be able to read, write and speak the English language. Applicants must not have been convicted of a criminal offense. Every person accepted to membership in the Corps shall sign the membership roll which shall be kept by the Borough Clerk, and such member shall promise to perform all the duties of Corps member as prescribed by the bylaws and rules of the Corps and the ordinances of the Borough.
A. 
Every person seeking to join the Corps shall make application to the Captain or such other officer designated to receive applications, who shall date each application with the time of receipt and shall number the application according to its order of receipt. The Captain or officer designated to receive applications shall promptly send written notice to each applicant stating the number of their application and the date and time in which it was received.
B. 
An Executive Board shall be solely responsible for evaluating and ruling upon applications for membership. The Board, within 60 days of receipt of an application, shall make a report to the Corps as to whether or not the applicant qualifies for membership. Its decision shall be binding on the Corps, and no vote of the membership shall be conducted on the issue of whether or not an applicant shall be admitted to membership. Qualified applicants shall be admitted in the order in which their applications were received in the manner set forth above, as soon as vacancies exist. If, at any time, the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of current vacancies, a waiting list shall be established according to the order in which the applications were received, and appointments shall be made to the Corps in that same order.
C. 
If the Executive Board determines that an applicant does not meet the minimum requirements for membership, the Captain shall promptly advise the applicant, in writing, of their rejection, and the qualifications which the applicant has not met shall be described with particularity.
The Ambulance Corps shall adopt bylaws and make rules for the government of the Corps which shall be subject to the approval and confirmation of the Mayor and Council.
The officers of the Ambulance Corps shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Corps Captain, all of whom shall be elected by the members of the Corps. All officers shall be subject to confirmation of the Mayor and Council. In the event that the Mayor and Council fails to confirm an officer so elected, the Mayor shall appoint a member of the Corps to fill the vacancy so created until an officer is elected by the Corps and confirmed by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 3-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-80]
A. 
In addition to such disciplinary process as may be provided under the Volunteer Ambulance Corps' bylaws, and notwithstanding the same, any Ambulance Liaison of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus shall have the right to expel or suspend any member or line officer as set forth below.
B. 
In event of any accusation of any allegation of misconduct, violation of Borough ordinance, or action affecting the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus by any member or officer, any person may issue a written complaint, which shall be referred to any Ambulance Liaison or his designee. Such Ambulance Liaison shall consult with any other Ambulance Liaison, and such Liaisons shall review the matter and may proffer charges against such member seeking the member's expulsion or removal. In the event of a tie or disagreement between the Liaisons, the Mayor shall have the ability to break the tie.
C. 
Upon proffering such charges, the Ambulance Liaisons shall provide such member or officer with notice of the charges and an opportunity to provide a written response to the charges. The Ambulance Liaisons shall thereafter recommend sustaining, not sustaining, or modifying the charges, without a further hearing. Any member or officer shall have no greater rights than an at-will, nonpaid volunteer, and nothing herein shall be read to provide any greater rights to such member or officer. In the event of a tie or disagreement between the Liaisons, the Mayor shall have the ability to break the tie.
D. 
If any charges are sustained or modified, the Ambulance Liaisons shall inform the Borough Council, which shall determine whether to suspend or expel such member or officer from the Ambulance Corps or take such other action as it deems appropriate, without a further hearing.
E. 
Notwithstanding the above, any Ambulance Liaison, acting alone, may immediately suspend any member or line officer prior to receiving the member's written response, should he or she deem such suspension in the best interest for the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus.
F. 
In the event of any conflict between the Ambulance Corps' bylaws and this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
It shall be the duty of the Captain to report to the Council at its meeting each month the activities of the Corps, the condition of the rigs and equipment and upon such other matters as he/she shall deem advisable.
Each member of the Corps shall, upon signing the roll, be entitled to receive a badge and certificate of membership signed by the Mayor, Borough Clerk and Secretary of the Corps. The badge shall remain the property of the Corps and shall be surrendered to the Borough on the death, resignation, suspension or expulsion of any member.
The services of the members of the Ambulance Corps shall be voluntary and without compensation.
The Borough Council shall have the right to alter or amend this chapter and the bylaws adopted by the Corps from time to time as it shall deem advisable.
There is hereby established as part of the Ambulance Corps of the Borough a Junior Corps Auxiliary in accordance with all of the provisions of law. The qualifications for membership in the Auxiliary shall be as follows:
A. 
A junior member is eligible to join the Corps between the ages of 16 and 18. When he/she reaches the age of 18, he/she is eligible to transfer into senior membership subject to bylaws, Section 1, Subparagraphs L and K. Further guidelines regarding junior membership shall be stated in the rules and regulations or bylaws.
B. 
Membership shall be conditioned upon acceptance by the Corps and confirmation of the Borough Council. Upon such approval, such member shall sign the membership roll which shall be kept by the Borough Clerk and he/she shall promise to perform all the duties of a junior member as prescribed by the bylaws and rules of the Ambulance Corps.
C. 
Every member of the Junior Auxiliary shall be required to obtain permission to join the Auxiliary from his/her parents or guardians, and such permission shall be in writing, acknowledged or proved in the manner provided by law for deeds to real estate.
There shall be appropriated in the budget or budgets of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus sufficient funds to be held in a trust fund to pay any claims which may be determined to be eligible under this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage and publication as provided by law.