[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Westampton 10-28-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; amended in its entirety 4-4-2016 by Ord. No. 7-2016. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Police Department — See Ch. 54.
An Emergency Services Department shall be and the same is hereby
created and established in the Township of Westampton, County of Burlington
and State of New Jersey.
The official name of said Department shall be "Westampton Township
Emergency Services Department."
The words "he" and "his" shall be taken to also mean and include
the words "she" and "hers," and said words shall, for purposes of
this chapter, be interchangeable with each other.
A.
The Emergency Services Department shall consist of career and volunteer
personnel, which shall consist of the positions of Fire Chief, Captain,
Lieutenant, Senior Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/EMTs (both full-time
and part-time), Emergency Medical Technician (both full-time and part-time)
in a quantity designated by the Township Committee and appointed by
the appointing authority. The Emergency Services Department will also
consist of a volunteer section, which shall be governed in accordance
with state law, rules and regulations and standard operating procedures
adopted by the appropriate authority.
B.
Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the appointment of any
volunteer personnel to a senior supervisory position.
The work and functions of said Emergency Services Department
shall be to protect lives and property within said Township and, subject
to law, rules and regulations, and standard operating procedures,
within neighboring municipalities against fire or other disasters.
Said work and functions are hereby declared to be and constitute a
public purpose.
The Emergency Services Department shall at all times be and
remain under the supervision and control of the Fire Chief, as set
forth herein and as set forth in N.J.S.A. 43:17-1 et seq. and shall
render firefighting and emergency services to the Township as needed.
Said company shall be governed in accordance with state law, rules
and regulations, and standard operating procedures.
The Fire Chief of the firefighter/EMTs shall be the head of
the Emergency Services Department and shall report to the Township
Administrator for its efficiency and day-to-day operations pursuant
to policies established by the Township Committee. The Fire Chief
shall:
A.
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Emergency
Services Department and special emergency directives for disposition
and discipline of the Department and its members;
B.
Exercise and discharge the functions and duties of the Emergency
Services Department;
C.
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all members of the Department;
D.
Delegate such authority as may be necessary for the efficient operation
of the Emergency Services Department, to be exercised under the Fire
Chief's direction and control; and
E.
Report at least monthly to the Township Committee in such form as
shall be prescribed on the operation of the Emergency Services Department
during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may be
requested by the Township Committee.
No member of the Emergency Services Department shall be suspended,
removed, fined or reduced in rank for any cause other than for incapacity,
misconduct or disobedience, as provided in New Jersey statutes and
the Emergency Services Department's rules and regulations.
No person shall be appointed to the Emergency Services Department
who is not qualified as provided in New Jersey statutes and the Emergency
Services Division's rules and regulations. No person shall be
promoted who is not qualified as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-29. The
Fire Chief may also require that an applicant for appointment to the
Emergency Services Department shall successfully complete a physical,
medical and psychological examination. All applicants, either volunteer
or otherwise, must undergo a criminal background check.
