Township of West Bradford, PA Chapter 29 Fire Protection and Emergency Services

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Bradford as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I Fire Company; Authority and Oversight

[Adopted 12-11-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-07]

§ 29-1 Purpose and scope of authority.

The purpose of this article is to establish fire protection in West Bradford Township; ensure basic oversight, control measures, procedures and regulations governing conditions which could impede or interfere with effective fire services in the Township; and to authorize and permit activities for volunteer firefighter personnel for workers' compensation purposes. Notwithstanding anything contained in this article to the contrary, neither the recognition of the Fire Company nor the authorization or permission herein granted to the Fire Company shall be construed as constituting the Fire Company as an agent, agency, department or employee of West Bradford Township, except insofar as such effect is provided under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act.

§ 29-2 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

An outlay of funds to acquire fixed assets or additions to them; construction of buildings and similar permanent structures; major building improvements and infrastructure improvements in existing buildings; the purchase of land; the purchase of major equipment or components of that equipment; engineering or architectural studies and services related to improvements of buildings and all outlays financed by long- or short-term debt. For purpose of this article, a capital expenditure is an item that costs in excess of $4,000 and has a useful life of multiple years.

EMERGENCY SERVICES BOARD

A group of appointed officials organized by the Board of Supervisors for the general purposes of appropriately overseeing and coordinating the management of any fire company within West Bradford Township recognized in this article. Specific tasks and duties of the Emergency Services Board are established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, which may include but may not be limited to providing for the improvement, advancement and development of the fire services within fire company(ies) and/or establish funding priorities and mechanisms and to do any and all necessary business for the fire company(ies) to provide adequate fire service in the Township.

FIRE COMPANY

Any organized fire company which responds in West Bradford Township for the purpose of extinguishment of a fire or other emergency involving protection of life and/or property or when its assistance has been requested by the officer in charge of the incident.

FIRE COMPANY VEHICLES

Any motor vehicle controlled by a volunteer fire company, the principal purposes of said vehicle being the fighting of fires or supplying of related services including emergency services. Essential fire company vehicles include those such as a Class A pumper, tanker/pumper or rescue vehicle. All other vehicles are nonessential in nature.

MUTUAL AID

A formal or informal agreement by two or more fire companies to agree to cooperatively provide upon request such aid, fire protection and suppression personnel and to make available such equipment or facilities as may be needed for the suppression of fires or the duties and responsibilities associated with saving lives and property within the jurisdictional areas of the requesting department, provided that the personnel, equipment or facilities requested are not otherwise required within a fire company's jurisdiction.

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association.

OFFICER IN CHARGE

The fire chief of the fire company or designee in whose district the emergency occurs or, in his absence, the next ranking officer following the chain of command established by the rules of the fire company in whose district the emergency occurs.

VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES

A fire company organized, recognized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, located within West Bradford Township and authorized to act within West Bradford Township.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER

An active member of a volunteer fire company who is a member in good standing of said volunteer company.

§ 29-3 Fire Company recognized.

The West Bradford Fire Company (hereafter "Fire Company"), organized and existing in the Township of West Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, is hereby designated as the officially recognized fire company for the Township, unless by resolution of the Board of Supervisors it is determined to no longer be officially recognized.

§ 29-4 Authorized duties and permitted activities of fire company.

Volunteer firefighters in West Bradford Township, including any paid firefighter who performs the services of a volunteer firefighter during off-duty hours, are deemed to be West Bradford Township employees only when actively engaged in authorized duties as firefighters or while going to or returning from a fire emergency call which his/her fire company attended, including travel from and the direct return to a firefighter's home, place of business or other place where he/she shall have been when call or alarm was received. The authorized duties and activities listed in this section are the sole duties and activities authorized by the Board of Supervisors of West Bradford Township to be performed by volunteer fire companies or their members. Any other activities performed by volunteer fire companies or their members shall be deemed as outside of the scope of the office or duties of volunteer fire companies and undertaken at the sole risk of the company and individual members, unless authorized in writing by the Board of Supervisors. Authorized duties and activities are as follows:

A. The Fire Company is hereby authorized to provide such services to the Township as may be necessary for the protection of property and persons situated therein, which include, by way of example and not of limitation, the extinguishment and prevention of loss of life and property from fire, motor vehicle accident, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents and other dangerous situations.

B. The Fire Company is permitted to provide nonemergency and public service functions, either within or outside the Township, such as, by way of example and not of limitation, removing water from property after storms and assisting in the removal, abatement and prevention of damage or injury to persons or property, whether through natural causes or man-made situations.

C. The Fire Company is permitted to conduct and participate in such training activities and drills, either within or outside of the Township, as may be deemed necessary by the officer of the Fire Company to maintain proficiency in providing services.

D. The Fire Company is permitted to respond to calls and provide services to municipalities outside of the Township with which it maintains mutual response agreements or when called by officials who deem the Fire Company services necessary in a given situation.

E. The Fire Company is permitted to engage in inspections and tours of private property in the Township, when invited, for fire prevention, planning and training purposes, preplanning, public education programs, testing of fire protection equipment or systems, open houses, and other fire prevention activities, when authorized by the Fire Chief or his/her designee.

F. The Fire Company may conduct scheduled special work details at fire stations related to maintenance activities and recruitment programs.

G. Fire Company members may engage in fund-raising activities for the Fire Company when authorized by an officer or officers of the Fire Company and attend parades and similar civic activities when authorized by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 29-5 Other activities of members.

In addition to actually participating in the activities of the Fire Company as authorized in § 29-4 above, the members of the Fire Company are also authorized by the Township to do the following:

(Reserved)

§ 29-6 Interference with fire-suppression forces.

A. Interference with volunteer fire company operations. In accordance with Pennsylvania Title 18 and this article, it shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict the mobility of, or block the path of travel of any volunteer fire company emergency vehicle in any way or to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or hamper any volunteer fire company operation.

B. Compliance with orders. A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of the officer in charge or designee to interfere with the compliance attempts of another individual.

C. Vehicles crossing fire hose. A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected fire hose of a fire company when laid down on any street, alleyway, private drive or any other vehicular roadway without the consent of the officer in charge of said operation or designee.

D. Unlawful boarding or tampering with fire company emergency equipment. A person shall not, without proper authorization from the officer in charge of said fire company emergency equipment or designee, cling to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board or swing upon any fire company emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or at rest, sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device thereon, or manipulate or tamper with or attempt to manipulate or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting device, brakes, pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on or a part of any fire company emergency vehicle.

E. Unlawful or inappropriate use of preemption devices at signalized intersections.

§ 29-7 Control of equipment and funds.

A. All appropriations made by West Bradford Township to or for the use of the Fire Company, whether of money or property, and all equipment purchased by the Fire Company by use of such appropriations, or purchased by West Bradford Township for use by the Fire Company, shall be deemed to be and shall continue to be the property of West Bradford Township.

B. None of the fire apparatus or capital equipment owned by the Fire Company or by West Bradford Township shall be permanently removed or sold without the consent of the Board of Supervisors of West Bradford Township; and except for the conduct of activities authorized or permitted in § 29-4, none of the fire-fighting apparatus or equipment shall be temporarily removed from the Township without the prior approval of the Board of Supervisors.

C. No capital expenditures shall be made by the Fire Company which shall require its borrowing of money or the pledge of its credit without the prior approval of the Board of Supervisors.

D. On or prior to October 1 each year, the Fire Company shall submit to the Board of Supervisors of West Bradford Township its proposed budget of revenues and expenses for the forthcoming fiscal year for review and approval by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 29-8 Annual financial reporting; Fire Company reporting, appropriations and disbursements.

A. Required financial reporting and Township appropriations. In accordance with Section 1803 of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code[1] and as required herein, all fire companies recognized in § 29-3 shall annually submit to the Board of Supervisors a report of use of appropriated moneys for each completed year of operation before any further payments are made to the fire company for the current year in such sum(s) that, in the opinion of said Board, may be necessary in support of fire company facilities and training in accordance with Section 1803(a) of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code.

[1] Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 66803.

B. Disbursements. Funds derived from local taxes may be appropriated in accordance with Section 1803(a) of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code and shall be disbursed by the Board of Supervisors to a fire company employing any of three methods:

(1) Requests for funds to be paid to vendors shall be made to the Board of Supervisors prior to its regularly scheduled meetings. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Township shall disburse check(s) written to vendors for the fire company.

(2) Reimbursement for expenses paid to vendors by the fire company shall occur after the Board of Supervisors has reviewed the list of invoices paid and approved such prepaid expenses at its regular scheduled meeting.

(3) The Township may disburse funds directly to the fire company in installments or single annual payment.

C. Other fire company regulations and reporting requirements. In accordance with Section 1803(b) of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. The Board of Supervisors establishes the following regulations and reporting requirements for fire companies serving the Township. Compliance with the following standards by a fire company is required to ensure the Board of Supervisors is able to monitor activities and performance of the fire company and to meet fundamental fire services performance expectations and maintain good working order, as anticipated by the Board of Supervisors. Failure to comply with these standards may cause the Board of Supervisors to initiate a notice of delinquency of service in accordance with § 29-10 of this article. The requirements for fire companies are as follows:

(1) The fire company shall be recognized by the Township, as per § 29-3 of this article.

(2) A charter has been granted to such fire company by the proper court under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(3) Such fire company shall be capable of manning and operating apparatus assigned to it by the Township or own at least one motorized apparatus which complies with today's minimum standards, such as, but not limited to, current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards or as licensed by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health.

(4) All apparatus owned by such fire company shall meet as a minimum current standards of the National Fire Protection Association or as licensed by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health.

(5) Such fire company shall have an alarm system that is deemed adequate to alert its volunteer firefighters without use of a device known as a house siren.

(6) Such fire company either owns or leases within the boundaries of the Township a suitable building of sufficient size to house fully equipped, approved apparatus meeting the requirements set forth in § 29-7 of this article.

(7) The officer in charge and all designated line officers of such fire company are full-time residents of West Bradford Township or a municipality contiguous thereto.

(8) All bylaws, and amendments thereto, of a fire company recognized in § 29-3 of this article shall be provided to the Township and kept current and on file with the Township Secretary. All amendments to any bylaws shall be presented to the Township within 45 days of adoption.

(9) Such fire company shall annually provide to the Township a certification of insurance from its insurance carrier.

(10) Such fire company shall annually before August 31 of each year provide to the Township a complete membership list that will include the officer in charge and all designees or other ranked officers/positions. The membership list will also include all active volunteer firefighters in good standing with the fire company and who are qualified by training or other measures established by the fire company to be engaged during a fire call and perform fire-protection duties and activities authorized under § 29-4 of this article. The membership list will also designate all qualified apparatus drivers and summarize all training activities completed by the members.

(11) Such fire company shall provide to the Township a listing of all fire apparatus (vehicles) that carry hose, ladders and contain pumps used in fire suppression in the Township. Such fire company shall annually test all fire pumps in accordance with Section 1911, Standard for Service Tests on Automotive Fire Department, of the NFPA standards and provide a test report to the Township Board of Supervisors indicating the date, time, duration and results of each pump test. The results of all pump tests shall be kept on record and readily available for a period of five years.

(12) Such fire company will provide a registered inventory of all ladders owned by the fire company and used in fire suppression in the Township. Such fire company shall annually test or cause to be tested all ground ladders used in fire suppression in accordance with NFPA 1932 standards and provide a report to the Township Board of Supervisors indicating the date, time, duration and results of each ladder test. The results of all ladder tests shall be kept on record and readily available for a period of five years.

(13) Such fire company shall annually test or cause to be tested all fire hoses used in fire suppression in accordance with Section 1962, Standards for Testing of Fire Hose, of the NFPA standards and provide a report to the Township Board of Supervisors indicating the date, time, duration and results of each hose test. The results of all hose tests shall be kept on record and readily available for a period of five years.

(14) Such fire company shall, at a minimum, provide activity reports and/or incident reports to the Board of Supervisors on a regular monthly basis illustrating the number of calls, type of calls and number of firefighters responding, and similar information in a standard presentation format. At the end of each year, a standard activity report summary will be provided to the Board of Supervisors for review.

(15) Such fire company shall provide on an annual basis copies of documents showing compliance with filing requirements of the Federal Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania Charities Act, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and any other government filing that is required of a fire company operating as a corporate entity. If any of these documents are not required or cease to be required, a letter shall be forwarded from the fire company to the Township containing an explanation of the reason for not filing.

D. Other financial reporting. In order to maintain an understanding of the fire company's financial needs, the fire company shall annually submit a report of its financial condition for the calendar year, an adopted budget for the fire company and an audit that has been completed by a certified professional accountant. The CPA audit must be completed within three months of the date of close of business of the fiscal year of the fire company.

§ 29-9 Election of officers.

The members of the fire company are further authorized to elect from their membership such officers as may be provided in the bylaws of the fire company.

§ 29-10 Delinquency of fire service.

A. The West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors provides for fire protection in West Bradford Township and requires that a fire company recognized under § 29-3 of this article operate and be managed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this article, the fire company's bylaws, and the standards of fire protection of the NFPA. Failure to adhere to these expectations and requirements or failure to do what law or duty requires constitutes a delinquency of service. Should the Township Board of Supervisors believe that for any reason the fire company is in noncompliance and not provide adequate fire protection to the Township, the Board of Supervisors may use either of the following methodologies to declare the fire company delinquent:

(1) By adoption of a resolution stating that the fire company has failed to operate as anticipated by this article and it is necessary to provide direct assistance and oversight to the fire company. At any time that the Board of Supervisors determines that the failures have been corrected it may adopt a resolution granting the fire company the authority to direct its affairs in furtherance of this article. When the Board of Supervisors has determined that direct assistance and oversight are necessary it may elect to utilize the Emergency Services Board (found in Subsection D) or staff to provide assistance and oversight as it deems to be in the best interest of the community and the fire company.

(2) The Board of Supervisors may direct the Township Manager, Fire Marshal and/or other designee to investigate and examine the reasons for noncompliance using the following process:

(a) The Township Manager and/or Fire Marshal and/or other designee will contact the fire company's chief administrative official, in writing, and indicate the findings by the Township of noncompliance in a noncompliance notification letter.

(b) Within the noncompliance notification letter, the Township Manager, Fire Marshal or other designee will coordinate with the fire company's chief administrative official the date(s), times and place to hold a meeting to discuss the findings, service concerns and/or compliance concerns and deficiencies with the chief administrative officer, the fire company liaison committee or other duly acknowledged representatives of the fire company.

(c) Within 10 days following the meeting with the fire company's chief administrative office, liaison committee or duly appointed representatives, the Township Manager, Fire Marshal and/or other designee will present, in writing, to the Board of Supervisors all findings and the current disposition of all findings as a result of the meeting. A copy of the findings and disposition comments will also be forwarded to the fire company.

(d) Following receipt by the fire company of the findings summary letter, the fire company will have 15 days to contact the Township Manager and schedule a presentation for the next Board of Supervisors meeting for the purpose of discussing the findings and the disposition of the findings and responding to the compliance issues.

(e) If the fire company adequately addresses the noncompliance findings and agrees to any corrective actions or measures approved by the Board of Supervisors related to the findings and the disposition of the findings, the fire company shall be deemed to be in compliance. Upon appropriate motion and approval by the Board of Supervisors, the Township Manager, Fire Marshal and/or other designee will provide written notification of compliance.

(f) If noncompliance is sustained, the Board of Supervisors by majority motion may issue a notice of delinquency of service and initiate the delinquency of service process outlined in Subsection B and other actions provided in this section. The Board of Supervisors may also engage other fire companies or emergency service providers to ensure public safety is maintained in the Township.

B. Delinquency of service. In the event that a fire company established to provide fire protection or other emergency services and recognized in § 29-3 by West Bradford Township, or any successor organization, shall at any time after the establishment of this article fail to maintain the fire protection service with a reasonable level of working order, in accordance with established standards, guidelines and agreements to operate and manage in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this article, the fire company's bylaws, and NFPA, the Board may serve written notice of delinquency of service upon the fire company and its officers, stating:

(1) The manner in which the fire company has failed to maintain public fire protection service in a reasonable condition and issues related to noncompliance and delinquency of service.

(2) A demand that such deficiencies, issues of noncompliance and delinquency of service related to this article and the fire protection of West Bradford Township be corrected within 30 days.

(3) A schedule for presenting to the Board of Supervisors an explanation for such deficiencies, issues of noncompliance and delinquency of service related to this article and the fire protection of West Bradford Township.

(4) The date and places of public hearing, which shall be held within 45 days of the notice.

C. Public hearing for delinquency of service. At such a hearing, the Board of Supervisors may amend the terms of the original notice of delinquency of service concerning the deficiencies and may give an extension of time within which the fire company shall correct them. If the deficiencies or any modifications thereof were not corrected within 30 days of the notice of delinquencies referred to above or within any agreed-upon extension of time, the Township Board of Supervisors may intervene in the operation of the fire company through a resolution establishing that the Emergency Services Board will manage the affairs of a fire company in accordance with the provision of this article.

D. Formation of the Emergency Services Board. If after the public hearing for delinquency of service, the Board of Supervisors determines that delinquencies exist and that a fire company is not performing effectively and providing adequate fire protection services, the Board of Supervisors may form an Emergency Services Board, as follows:

(1) The Emergency Services Board shall be established by resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors and shall be maintained until further resolution of the Board of Supervisors as may be determined by the Board of Supervisors to be in the best interest of the Township. The Emergency Services Board shall be established and have authority over all functions of fire protection service currently maintained by the delinquent fire company, including, but not limited to, the administration, collection of revenues, payment of charges, organization of officers and similar administrative and operational functions. The Emergency Services Board will provide direct guidance and direction over the delinquent fire company in addressing all operational problems that have contributed in whole or in part to the delinquency of service. If an Emergency Services Board is established, the delinquent fire company shall be subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Emergency Services Board and shall at all times conform to any and all rules and regulations adopted by said Board, anything in the constitution and bylaws of any fire company to the contrary notwithstanding.

(2) Rights of the fire company. Establishment of the Emergency Services Board shall not constitute a taking or disbandment of the fire company, nor vest in the Township any rights above those provided for by the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code and other relevant laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(3) Duties and responsibilities. The specific duties and mission of the Emergency Services Board shall be established in detail by a resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors. At a minimum, the Emergency Services Board shall accomplish the following when acting to provide direct guidance and direction over a delinquent fire company:

(a) The Emergency Services Board shall retain fire company operability and shall maintain such minimum standards of operation of the fire company as the Township Board of Supervisors may prescribe and shall develop plans and make suggestions for improving such standards and shall report such plans and suggestions to the Township Board of Supervisors.

(b) Authority. The Emergency Services Board shall have the authority to remove, appoint or affirm all fire company officers, ancillary boards and committee members to serve in various capacities as specified in the fire company bylaws.

(c) The Emergency Services Board shall have approval authority over all fire company financial expenditures and administrative matters.

(d) The Emergency Services Board shall appoint its own clerk(s) or administrative officers from the membership of the fire company to implement day-to-day tasks of the fire company and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Emergency Services Board.

(e) The Emergency Services Board shall determine the tasks to be performed and the powers entitled to the officer in charge and administrative officers during the period of delinquency.

(f) Organization of the Emergency Services Board. The Emergency Services Board shall consist of five members, with each Emergency Services Board member having staggered terms from one to five years. Thereafter, a new member shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors each year for a term of five years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified, with no more than two members being reappointed or replaced during any future calendar year. The organizational procedures will continue to remain in effect until the Board of Supervisors deems the delinquency of service to be corrected.

E. Correction of delinquency; burden of proof. Before the expiration of one year from the determination of delinquency and formation of the Emergency Services Board, the Township shall, upon its initiative or upon request of a fire company representative, call a public meeting upon notice to the fire company. At the public hearing, the fire company shall be provided with an opportunity to show cause as to why the Emergency Services Board shall not, at the option of the Township, continue for a succeeding year. If the Board of Supervisors shall determine that the fire company is capable to resume service and to maintain compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this article, the fire company's bylaws, and NFPA or other deficiencies, the Township Board of Supervisors shall by resolution cease to maintain the formation of the Emergency Services Board at the end of said year or a date to be mutually determined by the fire company and the Township which is suitable for the effective transition. If the Board shall determine, at the recommendation of the Emergency Services Board, that the fire company is still delinquent, the Board of Supervisors shall, at its discretion, continue to reaffirm the Emergency Services Board for a next succeeding year and, subject to a similar hearing and determination, in each year thereafter in accordance with this section.

F. Any and all costs to the Township incurred as a result of administering and operating the fire company in the event of a delinquency (e.g., mailing expenses, staff time, and travel) and any additional penalties or fees set by the Township shall be paid by the fire company or Emergency Services Board.

§ 29-11 Municipal liability.

A. Unless otherwise provided in this article or by action of the West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors, no fire company recognized in § 29-3 of this article or its officers, members, representatives, agents, servants or employees shall have the power or authority, either actual, apparent or implied, to contractually bind or create contractual liability on the part of West Bradford Township or any other municipal entity.

B. It is recognized that a fire company, as specified in § 29-3, when engaged in activities and duties specified in § 29-4, is a governmental agency and that its officers, members, representatives, agents, servants or employees are included within the provisions of the Political Subdivision Immunity Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8541 et seq., and, as such, said West Bradford Fire Company, its officers, members, representatives, agents, servants and employees are entitled to immunity from tort liability under the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act and to all rights and privileges as provided in said act.

§ 29-12 Violations and penalties. [1]

Any person who violates or permits a violation of § 29-6 of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Article II User Fees

[Adopted 7-10-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-05]

§ 29-13 Authority to establish fees; rates.

The West Bradford Fire Company is authorized and shall establish user fees commensurate to its cost to provide public safety services, which shall include, but not be limited to, user fees for the provision of personnel, equipment, supplies and other expenses incurred in the delivery of said services. User fee rates shall be based on that which is usual, customary and reasonable, and user fees may be indexed so to fluctuate in proportion to the level of service provided at a specific incident.

§ 29-14 Filing of claims.

User fees shall be filed to the motor vehicle, commercial, homeowners' or other insurance policy, representing an add-on cost of claims for damages of the vehicles, property and/or injuries. The claim(s) shall be filed with the insurance company of the owner of a vehicle, owner of property, lessee or responsible party for the incident(s).

§ 29-15 Rules and regulations for billing and collection.

The West Bradford Fire Company is authorized and shall make all reasonable rules, regulations and arrangements, including the use of independent collection agencies, as required for the billing and the collection of the user fees, in its sole discretion. Furthermore the West Bradford Fire Company is authorized and may amend said rules, regulations and arrangements as may be needed from time to time and in its sole discretion.

§ 29-16 Use of funds.

All user fee funds collected shall be deposited into an account established and controlled by the West Bradford Fire Company only. All user fee funds shall be expended for any authorized expenditure for and by the West Bradford Fire Company in its sole discretion and pursuant to all applicable laws.

§ 29-17 Annual report.

On or before January 31 of each year, the West Bradford Fire Company shall provide an annual report to the Board of Supervisors that details all user fee funds received for the prior calendar year. The report shall be subject to audit at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.