[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough of Hanover 1-17-1968 by Ord. No. 1382. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
The
Fire Commissioner shall be appointed by a majority of all members
of Hanover Borough Council at an annual salary as determined and fixed
by Council. He shall serve at pleasure of Council in accordance with
civil service regulations.
B.
The
Fire Commissioner shall be directly responsible to the Borough Manager
in the exercise and performance of his duties.
C.
Immediately upon appointment, the Fire Commissioner shall sever all
ties and membership, if any heretofore exist, in any fire company
of the Borough of Hanover, except as is necessary to be protected
and enjoy the benefits of the Firemen's Relief Association.[2]
E.
The Fire Commissioner shall have the direction and control of all
the fire apparatus of the Borough of Hanover. At fire scenes, he shall
have the sole and absolute authority in fighting, extinguishing and
preventing the spread of conflagrations and, for this purpose, shall
have full power and authority to do all acts and deeds which are necessary
to the proper and lawful attainment of these ends. The Fire Commissioner
shall establish working assignments with his assistants to make sure
that there is sufficient coverage when he is absent from the Borough.
He shall see that fire hydrants and alarm systems are tested and kept
in good repair, and shall have direct supervision of moving, changing
and locating of fire hydrants and alarms, subject to the approval
of Borough Council. He shall make reports to Council in the manner
and form prescribed by Council concerning work done by him and the
Fire Department and shall make recommendations on supplies and equipment.
He shall not leave the Borough without notice to the Borough Manager
and to the Assistant Chiefs. Council shall maintain at its expense
a telephone at the residence of the Fire Commissioner for fire communications.
[Amended 9-3-1969 by Ord. No. 1456]
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 1 of Ord. No. 2216, adopted 4-22-2015, states that all references to the title “Fire Commissioner” in Ch. 43 and other chapters and sections of the Code shall include the title of “Fire Chief” or other position designated by the Borough Council as the senior executive officer of the Borough Fire Department.
[Amended 10-9-1968 by Ord. No. 1408; 12-4-1996 by Ord. No. 1994; 1-23-2002 by Ord. No. 2049; 11-9-2005 by Ord. No. 2095; 12-27-2006 by Ord. No.
2117; 4-22-2015 by Ord. No. 2216]
A.
The Deputy Fire Chief shall serve as the person second in command
to the Fire Chief.
B.
The Deputy Fire Chief shall represent the Fire Department in the
absence of the Fire Chief and provide responsible administrative support
to the Fire Chief. The Deputy Fire Chief shall have the specific duties;
shall meet the specific physical, educational and experimental qualifications;
and shall have the licenses, certifications, knowledge, skills and
abilities as set forth in the job description as adopted from time
to time by the Borough Council.
C.
The Fire Company fire duty officers, who may be elected from time
to time by the volunteer companies participating in the Hanover Fire
Department designated by the Hanover Borough Council to serve the
Borough, may be designated by resolution of the Hanover Borough Council
as assistants to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief may designate one
volunteer fire company primary fire line officer known as "Captain"
or some other designation denoting the fire line command officer or
former such officer to act as Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief (as
applicable) in the absence of the Fire Chief and the Deputy Fire Chief.
Such designations must be submitted to and approved by the Borough
Manager and ratified by the Hanover Borough Council. These appointments
may be altered from time to time or suspended at the discretion of
the Borough Manager, with Council's concurrence, at intervals
of not less than one year.
D.
The duties of the assistants to the Fire Chief shall be to assist
the Fire Chief in the performance of his duties under his direction
and supervision.
A.
Fire apparatus drivers shall be appointed by Council under civil
service regulations.
B.
Fire apparatus drivers shall be members of the Fire Department of
the Borough of Hanover and under the supervision and direction of
the Fire Commissioner. Their duties are to include manning and maintaining
the equipment of the Borough and any other duties as may be directed
by the Fire Commissioner in connection with the fire protection of
the Borough.
C.
Council shall determine the number of fire apparatus drivers and
the compensation for same.
A.
The Fire Commissioner and his assistants, the fire apparatus drivers
and the fire companies and the members thereof, now or hereafter duly
authorized and recognized by the Borough, shall constitute the Fire
Department of the Borough and shall, under the direction and supervision
of the Fire Commissioner, have entire jurisdiction and management
in the fighting of fires, preventing the spread thereof, removal and
custody of property, removal of dangerous building or other property,
with the right to enter buildings and premises affected or likely
to be affected or deemed necessary in the performance of their duties.
B.
The Fire Department and its members, when authorized by the Fire
Commissioner, are hereby authorized to enter any building or premises
for the purpose of examining property and conditions with the view
to fire protection and prevention, and for the purpose of discovering
the causes and results of fires. These results are to be reported
to Council in monthly reports of activities as prescribed by Council.
Any person or persons interfering with, obstructing or delaying
any member of the Fire Department in the discharge of his duties or
damaging or tampering with any fire hydrant or alarm shall be guilty
of a violation of this chapter.
[Amended 4-16-1969 by Ord. No. 1435; 6-16-1971 by Ord. No. 1514]
No fire apparatus shall leave the Borough without permission
of the Fire Commissioner or his designated representative. The official
giving such permission shall direct which apparatus shall be used
outside of the Borough. Such permission shall be given only upon the
following conditions:
A.
Mutual-aid response.
(1)
Request for the use of Borough fire-fighting apparatus must be made
by the Fire Commissioner, Assistants to the Fire Commissioner, Chief
or Assistant Chief, or the President of an organized fire company
situated within a radius of 30 miles of the Borough, and such organized
fire company shall have posted the names of such authorized officials
with the Fire Commissioner of the Borough.
(2)
Arrangements shall have first been made with a fire company adjacent
to the Borough to stand by to render assistance in the event of fire
within the Borough while the Borough equipment shall be absent from
the Borough.
B.
Direct response.
(1)
Request for the use of Borough fire-fighting apparatus must be made
by such persons, firms or corporations who shall have prior thereto
filed a written application with the Borough Fire Commissioner for
such direct response and shall have complied with the following:
(a)
Submitted unto the Borough Fire Commissioner written clearance
from the fire companies subject to first response in the location
of applicant.
(b)
Paid unto the Borough Secretary an annual fee of $100.
(c)
Shall agree to pay unto the Borough the sum of $100 for each
response requested by applicant.
(d)
Shall have satisfactorily complied with all fire-prevention
directives of the Borough Fire Commissioner and shall have granted
permission for inspection of applicant's premises by the Borough
Fire Commissioner for such purposes.
[Amended 2-21-1968 by Ord. No. 1384; 10-9-1968 by Ord. No. 1408; 12-28-1968 by Ord. No. 1422; 12-26-1970 by Ord. No. 1497[1]]
The salaries of the Fire Driver, Fire Commissioner, Acting Fire
Commissioner and Deputy Fire Commissioner shall be fixed by resolution
of Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: Approved by Mayor 12-28-1970.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the
provisions of this chapter, and specifically Ordinance No. 1026, entitled
"An Ordinance Providing for the Appointment of a Fire Chief, a First
and Second Assistant Fire Chief and a Fire Inspector of the Fire Department
of the Borough of Hanover; Defining their Duties and Powers; and Providing
Penalties for Disobedience of their Orders," enacted December 16,
1959, as amended, are hereby repealed.
