[HISTORY: Derived from Section 2-9 of the
1972 Revised General Ordinances; amended in its entirety 9-24-2014 by Ord. No.
2014-12. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Hardyston Township Volunteer Fire Department is hereby created
and established with jurisdictional boundaries coextensive with the
boundaries of the Township.
The Hardyston Township Volunteer Fire Department shall be composed
of two companies known as "Company No. 1" and "Company No. 2" and
such additional companies as the Hardyston Township Council may authorize
and approve. Members of the companies shall also be members of the
Department.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Hardyston Township
Volunteer Fire Department or any unit thereof unless he or she:
A.
Is a citizen of the United States and meets the age requirement of
the Department bylaws;
B.
Is physically fit to perform the duties of a firefighter evidenced
by a certificate to that effect by a practicing physician of the State
of New Jersey after physical examination for that purpose;
C.
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey;
D.
Conforms to the requirements as stated in the bylaws of the Department;
E.
Submits to background checks as per Township ordinance.
Every member of the Fire Department shall in each year perform
at least 50% of duty, to be composed of actual attendance at fires
and drills, and a record shall be kept of such attendance and duty
by the officer designated by the Fire Department bylaws and reported
to the Township Council annually.
Every member of the Fire Department shall be entitled to an
exempt firefighter's certificate when it appears that, at the
time of his or her appointment, he or she met the requirements of
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-56 and that he or she performed, during a period of
seven years, 50% of fire duty in each year respectively.
Every person hereafter seeking to join the Fire Department shall
make application to the Department, and upon his or her election to
membership in accordance with the bylaws of the Department, he or
she shall become a member in good standing of the Fire Department.
The election of members of the Fire Department shall be immediately
reported to the Township Clerk, who shall keep an accurate and up-to-date
record of all members of the Department. The members of the Department
shall be deemed to be exercising a governmental function, and the
adoption of this section, which has been at the request of the Fire
Department, shall be deemed to constitute a contract as required by
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-68.
There shall be a Chief of the Department, who shall be elected
by the members of the Department. The Department shall also elect
any other officers as provided for in the bylaws of the Department.
All officers elected by the Department shall, upon approval of the
Township Council, be sworn in at the annual reorganization meeting
of the Township Council.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be in command of the
Department and all fires and fire-related incidents within the Township
of Hardyston. The Chief shall be responsible for all decisions involving
the use of fire apparatus within or without the Township. He or she
shall be responsible for the action and direction of the Department
when officially summoned for duty and for other matters pertaining
to the overall efficiency of firefighting within the Township. The
Chief shall render monthly and annual reports to the Township Council
covering such firematic activities as fires, drills, etc., but may
delegate a subordinate to keep such records.
The Firematic Committee for the Department shall consist of
the Chief and such other officers as may be designated in the bylaws
of the Department.
