[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Hillsdale 6-27-1972 by Ord. No. 72-9 as Ch. 9 of the Revised Ordinances of 1972. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Fire Department heretofore established in the Borough is hereby continued.
[1]
Editor's Note: For state statutes generally affecting municipal fire departments, see N.J.S.A. 40A:14-7 et seq.
The Fire Department of the Borough shall consist of the following officers and members, whose offices and positions are hereby continued:
A. 
Chief: one.
B. 
Deputy Chief: one.
[Amended 12-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-28]
C. 
Captain: not more than one per company.
[Added 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8]
D. 
Lieutenant: not more than three per company.
[Added 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8]
E. 
Firefighters: as many as may be authorized by ordinance.
[Amended 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8; 12-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-28]
A. 
The Fire Committee shall consist of three members of the Borough Council appointed for a one-year term at the Council’s annual reorganization.
B. 
The first member of the Committee appointed shall be the Fire Commissioner.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Fire Commissioner to make recommendations looking to the general efficiency and welfare of the Fire Department.
D. 
In the absence of the Fire Commissioner, or in the event of his or her inability to serve, duties shall be assumed by the Committee members.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 9-4, Fire Commissioner: duties; powers and duties of Deputy Fire Commissioners, was deleted 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8.
[Amended 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8; 12-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-28]
The Board shall consist of the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief and the Captains and Lieutenants of each of the companies.
A. 
The Board of Fire Officers shall have control over the management of the Fire Department, subject to the approval of the Borough Council.
B. 
The Board of Fire Officers shall meet monthly, or more frequently when business of the Board shall so require, for the transaction of business of the Board.
A. 
The bylaws and rules heretofore adopted by the Board of Fire Officers for the control, management and government of said Board are hereby continued. Said bylaws and rules may be amended or supplemented by the Board from time to time as it shall deem necessary or desirable.
B. 
Said amendments and supplements shall not become operative and effective unless and until first approved by the Borough Council.
A. 
The Fire Chief shall be in complete charge of the equipment and personnel of the Fire Department. In the event of emergency or widespread conflagration, the Fire Chief may, in his or her discretion, order such equipment and personnel to respond to such requests as the Fire Chief or Mayor of any other municipality in the vicinity may make for fire-fighting purposes; provided, however, that adequate coverage for fire-fighting purposes for the Borough shall be at all times maintained or otherwise provided for.
B. 
In the absence of the Fire Chief, seniority shall prevail as indicated in the official titles and as provided in the bylaws of the Board of Fire Officers.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: For state statutes authorizing fire aid to other municipalities, see N.J.S.A. 40A:14-26.
A. 
The companies of the Fire Department of the Borough shall consist of and be known as:
(1) 
Hillsdale Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.
(2) 
Hillsdale Hose Company No. 1.
(3) 
Such other companies as may be hereafter confirmed by the Borough Council.
B. 
Each company specified in Subsection A of this section shall have the following officers:
(1) 
Captain: one.
(2) 
First lieutenant: one.
(3) 
Second lieutenant: one.
(4) 
Third lieutenant: one.
[Amended 10-12-1976 by Ord. No. 76-14]
A. 
Membership in each of the companies designated in § 29-8 shall consist exclusively of active members.
B. 
The total membership of each company, inclusive of officers, shall not exceed 40.
[Amended 10-12-1976 by Ord. No. 76-14; 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 87-15]
A. 
Any person not less than 18 years of age, except as provided in § 29-11, nor more than 50 years of age, may apply for membership in the Fire Department of the Borough, subject to the bylaws and rules of the Board of Fire Officers.
B. 
No applicant shall be approved for membership without first having passed a medical examination by a licensed medical practitioner appointed by the Borough Council.
C. 
The status of any person accepted as a member of the Fire Department shall be that of a probationary member, as provided for in the bylaws of the Board of Fire Officers.
[Amended 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8]
D. 
The application of any person who has served as an active firefighter in a fire department of any other municipality of the State of New Jersey (said fire department being a member of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association) for transfer of his or her membership to the Fire Department of the Borough may be accepted, subject to the bylaws and rules of the Board of Fire Officers governing new applications, except that the age limits as required by said bylaws and rules are hereby waived.
[Added 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 87-15]
A. 
There shall be a fire cadet program within the Fire Department of the Borough.
B. 
A person between the ages of 16 and 18 may apply for membership in the fire cadet program, subject to the bylaws and rules of the Board of Fire Officers.
C. 
Members of the fire cadet program shall assist with nonhazardous fighting duties. Those duties may include assistance in the maintenance of equipment and vehicles, the cleaning thereof and the restoration of equipment after a fire drill or call. Members of the cadet program shall receive training to prepare them to become full-fledged members of the Department.
[Amended 10-12-1976 by Ord. No. 76-14]
It shall be the duty of the Borough Clerk to keep a complete roll of each active and exempt member of the Fire Department, designating the company of such member and the date of admission to or exemption or resignation from the company by such member.
An annual meeting for the election of departmental and company officers shall be held on the night of the regular monthly meeting of the active membership of the Fire Department in the month of November. The officers elected at the annual meeting shall take their oath of office and assume their respective duties as soon after the first day of January as their election shall be approved and confirmed by the Borough Council.
Every person appointed as a member of the Hillsdale Fire Department shall promptly after such appointment subscribe to the oath of office of a firefighter in the record book of the Borough Clerk.
A. 
An exempt certificate shall be granted to each member of the Fire Department if, during seven years, he or she shall have performed 60% of fire duty in said department during each of said seven years, as provided by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-55 et seq.
B. 
The time served and the average attendance record at fires and drills shall be certified by the captain of the company and the Fire Chief, and approved by the Fire Chairperson.
[Amended 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8]
C. 
Exempt certificates shall be ordered and provided by the Borough Council upon recommendation by the Board of Fire Officers. They shall be signed by the Mayor, the Fire Chairperson and Fire Chief, and shall be attested by the Borough Clerk.
[Amended 5-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-8]
The Borough Council shall annually hold one inspection of the Fire Department.
A. 
The Board of Fire Officers shall try all charges that may be preferred against any active or associate member or officer of the Fire Department for offenses committed on duty or in or about the fire house, or for violation of any bylaws and rules of the Board of Fire Officers.
B. 
The Board shall impose such penalties as it shall deem most advisable, subject to an appeal from such determination to the Borough Council.
C. 
After hearing of such appeal, the Borough Council shall affirm, reverse or modify the determination of the Board of Fire Officers, or refer it back to such Board for rehearing and redetermination.