[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Saddle River 4-20-1015 by Ord.
No. 15-908-C.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
25, Fire Department, adopted 7-8-1974 as Ch. 6, Art. I, of the 1974
Code, as amended.
A.
A Fire Department, to be known as the "Saddle River Fire Department,"
is created and established as a volunteer organization, coextensive
with the territorial limits of the Borough. The Saddle River Fire
Department shall consist of one company.
B.
The Mayor and Council may assign employees of the Borough, who are members in good standing of Saddle River or other fire departments within Bergen County, firefighter duties. These employees must have obtained Fire Fighter I and vehicle extrication certification from and/or recognized by the Bergen County Fire Academy and the State of New Jersey. These employees shall be considered Department members and will respond to all alarms during their regular working hours while in the Borough of Saddle River. These Department members will be counted as part of the active volunteer members established in Subsection A.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 25-2, Public Safety Committee,
was repealed 3-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-970-C.
The use of any fire apparatus or equipment belonging to the
Borough shall be entrusted to the Saddle River Fire Association, Inc.,
subject to the oversight of the Public Safety Committee.
A.
Department membership shall be open to all residents and nonresidents
of the Borough of Saddle River who are full members of the Saddle
River Fire Association, Incorporated, and meet all training and other
requirements for Fire Department membership set forth in the Saddle
River Fire Department Association bylaws.
B.
Probationary firefighters are firefighters who have not successfully
completed the Fire Fighter I course. It is the responsibility of the
Saddle River Fire Department to mentor, monitor and train probationary
firefighters within the provisions set forth herein:
(1)
Probationary members who are attending high school or college are
not allowed in the fire house during school hours unless sanctioned
by the officer in charge. Probationary members are only allowed in
the fire house when regular members are present.
(2)
Probationary members will be issued turnout gear and an orange helmet
shield clearly marked "PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER" until such time as
they successfully complete Fire Fighter I and become an active firefighter.
(3)
Probationary members will receive hepatitis B and right-to-know training
within one year of their acceptance into the program.
(4)
Probationary members will attend company drills, cleanups, and functions.
(5)
Probationary members may assist the active firefighters working at
an emergency scene at the direction of the scene commanders and in
such manner that does not put the probationary firefighters in harm's
way or exposes them to the hazards of the emergency; support role
only.
(6)
Probationary members, at the discretion of the Chief, may be removed
from the Department for participating in any illegal, unsafe or reckless
acts while at the fire house or at the scene of an emergency.
C.
The junior firefighters program is a program for volunteers age 16
and 17 who are interested in serving the community and learning about
firefighting and emergency services.
(1)
It is the responsibility of the Saddle River Fire Association to
mentor, monitor and train junior firefighters within the provisions
set forth herein:
(a)
Eligible age: 16 and 17.
(b)
The Borough of Saddle River shall receive parental permission
in writing prior to acceptance. Juniors must undergo the same physical
examination as probationary members.
(c)
Juniors shall have no key to the fire house.
(d)
Juniors are not allowed in the fire house unless regular members
are present and if during school hours, only with the permission of
the parent/guardian.
(e)
Juniors may ride on the inside of the fire apparatus only. Parades
will be at the discretion of the officer in charge.
(f)
Juniors shall not respond to fire or emergencies after 9:30
p.m. on school nights unless sanctioned by a parent or guardian.
(g)
Juniors shall not obtain a permit or utilize a blue light when
responding to an emergency.
(h)
When responding to an emergency, juniors shall obey all traffic
laws and regulations.
(i)
Juniors will be issued turnout gear and an orange helmet shield
clearly marked "JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER."
(j)
Juniors will receive hepatitis B and right-to-know training
within one year of their acceptance into the program.
(k)
Juniors will attend company drills, cleanups, and functions.
(l)
Juniors may assist the active firefighters working at an emergency
scene, at the direction of the scene commander in any support function
that does not place them in harm's way or in the hot zone of
any emergency.
(m)
Under no circumstances are juniors allowed into a burning structure
or any hot or warm zone designated at a hazardous materials emergency.
(n)
Juniors may be removed from the program for participating in
any illegal, unsafe or reckless acts while at the fire house or at
the scene of an emergency in reasonable discretion of the Chief.
(o)
Juniors may attend and complete Fire Fighter I training at the
Bergen County Fire Academy with parental consent and parental attendance
of the introductory course at the Bergen County Fire Academy, in order
to enter active firefighter status upon their 18th birthday, a criminal
background check will be conducted prior to awarding active status.
Upon completion and passing, he/she shall be considered a full member.
(2)
Upon receipt of an application for membership to the Saddle River
Fire Department, the Chief shall copy the Fire Commissioner/Liaison
for advisement to the Borough Council. A member of the Public Safety
Committee shall conduct an interview with each applicant and together
with the Fire Chief shall approve or not approve the application for
appointment as a Saddle River firefighter. Upon appointment, the applicant
shall provide consent to a criminal history and DMV background investigation
with the appropriate authority. Each applicant shall be directed to
a Borough-designated physician for a complete physical examination.
Applicants that are active members in other Fire Departments may elect
to not take the physical examination. Each of these examinations will
be at the Borough's expense. The pass or fail results of these
examinations shall be forwarded to the Fire Department within seven
business days. Upon successful completion of such examinations, the
applicant will be accepted as a probationary member. Should an applicant
fail the physical examination, he/she may elect to retake the examination
with a physician accepted by the Borough at the applicants own expense.
The Fire Chief shall advise the Public Safety Committee of each applicant's
passing or failure of the background and/or physical exam process.
(3)
All Department members shall adhere to the rules and regulations
set forth in the Saddle River Fire Association Bylaws approved by
the Mayor and Council.
No person shall be a full member of the Saddle River Fire Department
until he/she has reached the age of 18 years.
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of a Chief,
Assistant Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant, and Second Lieutenant.
A.
The election of all officers shall be held on the first Tuesday in
December in each year and is subject to the final approval of the
Public Safety Committee and Borough Council
B.
The Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant, and Second
Lieutenant elected by the Saddle River Fire Association Incorporated
shall hold office for one year.
C.
In the event that the Public Safety Committee and Borough Council
refuse to confirm the election of any Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain,
First Lieutenant, and/or Second Lieutenant, the Public Safety Committee
shall appoint-such officers, which may include a Chief, Assistant
Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant, and/or Second Lieutenant, to hold
office for one year.
D.
All Department members may qualify for officer positions, provided
that they meet the training and education criteria set forth by the
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and in the Saddle River Fire Association
bylaws. No member may hold office in the Borough of Saddle River Fire
Department if he/she is concurrently holding office in another volunteer
municipal fire, ambulance or rescue squad.
It shall be the duty of the Chief to submit a report to the
Council at its regular meeting in each month. Such report will summarize
the condition of the Fire Department, including staffing, activities,
call response, condition of the firehouse, apparatus and any other
matters he may deem necessary.
In case of insubordination on the fire ground or at a firematic
event, accusation of criminal conduct or activity or inappropriate
actions identified in the Saddle River employee manual, the Chief
may order a temporary suspension of a Department member for a time
not to exceed 30 days. The Chief shall make a formal report to the
Public Safety Committee. If charges are sustained, the Public Safety
Committee shall inform the Borough Council to determine whether to
extend the suspension or expel such member from the Department.
The Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and Second
Lieutenant may be removed from office at any time upon determination
by the Borough Council for neglect of duty or other just cause, after
charges thereof are made and sustained at a meeting held by the Council,
for that purpose.
Each member of the Department shall be entitled to receive a
badge of the Fire Department. Such badge shall remain the property
of the Borough and be surrendered to the Council on the death, removal,
resignation, suspension, or expulsion of any member. Department officers,
ex-Chiefs and life members may retain possession of their badge once
completing their term in that position.
Any member of the Saddle River Fire Department that has not
successfully completed the Fire Fighter I Course and received the
certificate of completion from the Bergen County Fire Academy shall
be designated as a "probationary firefighter." Said probationary firefighter
will be issued appropriate firefighter turnout gear; the probationary
member shall be designated by an orange helmet shield. Upon completion
of Fire Fighter I, the probationary firefighter shall provide a copy
of the certificate of completion to the Fire Chief. Once the certificate
of completion is filed, the designation as probationary firefighter
shall be removed and the member shall receive a black Saddle River
Fire Department helmet shield. A copy of each member's certificate
shall be given to the Borough Clerk for record.
The bylaws of the Saddle River Association, Inc., and any amendments
thereto must be approved by the Borough Council. Such approved bylaws
shall be on file with the Borough Clerk.
