[Adopted 12-9-1963]
[Amended 12-27-1972 by Ord. No. 72-23; 7-8-1974 by Ord. No.
74-16]
The Fire Department shall consist of a Chief,
First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant
and firemen as herein provided. Membership in said Fire Department
shall be open to any resident of the Borough of Park Ridge who is
at least 18 years of age and is less than 40 years of age; is sound
in body and in good health, sufficient to satisfy the Fire Board;
is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;
is of good moral character; has not been convicted of any criminal
offense involving moral turpitude and has submitted to and passed
a medical and physical examination conducted by the Fire Surgeon of
the Borough within seven days prior to the appointment date.
[Added 11-29-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-034]
A.
All Fire Department applicants, subsequent to the adoption of this
section, must submit to fingerprinting by the fingerprint vendor contracted
with the State of New Jersey for such volunteer positions for the
purpose of completing a criminal background check of the applicant.
This requirement shall also apply to any member of the Fire Reserve,
at such time as they apply for membership to the regular department.
B.
The results of the applicant's criminal history check will be
returned to the Park Ridge Police Department. The Chief of the Police
Department, or his designee, will complete a local records check,
along with a criminal background check, as allowed by law. The Police
Chief, or his designee, will then provide a written statement to the
Borough Administrator stating that either the applicant has no disqualifying
criminal history or a summary of any disqualifying criminal charges
or convictions.
C.
The Borough Administrator will promptly advise the Chief of the Fire
Department if the applicant meets the Borough's standards for
membership or, after consulting with the Borough Attorney, will advise
the Fire Chief that the applicant does not meet these standards and
may not be granted membership. If an applicant wishes to discuss the
decision made related to them, he may meet with the Borough Administrator
and Borough Attorney to review the basis for that determination.
D.
Any person convicted of a crime of the first or second degree as
set forth under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, or its equivalent
in any other jurisdiction of the United States, shall be ineligible
for membership in the Park Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
E.
Any person convicted of a crime of the third or fourth degree as
set forth under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, or its equivalent
in any other jurisdiction of the United States, may be eligible for
membership in the Park Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, subject to
review and recommendation of the Borough Council and the Board of
Fire Officers.
F.
No other Borough Official or employee will be given access to, or
be informed of, the information received from the criminal history
check.
G.
The Borough authorizes the Fire Department to pay any fee required
by the state in relation to this investigation.
H.
The Park Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will not accept any member
on a probationary status until all background checks are completed
and information is returned from the state.
I.
All other requirements for membership within the Park Ridge Volunteer
Fire Department will remain in full force and effect until changed.
Each company shall have one Captain, one Lieutenant
and as many active men as may be deemed necessary, but not in excess
of 25. The Borough Clerk shall keep a complete roll of the active
and exempt members of the Fire Department, designating the date of
admission, exemption and resignation and the respective company to
which they belong.
[Amended 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 74-16]
A Fire Board, as heretofore established, is
hereby continued. It shall consist of the Mayor, members of the Fire
Committee of the Borough Council, Chief, First and Second Assistant
Chiefs and the Borough Clerk, who shall have no vote.
[Amended 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 74-16]
Meetings of the Fire Board shall be held upon
the call of the Mayor or the Chief of the Fire Department, as needed.
The Board shall have control of the management of the Department when
not upon active duty, subject to the approval of the governing body.
The Fire Board shall from time to time adopt
a code or bylaws and rules for the control, management and government
of the Fire Department. The code or codes or bylaws and rules as adopted
by the Fire Board shall not become operative and effective until approved
by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 74-16]
The Chief, First and Second Assistant Chiefs,
Captain and the Lieutenant of the Department shall be elected annually
on the first Thursday of December in each year by the active members
of the Department. All officers of the Department shall hold over
until their successors are elected and approved by the Mayor and Council.
Election of Department officers shall be by ballot and the candidate
receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected,
subject to the approval of the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 74-16]
Company Captains and Lieutenants shall be appointed
annually by the Department officers on the first Thursday of December
in each year.
The companies of the Fire Department shall be
known and designated, without reference to their equipment, as "Company
No. .......... of the Borough of Park Ridge Fire Department." Each
company shall be known by a numeral designated by the Mayor and Council.
An official inspection of the Department shall
be made annually by the governing body of the Borough. The time for
such inspection shall be designated by the governing body.
[Amended 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 74-16]
All fire apparatus belonging to the Borough
shall be kept at the firehouse on Park Avenue or at such other places
as the Council may designate.
An exemption certificate shall be granted to
each member of the Fire Department who has served the time prescribed
by law. No member shall be granted an exemption certificate unless
he has served the required time and has also performed the yearly
fire duty required of him for the number of years required by the
laws of the state for granting such certificate. The time served and
the percentage of fire duty shall be certified by the Captain of the
company and the Fire Chief.
Certificates of exemption shall be ordered by
the governing body upon recommendation of the Fire Chief and Fire
Board. They shall be signed by the Mayor and Fire Chief and attested
by the Borough Clerk.
