There are hereby established a Police Department
and a Fire Department for the Borough of Norristown, which shall be
part of the Department of Public Safety and under the supervision
of the Director of Public Safety.
A.
Personnel. The Police Department shall consist of
a Chief and as many other police officers of various ranks as the
Borough Council from time to time authorizes. The Chief of Police
shall be the chief executive officer of the Police Department and,
subject to the direction of the Director of Public Safety, shall be
responsible for the supervision, training and day-to-day operation
of the Police Department.
B.
Appointments and promotions.
(1)
Except for the position of Chief of Police, all appointments
to and promotions for the Police Department shall be made in accordance
with borough ordinances and the rules and regulations of the Borough
Civil Service Commission.
[Amended 7-1-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-08; 8-19-2014 by Ord. No. 14-12]
(2)
When there is a vacancy in the office of the Chief
of Police, the Mayor shall have the authority to appoint a duly qualified
person to the position of Chief of Police, subject to confirmation
by the Civil Service Commission that such person is duly qualified
for the position of Chief of Police.
C.
Powers and duties. Duly appointed police personnel
shall have the powers and duties conferred by the statutes of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the legislative enactments of the Borough
Council and the directions of the supervising officers of the Police
Department. The Chief of Police shall from time to time promulgate
such rules, regulations and/or orders that he deems necessary for
the orderly operation of the Department.
D.
Compensation and benefits. Members of the Police Department
shall receive such compensation and benefits as from time to time
achieved through collective bargaining procedures and/or compulsory
arbitration.
E.
Suspension and removal. The Chief of Police shall
have the power to suspend any police officer for due cause without
pay for a period not to exceed 30 days. The Chief of Police, with
the approval of the Director of Public Safety, shall have the power
to suspend any police officer for a period not to exceed one year
without pay and/or to reduce in rank or discharge the officer for
due cause.
F.
DUE CAUSE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
POLICE OFFICER
Definitions. As used in this section, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Physical or mental disability affecting the
officer's ability to continue in service.
Neglect or violation of any official duty.
Violation of any law which constitutes a misdemeanor
or felony.
Inefficiency, neglect, drug abuse, drinking
on duty, intemperance, disobedience of orders or conduct unbecoming
an officer.
Except for the exercise of suffrage rights,
engaging in political activity.
Any member of the Police Department.
G.
A person suspended, reduced in rank or discharged
shall have a right to appeal such action to the Civil Service Commission
as provided herein.
H.
If, for the purposes of economy or other reasons,
the Borough Council, by legislative action, deems it necessary to
reduce the number of paid employees of the Department, the reduction
shall be effected by furloughing in numerical order the person or
persons with the least seniority. In the event that persons are to
be hired for the Department, the furloughed persons shall be reinstated
in order of their seniority and service.
A.
Personnel. The Fire Department shall consist of a
Chief and as many other fire officers as the Borough Council from
time to time authorizes. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be
the chief executive officer of the Fire Department and, subject to
the direction of the Director of Public Safety, shall be responsible
for the supervision, training and day-to-day operation of the Fire
Department. The rules and regulations set forth herein shall apply
only to paid fire personnel and shall not apply to volunteer fire
fighters.
B.
Appointment and promotions.
(1)
Except for the positions of Chief of Fire, Fire Marshal
and Assistant Fire Marshal, all appointments and promotions for the
Fire Department shall be in accordance with the borough ordinances
and the rules and regulations of the Borough Civil Service Commission.
(2)
The positions of Chief of Fire, Fire Marshal and Assistant
Fire Marshal shall not be civil service positions.
(3)
The term for the position of Fire Chief shall be for
one year and shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with advice
from the presidents of the various volunteer fire companies.
(4)
The positions of Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal
shall be at-will employee positions with appointment pursuant to the
other relevant chapters of the General Laws of Norristown.
C.
Powers and duties. Duly appointed paid and volunteer
members of the Fire Department shall have the powers and duties conferred
by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the legislative
enactments of the Borough Council and the directions of the supervising
officers of the Fire Department.
D.
Compensation and benefits. Except for the Chief of
the Fire Department, the Fire Marshals and the Assistant Fire Marshals,
all paid fire personnel employed through civil service procedures
shall receive such compensation and benefits as from time to time
achieved through collective bargaining procedures and/or compulsory
arbitration.
(1)
The compensation for the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal
and Assistant Fire Marshals shall be set by the Borough Council.
(2)
Volunteer firemen shall be recruited by the various
fire houses in the borough and shall not be considered borough employees.
Volunteer firemen shall be under the control of the fire house officers
and shall receive no compensation for services from the borough.
E.
Suspension and removal of paid fire personnel.
(1)
The Chief of Fire shall have the power to suspend
any fire personnel for due cause without pay for a period not to exceed
30 days. The Chief of Fire, with the approval of the Director of Public
Safety shall have the power to suspend any fire personnel not to exceed
one year without pay and/or reduce in rank or discharge an officer
for due cause.
(2)
DUE CAUSE
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
FIRE PERSONNEL
Definitions. As used in this section, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Physical or mental disability affecting the
officer's ability to continue in service.
Neglect or violation of any official duty.
Violation of any law which constitutes a misdemeanor
or felony.
Inefficiency, neglect, drug abuse, drinking
on duty, intemperance, disobedience of orders or conduct unbecoming
an officer.
Except for the exercise of suffrage rights,
engaging in political activity.
Any paid member of the Fire Department appointed through
the civil service procedures.
(3)
A person suspended, reduced in rank or discharged
shall have a right to appeal such action to the Civil Service Commission
as provided herein.
(4)
If, for purposes of economy or other reasons, the
Borough Council, by legislative action, deems it necessary to reduce
the number of paid employees of the Department, the reduction shall
be effected by furloughing in numerical order the person or persons
with the least seniority. In the event that persons are to be hired
for the Department, the furloughed persons shall be reinstated in
order of their seniority and service.
F.
Volunteer firemen.
(1)
Except at the scene of a fire, volunteer firemen shall
be under the supervision and control of the officers of the fire house
where the person is a member. For activities not connected with duties
at the scene of a fire or going to a fire, volunteer firemen shall
be under the supervision and discipline of the fire house officers.
(2)
At the scene of a fire, volunteer firemen shall take
orders and be under the control and discipline of the Fire Chief and
his assistants.
