No person shall become an active volunteer of
the Fire District or of any unit thereof unless he or she has attained
the age of 18 years, is a citizen of the United States, is of good
moral character and a resident of the territory served by the Fire
District for at least one year. He or she shall be physically fit
to perform the duties of a fireman or firewoman, evidenced by a certificate
to that effect by a practicing physician of the State of New Jersey
after physical examination for that purpose. No person shall become
an active volunteer of the Fire District who has exceeded the age
of 45 years.
Every active member of the Fire Department shall
in each and every year until he or she has received an exemption certificate
perform at least 60% of duty. Sixty percent of duty shall be actual
recorded attendance and rendering of fire service at not less than
60% of regular alarms of fire answered by the company of which he
or she may be a member during any calendar year. The total number
of alarms used in computing percentage may include not more than 20
fire drills called at the direction of the Chief of the Fire Department
or highest ranking officer of any of the fire companies. A record
shall be kept of such attendance and duty by the Chief of the Fire
Department and shall be reported under oath to the Township Clerk
in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-55 et seq.
For the purpose of establishing a complete record
of the membership of the Fire Department in the office of the Township
Clerk, it shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department on
or before January 15 of each and every year to file a duly verified
list and report, under oath, with the Clerk of all active members
of the companies under his or her control and supervision. The list
shall set forth the name and residence of each fireman and firewoman,
whether he or she is a citizen of the United States, whether he or
she is of good moral character, date of becoming a fireman or firewoman,
age at that time, company of which he or she is a member and percentage
of fire duty performed during that year by such fireman or firewoman.
Every member of the Fire Department shall be
entitled to receive from the Township Clerk an exempt fireman certificate
in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-55 et seq., when
from the records of the Department filed with the Clerk, it appears
that at the time the fireman or firewoman was elected and confirmed
a fireman or firewoman, he or she was a resident of the territory
served by the Fire Department for at least one year, a citizen of
the United States, of good moral character, between the age of majority
and 45 years of age, and that during seven years he or she has performed
60% of fire duty as defined in this chapter during each of the seven
years.