Township of Hazlet, NJ Article III Disclosure of Information

[Adopted 2-1-1994 by Ord. No. 934-94 (Ch. 35, Art. II of the 1993 Code)]

§ 58-9 Authority.

This article is enacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2 et seq., the Home Rule Act, which directs municipalities to act for the health, welfare, and safety of its citizens and to implement N.J.S.A. 15:8-1.1.

§ 58-10 Definition.

"Membership in a volunteer fire company" means membership in a volunteer fire company organized pursuant to Title 15 of the Revised Statutes or Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes, Membership in a Volunteer Fire Company or similar organization constituted in a Fire District pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-70.1, membership in a Junior Fire Fighter's Auxiliary established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95, or nonpaid membership in a part-paid fire department or force established pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.

§ 58-11 Application.

[Amended 11-2-2009 by Ord. No. 1463-09]

Any person desiring membership in a volunteer fire company shall complete, in duplicate, filing the same with the volunteer fire company, an application, the form of which may be prescribed by the volunteer fire company, but which shall contain the following information about the applicant:

A. Name;

B. Home address;

C. Birth date;

D. Social Security number;

E. Driver's license;

F. Any conviction of violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1;

(1) Aggravated arson; or

(2) Arson; or

(3) Failure to control or report dangerous fire; or

(4) Directly or indirectly pays or accepts any form of consideration for the purpose of starting a fire or explosion.

G. Any conviction of violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33.3, False Public Alarm;

H. Any conviction of a crime or disorderly persons violation;

I. Such other information as the volunteer fire company deems relevant to the application, provided that none of such information is prohibited by law;

J. All applicants 18 years of age or older shall also consent to being fingerprinted by the Hazlet Township Police Department as part of the application; and

K. All applicants shall sign a waiver provided with the application.

§ 58-12 Investigation by Chief of Police.

[Amended 11-2-2009 by Ord. No. 1463-09]

Following the filing of such application, the volunteer fire company shall transmit one of the applications to the Chief of Police of the Township of Hazlet who shall conduct an investigation by submitting the fingerprints to the New Jersey State Police to ascertain the truth of the statements made by the applicant upon his/her application and any such other investigation of the applicant's background as he deems necessary for the protection of the public good. If, as the result of such investigation, the applicant is found to have been convicted of violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-la, b, c, and/or d, or N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3, or any other crime or disorderly persons violation or any other information that would indicate the applicant may be a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the community, the Chief of Police shall report such information and the particulars thereof to the Fire Chief of the respective Volunteer Fire Company who shall sign a form acknowledging receipt of the report which shall be used only for the Volunteer Fire Company or Hazlet Fire District purposes.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Section 35-9, Fingerprinting; criminal history record information, adopted 2-1-1994 by Ord. No. 934-94, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 11-2-2009 by Ord. No. 1463-09.

§ 58-13 Authorized agency.

This article is intended to make the Volunteer Fire Company an authorized agency as defined by N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.1.

§ 58-14 Completion of investigation.

[Amended 11-2-2009 by Ord. No. 1463-09]

The above investigation by the Chief of Police shall be completed and the report forwarded upon the return of the criminal record check from the New Jersey State Police.