A.
Under the supervision of the Mayor as chief executive,
there shall be a Department of Public Safety. Within the Department
there shall be the following Divisions:
B.
Director of Public Safety; duties generally. The Director
of Public Safety shall be the Mayor, who shall act as the administrative
head of the Department. He shall not assume operational control over
the personnel of the Divisions within the Department in the performance
of the duties prescribed for such personnel by this chapter or by
Divisional bylaws. He shall:
(1)
Represent the Divisions within the Department before
the Council.
(2)
Assist Division heads in long-range planning.
(3)
Assist Division heads in budget preparation.
(4)
Inform Division heads of matters which may affect
the performance of their Division.
(5)
Report to the Council on expenditures and on operations.
(6)
Assist Division heads in the preparation of Division
bylaws and operating regulations and present such bylaws and regulations
to Council.
(7)
Perform such other duties as are assigned to Department
heads generally by this chapter.
[Added 10-4-2004 by Ord. No. 14-2004]
A.
Creation. An Emergency Services Coordinating Council,
hereinafter referred to as "Council," is hereby established.
B.
Composition.
(1)
The Coordinating Council of Emergency Services shall
be comprised of the Mayor or the President of Council in his absence,
the Township Administrator, the Chief of Police, Gibbstown Volunteer
Fire Company Chief, the Emergency Management Coordinator, the Gibbstown
Volunteer Ambulance Captain (representing the Ambulance Association)
and the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.
[Amended 2-21-2006 by Ord. No. 4-2006]
(3)
Representatives shall be allowed one alternate to
sit in their absence and to vote on behalf of the member he/she represents.
(4)
The Township Administrator or his/her designee shall
act as recording secretary.
(5)
All voting members and their alternates must be Township
residents or appointed officials to a named emergency service organization.
(6)
The Mayor shall act as Chairman and the Township Administrator
as Vice Chairman. In the Mayor's absence, the President of Council
shall act as Chairman.
C.
Purpose. The purpose of the Council is to ensure that
each local emergency service organization is aware of and carries
out its responsibilities associated with the fire prevention and suppression,
public safety, natural disasters and emergency medical services and
to assist the Township Council in capital planning by identifying
the respective needs of the emergency service organization represented
on the Coordinating Council.
D.
Responsibilities. The Council is also charged with
the responsibility of maintaining awareness of federal, state and
local activities and events which impact the services being provided
and for recommending rules and regulations designed to ensure the
necessary degree of competency within the companies and squads operating
within the Township. Other responsibilities shall include but are
not limited to:
(1)
Recommendations on purchasing essential equipment
for all police and fire departments and ambulance squads.
(2)
Recruitment.
(3)
Membership qualifications, driver qualifications and
physicals.
(4)
Training.
(5)
Compliance with NFPA, OSHA, PEOSHA, New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey Department of Community
Affairs, Division of Fire Safety and ISO standards; as required, with
regards to apparatus, equipment, protective clothing, training safety
and standard operating procedures.
(6)
Compliance with any and all rules and regulations
of the Township of Greenwich as required, as related to insurance,
training, certifications, inoculations and other related administrative
issues.
E.
Rules of procedure.
(1)
The Coordinating Council has the authority to form
a special subcommittee for special projects.
(2)
Quorum. An official meeting shall consist of no less
than three voting members.
(3)
The Coordinating Council shall meet on the first Thursday
of each month at the Library Building at 7:30 p.m.
(4)
The Chairman of the Coordinating Council may call
a special meeting within 48 hours of written notification to members.
Within the Department there shall be a Division
of Health, the head of which shall be the Board of Health.
A.
Composition. The Board of Health shall consist of
the members of the Township Council, a physician licensed to practice
in the State of New Jersey and the Township Tax Assessor. The Board
of Health shall annually at its first meeting appoint a Recording
Secretary. There shall be within the Division a Registrar of Vital
Statistics, the Municipal Physician, Assistant Health Inspectors,
Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics and such other persons as
may be established by ordinance.
B.
Powers and duties. Under the supervision of the Director,
the Division shall:
(1)
Have all of the functions, powers and duties of a
local Board of Health under Title 26 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes,
except that all legislative powers conferred on Boards of Health by
that Title shall reside in the Council.
(2)
Plan and administer a comprehensive public health
program in accordance with the public laws of the State of New Jersey,
including without limitation thereto environmental sanitation, communicable
disease control, child and adult health, water supply, sanitation
in hotels and eating places, garbage, sewers and dumps, the keeping
and slaughtering of animals, heating of apartments, sanitation in
trailer coach parks, sanitation in public campgrounds, picnic and
swimming areas and such other services as may be authorized by the
Charter, by ordinance or by general law.
(3)
Provide for the enforcement of public health laws,
the State Sanitary Code and local health ordinances.
(4)
Conduct inspections and investigations of complaints
of violations of public health laws or refer inspection and investigation
to the Division of Inspections herein established, where appropriate.
(5)
In accordance with the contract between the Township
and the Gloucester County Health Department, refer appropriate matters
to the Gloucester County Health Department for investigation.
(6)
Initiate investigation into matters deemed injurious
to the public health.
(7)
Establish standard procedures, including forms, for
the collection of license fees, issuance of licenses and for the referral
of inspections, investigations or enforcement to other agencies, departments
or divisions and for reporting disposition.
(8)
Cooperate with state agencies and with other appropriate
agencies in the prosecution of violations of the public health laws.
(9)
Work for the abatement or removal of nuisances to
the public health.
(10)
Investigate state model codes of public health and,
where deemed appropriate, recommend to the Council their adoption.
(11)
Recommend to the Council ordinances required for the
preservation of the public health and amendments deemed appropriate
to existing ordinances.
(12)
Maintain and administer a Bureau of Vital Statistics
according to the provisions of Title 26 of the New Jersey Revised
Statutes, including births, deaths and marriage licenses pursuant
to law.
Within the Department there shall be a Division
of Inspections, the head of which shall be the Mayor.
A.
Composition. Under the supervision of the Mayor, the
Division shall include the Uniform Construction Code Local Enforcement
Agency, the Zoning Administrator, the Demolition Official, the Animal
Control Officer and such other officers and employees as may be established
by ordinance.
B.
Powers and duties.
(1)
Under the supervision of the Mayor, the Division shall
consist of:
(a)
Uniform Construction Code Local Enforcement
Agency. This Agency shall be staffed by Construction Official, Building
Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official,
Fire Subcode Official and Demolition Official. In lieu of appointing
a person to a position within the Local Enforcement Agency, the Council
may, by resolution, contract with a certified on-site inspection agency
to conduct subcode inspections in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform
Construction Code Act[1] and applicable regulations. The Board of Appeals for actions taken by the Local Enforcement Agency shall be the Gloucester County Construction Board of Appeals. The Local Enforcement Agency shall conduct and administer housing inspections as required for the enforcement of applicable laws and ordinances, including but not limited to the Construction Code, Chapter 258 of the Greenwich Township Code pertaining to buildings unfit for human habitation, and issue certificates of occupancy as required by ordinance and state regulation.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et
seq.
(b)
Zoning Administrator. This official shall administer and enforce Chapter 700, Zoning, ordinances regulating signs and outdoor display structures within the Township, conditions of Planning Board approval and compliance with variances granted pursuant to Chapter 700, Zoning, subject to applicable law.
(c)
Plumbing Code licensing. The Division of Health
shall cooperate with a licensed plumbing inspector and such assistants
as may be provided by ordinance for the purpose of conducting licensing
examinations for the practice of plumbing within the Township.
(d)
Animal Control Officer. This official shall
administer and enforce the ordinance to provide for the uniform control
and licensing of dogs in kennels.[2] In lieu of appointing a person to the position of Animal
Control Officer, the Council may, by resolution, contract with a duly
licensed and otherwise qualified entity to administer and enforce
said ordinance.
(2)
Under the supervision of the Mayor, the Division shall:
(a)
Establish standard procedures, including forms,
for the collection of license fees, issuance of licenses and for the
referral of inspections, investigations or enforcement to other agencies,
departments or divisions and for reporting disposition.
(b)
Recommend to the Council the adoption of ordinances
or the amendment of ordinances deemed required, including but not
limited to the adoption of appropriate state model codes regulating
building, building materials and building methods.
(c)
Administer and enforce and make inspections
under such other laws and ordinances in force and effect which establish
standards to protect the health and/or safety of persons using or
occupying buildings or other structures within the Township.
(3)
The Division shall not duplicate inspections required
by ordinance to be made by the Fire Department, but the results of
such inspections by the Fire Department shall be reported to the Division
for appropriate action.
C.
Inspection and enforcement generally.
(1)
The Mayor or his designated representative shall receive
requests to conduct inspections and shall schedule and assign inspectors
to conduct said inspections.
(2)
The Mayor or his designated representative shall assign
inspectors to investigate and to report upon suspected violations
of ordinances or of laws protecting the public health and/or safety.
(3)
The Division of Inspections shall conduct and administer
such inspections and enforcement proceedings as are authorized by
law or by ordinance and shall, insofar as practicable, consolidate
and coordinate all regulatory inspections relating to the construction,
maintenance, use and occupancy of buildings and structures which are
not vested in other departments, divisions or agencies by law or by
this chapter.
Within the Department there shall be a Division
of Welfare, the head of which shall be the Local Board of Assistance.
A.
Composition. The Local Board of Assistance shall be
composed of five members. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the consent of the Council. The members shall serve without compensation,
but shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses.
B.
Terms of members.
(1)
One member of the Local Board of Assistance shall
have a term of one year. This member shall be appointed from among
the membership of the Council.
(2)
The terms of the remaining members shall be for four
years each.
(3)
The term of each member shall commence on the first
day of January, and each member shall continue in office until a successor
shall be appointed.
C.
Organization; Director of Welfare. Each Local Board
of Assistance shall organize and select a Chairman, Secretary and
Recording Secretary and shall appoint a Director of Welfare, who shall
be the first executive and administrative officer of the Board. He
shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his appointment
and shall be paid such salary as may be fixed by such Board subject
to the approval of the Council.
D.
Powers and duties. Under the supervision of the Director
and of the Local Board of Assistance, the Welfare Director shall:
(1)
Administer laws and ordinances relating to relief
of the needy, including the furnishing of all forms of public assistance
to needy persons who are eligible for assistance provided by law through
county and state agencies.
(2)
Provide or arrange for shelter and custodial care
to dependent and homeless men and women.
(3)
Enter into and perform cooperative agreements with
voluntary charitable organizations and services to effectuate its
other functions under this section.
(4)
Provide related social services, such as domestic
relations counseling, investigation of paternity cases, indigent burials
and other public welfare activities.
(5)
Cooperate with other public agencies and institutions
and with voluntary institutions in the certification of medically
indigent patients for care and treatment.
(6)
Provide periodic investigation of all welfare cases
in accordance with general law.
(7)
Aid needy persons to achieve self-support or to obtain
aid from other appropriate agencies.
(8)
Refer needy persons to appropriate agencies from which
they may obtain aid.
(9)
Establish standard procedures for and maintain records
of investigations, local assistance requests and grants, referrals
for categorical assistance or for general assistance and the disposition
of cases.
(10)
Commit individuals to state or county institutions
when such care is required.
(11)
Request state reimbursement for payments for general
assistance and for interim assistance grants made to needy persons.
(12)
Comply with all requirements of applicable law so
that the municipality shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for
payments made.
Within the Department of Public Safety there
shall be a Police Department, the head of which shall be the Chief
of Police.
A.
Composition. The Police Department shall consist of
the Chief of Police and such other personnel as have been heretofore
or may hereafter be authorized by the Council.
B.
Table of organizations; regulations. The Police Department shall be organized according to such table of organization as shall be prescribed by the Chief of Police, with the approval of the Director and the Council. The operation of the Police Department shall be governed by regulations for the disposition, conduct and discipline of the Police Department prescribed by the Chief of Police, with the approval of the Director and of the Council. Until amended, Chapter 127 of the Greenwich Township Code shall govern the organization, operation and supervision of the Police Department, except any provisions of Chapter 127 which are inconsistent with any provisions of the Charter or of this chapter are, to the extent of such inconsistency, hereby repealed.
C.
Powers and duties. The Police Department shall:
(1)
Preserve the public peace, prevent crime, protect
life and property, detect and arrest offenders against the penal laws
and ordinances effective within the Township and preserve order at
all elections and at other public meetings when so directed.
(2)
Administer and enforce laws and ordinances to regulate,
direct, control and restrict the movement of vehicular and pedestrian
traffic and the use of streets by vehicles and persons and to protect
the safety of and to facilitate the convenience of motorists and pedestrians.
(3)
Remove all nuisances in the public streets, parks
and other public places.
(4)
Inspect and observe all places of public amusement
or assemblage and all places of business requiring any state or municipal
license or permit and report thereon to the appropriate department.
(5)
Operate a training program to maintain and improve
the efficiency of the members of the force.
(6)
Perform such other duties and have such other authority
as prescribed by general law for Municipal Police Departments.
The Fire Department shall be the Gibbstown Volunteer
Fire Company, a volunteer company, as heretofore established, and
such other companies as may hereafter be organized under the authority
and the jurisdiction of the Council. In the event of the organization
of or the merging with another fire company, Gibbstown Volunteer Fire
Company shall be deemed the parent company.
A.
Powers and duties. The Fire Department shall have
exclusive jurisdiction over the control, fighting and extinguishment
of any conflagration occurring within the Township and shall have
such other powers and duties as may be required to ensure the adequate
fire protection of the Township.
B.
Constitution and bylaws. The operation of the Fire
Department shall be governed by a constitution and the bylaws and
amendments thereto which shall be adopted by the membership of the
Fire Department. Such constitution, bylaws, amendments thereto and
other regulations of the Fire Department shall be consistent with
this chapter and with general law regulating the performance of Fire
Departments. The constitution, bylaws and any amendments thereto adopted
by the membership of the fire company shall be filed with the Township
Clerk.
C.
Authority.
(1)
The ultimate responsibility for adequate fire protection
within the Township shall be with the Council, and, to the extent
required to ensure such protection, the Council shall have full charge
and control of the Fire Department. The title to all fire equipment
and apparatus shall be held by the Township. The Director of Public
Safety shall act for and on behalf of the Fire Department to the fullest
extent before the Council and within the Township government.
(2)
No fire apparatus shall be removed outside of the
limits of the Township without the express permission of the Fire
Chief and the consent of the Director of Public Safety, except in
an emergency. The Fire Chief shall have full control over the operation
of the Fire Department and of its equipment and apparatus, subject
to the Council, and he shall be responsible for the maintenance, care
and proper condition of all equipment and apparatus of the Fire Department
and for the management of the Fire Department. The Chief shall keep
the Director of Public Safety informed as to the condition of apparatus
and equipment and of such other matters as may affect the fire protection
and the firesafety of the Township.
D.
Membership. Members of the Department shall be chosen
and admitted to membership or removed or expelled from membership
in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the company. Categories
of membership shall be established by the constitution and bylaws.
Current membership lists shall be filed with the Director.
E.
Fire Department officers.
(1)
Within the Gibbstown Volunteer Fire Company there
shall be a Chief of the Fire Department and such other line officers
as shall be established in accordance with the constitution and bylaws
of the Gibbstown Volunteer Fire Company. The line officers shall be
elected by the membership in accordance with the constitution and
bylaws.
(2)
Within the Fire Department there shall be a Municipal
Fire Marshal. Said official shall be appointed by the Mayor with the
advice and consent of Council for a term of three years. The person
appointed to said office shall be the person duly elected Fire Marshal
by the Gibbstown Volunteer Fire Company pursuant to the bylaws of
that company.
(3)
Except as set forth in this chapter, local ordinances
and general laws, the duties of all officers shall be prescribed by
the constitution and bylaws.
F.
Duties of Fire Chief. The Chief shall be the chief
operations officer. He shall:
(1)
Take command at fires.
(2)
Take command in any emergency under the jurisdiction
of the Fire Department.
(3)
Take command at all meetings for exercise.
(4)
Grant leaves of absence from fires and drills.
(5)
Report all delinquents to the company.
(6)
Provide the Director of Public Safety with current
lists of officers and with current membership lists.
(7)
Prepare an inventory of equipment and apparatus, which
shall be submitted to the Director on or before December 1 of each
year.
(8)
Appoint personnel to inspect annually all publicly
owned buildings and all buildings open to the public within the Township
for the purpose of determining the existence of any conditions constituting
a fire hazard.
(9)
Prepare an annual report of inspections conducted,
including recommendations for corrections of hazardous conditions,
to be submitted to the Director on or before December 1 of each year.
(10)
With the Director, prepare an annual budget which
shall be presented to the Council in November of each year.
(11)
Appoint members to be fire police as required and
inform the Director of such appointments.
G.
Duties of Fire Marshal. The Municipal Fire Marshal shall conduct investigations for the purpose of fire prevention under the supervision of the Chief of the Gibbstown Volunteer Fire Company. The Chief may delegate any of his powers and duties under Chapter 375, Fire Prevention, to the Municipal Fire Marshal. The Chief shall report to the Council, in writing, on a monthly basis as to the duties, powers or functions delegated to the Municipal Fire Chief and as to all proceedings conducted under Chapter 375, Fire Prevention, by the Chief or Municipal Fire Marshal.
H.
Management. The Chief shall utilize any equipment,
property or personnel of the Fire Department which he deems necessary
in the fighting of fires, performance of the Department in other emergencies
and in drills and in providing outside aid. He shall formulate rules
and regulations pertaining to signals of alarm, testing of alarms
and procedures for answering alarms and such other regulations as
are deemed required for the efficient operation of the Department.
The Chief may order the detachment of officers and of members to other
fire companies with the approval of the members of the companies affected.
Notice of such detachments shall be provided to the Director.
I.
Equipment and facilities. All fire-fighting equipment
and apparatus purchased with Township funds, in whole or in part,
is the property of the Township and is to be housed in a building
owned and maintained by the Township, except when removed for authorized
purposes. The Township shall provide a meeting room for the use of
the Fire Department, satisfactory to the Department. The equipment
and apparatus and the housing of such equipment and apparatus provided
by the Township shall be sufficient to ensure adequate fire protection
within the Township.
J.
Insurance. The Township shall provide insurance and
workmen's compensation covering any member of the Fire Department
killed or injured during the performance of his duties as a fireman.
K.
Succession.
(1)
In the event of the death, disability or resignation
of any company officer or Fire Department officer, personnel below
the officer affected will be promoted to fill the vacancy. All such
replacements shall serve until the completion of the unexpired term
of their predecessor, at which time officers shall be elected in accordance
with the constitution and bylaws.
(2)
Vacancies produced by succession to higher office
shall be filled as they occur by nomination and election by the company.
L.
Authority at fires. In the absence of a chief officer
at a fire, the first line officer to arrive at the scene shall assume
command until the arrival of a chief officer. In the absence of a
line officer, the first executive officer present shall assume command
until the arrival of a line officer. In the absence of an officer,
the first senior man to arrive at the scene, other than the driver,
shall assume command until the arrival of an officer. The person in
command at a fire or other emergency shall have full police authority
and is authorized and directed to require and secure the removal of
any and all obstruction in and around the danger zone and is authorized
to request assistance from other municipal departments as may be required
in the performance of the duties of the Fire Department.
M.
Fire police. The Chief shall annually designate three
or more members to serve as fire police in accordance with the laws
of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 15:8-1 et seq.) and shall inform
the Director of the persons so designated. The fire police shall exercise
the police authority granted to the Fire Department by this chapter
and by general law at the scene of fire emergencies. Persons designated
to be fire police shall be sworn in before the Council. Fire police
shall receive training in crowd control and in traffic control and
shall be issued distinctive safety clothing and equipment approved
by the Director. Fire police shall, at the scene of a fire emergency:
(1)
Enforce the removal of obstructions to the Fire Department
in the performance of its duties.
(2)
Direct traffic at the scene of a fire emergency.
(3)
Control crowds at the scene of a fire emergency.
(4)
Take possession of goods at a fire emergency and protect
the premises from access by unauthorized persons until the arrival
of the owner.
N.
Entry to premises. The Fire Department shall be authorized
to enter upon, without hindrance or fee, all premises, grounds, structures,
buildings, vehicles and passages to acquire water from pools, ponds,
lakes, rivers, streams, brooks or other water supplies whenever necessary
in the performance of its duties. Authorized purposes for such entry
shall include firefighting, inspection of public buildings, testing
of fire alarms and fire-fighting equipment and investigation of suspected
arson.
O.
Arson. The Chief shall investigate all cases of suspected
arson. He shall cause all premises in which arson is suspected to
have occurred to be secured and shall promptly report every case of
suspicion of arson to the police, the County Prosecutor and the Director.
A.
Within the Department of Public Safety there shall
be an Office of Emergency Management supervised by an Emergency Management
Coordinator, who shall have such powers and duties as heretofore established
by general law (N.J.S.A. App.A:9-41). Also, within the Office of Emergency
Management, there shall be a Temporary Housing Officer, who shall
have such powers and duties as heretofore established by general law
and administrative regulation.
B.
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall also serve
as the 911 Coordinator and shall have such powers and duties as heretofore
established by general law and set forth specifically in N.J.S.A.
52:17C-1 to 52:17C-16 and N.J.A.C. 17:24-5.1 et seq., including amendments
thereto.
[Added 9-4-2001 by Ord. No. 23-2001]
