The Lehighton Fire Department shall be comprised of those individuals
who comply with the requirements of this Article and any other rules
and regulations as established by the Borough Council.
The departmental officers of the Fire Department of the Borough
of Lehighton shall consist of one Fire Chief and one Assistant Fire
Chief.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief, in addition to the duties
heretofore imposed, to examine all places within the borough limits
where combustible material may have accumulated or is likely to accumulate,
and, in the discharge of such duty, he may enter upon or into any
private lane, alley, vacant lot, back yard or any other portion of
the private property of any person within the Borough of Lehighton.
Whenever he finds combustible materials or rubbish in such areas,
he shall notify the owner or reputed owner or any person in possession
of such premises, in writing, directing him or her to remove the same.
If such combustible material or rubbish is not removed within 12 hours
from the serving of this notice, the Fire Chief shall cause the same
to be removed at the cost of the owner, reputed owner or occupant
of said premises, and all costs and expenses incurred by such removal
by said Fire Chief shall be certified to the Borough Solicitor for
collection. This certificate shall contain an itemized statement of
the expense incurred, a copy of the notice given the owner or occupant
of the premises and a description of the lot of ground upon which
the rubbish or combustible material was found. Thereafter, the Borough
Solicitor shall proceed to collect the expenses incurred in the manner
now provided by law for the collection of municipal claims.
The Assistant Fire Chief shall aid the Chief under his direction,
and, in case of the Chief's absence or disability, the Assistant
Fire Chief shall perform all the duties and may exercise any of the
powers of the Fire Chief. At any time, the Fire Chief may assign to
the Assistant Fire Chief any specific duty or duties ordinarily performed
by the Fire Chief, in which case the Assistant Fire Chief shall assist
and serve under the direction of the Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief and all line officers shall
take an oath administered by the Mayor to faithfully perform all the
duties of their respective offices as soon as practical upon appointment.
The Borough Council shall have the authority to remove the Fire
Chief and Assistant Fire Chief for incompetent's, neglect of
duty or any cause touching upon the power and duties of such officer
and his relationship to the Fire Department.
The Fire Chief or his designee shall submit to the Borough Council
at each regularly scheduled monthly meeting a written report concerning
the occurrence of any fires which occurred in the previous month.
Every member of the Fire Department shall, when acting as such,
serve under the direction of the Fire Chief or the officer in charge,
obeying all orders thereof, in accordance with the Department standard
operating procedure.
Without the consent of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief
or designee, no person who is not an active member of the Fire Department
of the Borough of Lehighton shall, at any time, ride upon any of the
fire apparatus of the Fire Department, nor shall any person make use
of any fire apparatus, hose or other equipment of the Fire Department
other than for the purpose for which the same was intended without
the consent of the Fire Chief.
No alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in areas that the Fire
Chief has designated as being strictly for fire-fighting-related activities
and/or where fire apparatus or equipment is stored.
The Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief of the Lehighton Fire
Department shall receive such yearly salaries from the borough, which
salaries shall be established by resolution of Borough Council.
[Amended 8-26-1991 by Ord. No. 413]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Article
shall, upon conviction thereof before a District Justice, be subject
to a fine of not more than $600 and costs of prosecution and, in default
of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment in the county jail
for not more than 30 days.