[Added 6-19-1984 by Ord. No. 84-8]
The Stillwater Township Volunteer Fire Department
is hereby created and established with jurisdictional boundaries coextensive
with the boundaries of the Township.
[Amended 2-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
The Stillwater Township Volunteer Fire Department shall consist
of one fire company to be known as "Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire
Company" and such additional companies as the Stillwater Township
Committee may hereinafter authorize and approve. Members of the company
shall also be members of the Department.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-18]
A.
Regular members. No person shall hereinafter become a regular member
of the Stillwater Township Volunteer Fire Department, or any unit
thereof, unless the person is:
(1)
A citizen of the United States above the age of 18;
(2)
Physically fit to perform the duties of a firefighter, evidenced
by a certificate to that effect by a practicing physician licensed
by the State of New Jersey after physical examination for that purpose;
and
(3)
Of good moral character and has not been convicted of any criminal
offense involving moral turpitude.
B.
Junior members. Admission, duties, and responsibilities for junior
members shall be as provided for in the bylaws of the Stillwater Area
Volunteer Fire Company, the fire company's standard operating
guidelines (SOGs) and the laws of the State of New Jersey for junior
members. In order to become a junior member, the person must:
C.
Any present or new member of the Department over the age of 57 shall
not be eligible for relief benefits from the Stillwater Township Firemen's
Relief Association.
[Amended 2-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
Every member of the Fire Department shall, in each and every
year, perform at least 60% of duty, to be composed of actual attendance
and duty at fires and drills; and a record shall be kept of such attendance
and duty by the Chief of the company and reported to the Fire Commissioner
annually.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-18]
Any member of the Fire Department shall be entitled to an exempt
firemen's certificate when it appears that at the time of their
appointment the member met the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-56
and that the member performed, during a period of seven years, 40%
of fire duty in each year respectively.
[Amended 2-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall make
application to the fire company and upon his election to membership
in accordance with the bylaws of the company, he shall become a member
in good standing of the Fire Department. The election of members of
a fire company shall be immediately reported to the Township Clerk,
who shall keep an accurate and up-to-date record of all members of
the Department.
The members of the Stillwater Township Volunteer
Fire Department shall be under the supervision and control of the
Township of Stillwater in performing fire duty and shall be deemed
to be exercising a governmental function in accordance with the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-68.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 10-117, Operation of fire companies,
was repealed 2-2-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-2.
[Amended 2-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
The Township Committee shall annually designate one of its members
as Fire Commissioner. The Fire Commissioner shall, together with the
Mayor and Municipal Clerk, execute all exempt firemen certificates
as authorized by law. He shall annually file a verified list of all
nonexempt members of the Fire Department with the Township Clerk in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-57. He shall have
no jurisdiction over firematic functions or over the operations of
the fire company. The Township Committee shall not have any jurisdictional
powers over firematic functions or over the operations of the fire
company.
[Added 8-2-1988 by Ord. No. 88-17]
During any emergency involving hazardous conditions,
members of the Stillwater Township Fire Department may, in the performance
of their duties and as necessary for the protection of life and property,
prohibit persons, vehicles or other objects from approaching the scene
of the emergency and may remove or cause to be removed from the scene
any persons, vehicles or objects which may impede or interfere with
the operations of the firematic functions.
[Added 8-2-1988 by Ord. No. 88-17]
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere
with, attempt to interfere with or to obstruct or restrict the mobility
of any Stillwater Township Fire Department vehicle or with any member
of the Department performing a volunteer duty.
[Added 8-2-1988 by Ord. No. 88-17]
Any person willfully failing or refusing to comply with any lawful order or direction of a member of the Stillwater Township Fire Department or who obstructs or interferes with said Department or any fire company thereof in the performance of their volunteer duties, or who damages or defaces or attempts to injure any member of the Stillwater Township Fire Department shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties provided in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty, of the Code of the Township of Stillwater.
