The office of Fire Marshal is hereby created in the Township
of Middletown; such officer to be appointed by the Township Manager.
The Fire Marshal shall report to the Township Manager except on those
matters of which he is required by law to report directly to the Board
of Supervisors.
The person appointed to the office of Fire Marshal shall be
appointed as soon as practicable after the adoption of this article.
The aforesaid appointment notwithstanding, the Township Manager retains
the right to remove the Fire Marshal at his or her pleasure. Vacancies
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was
made. If for any reason this office is not separately filled by appointment
of and with the approval and consent of the Board of Supervisors,
the Fire Chief shall be deemed the ex officio Fire Marshal thereof
and shall have all the powers and duties hereinafter given to or imposed
upon the Fire Marshal. Compensation of the Fire Marshal shall be fixed
from time to time by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to resolution.
The Fire Marshal shall perform all duties and shall have and exercise
all powers prescribed by law.
No person shall in any way obstruct or prevent or attempt to
obstruct or prevent the Fire Marshal in the discharge of his duties
by denying or attempting to deny him access to any premises owned
or occupied by such person, either by failing or refusing correct
information requested by him in the investigation into the cause,
origin or circumstances of any fire.
[Amended 6-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-08]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues
or each section of this article which shall be found to have been
violated shall constitute a separate offense.