[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Village of Ridgefield Park 12-27-1983 by Ord. No. 12-83 (Ch.
29 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Fire Department Ordinance of Ridgefield Park."
The Fire Department of the Village of Ridgefield
Park, hereinafter referred to as the "Department," shall consist of
the active members of all legally incorporated volunteer fire companies
in existence in the Village at the passage of this chapter, along
with the Fire Prevention Bureau and the Junior Fire Department. No
social member shall be considered a member of the Volunteer Fire Department.
A.
The Department shall be responsible for the protection
of life and property from fire pursuant to law, including all statutes
of the State of New Jersey and of the United States and all ordinances,
resolutions, rules and regulations of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
B.
All members and employees of the Department shall
be subject to all laws of the State of New Jersey which have been
or may in the future be enacted concerning the conduct, responsibility,
benefit, privileges and protection of members of volunteer fire companies.
A.
The member of the Board of Commissioners under whose
jurisdiction the Department is placed, hereinafter referred to as
the "Commissioner," shall promulgate, with the assistance of the Chief
of the Department, and may from time to time amend and supplement
departmental rules which shall provide for the administration and
operation of the Department, including the duties and rules of conduct
for the members of the Department. These departmental rules shall
also contain such other matters as are necessary for the proper and
effective administrative function of the Fire Department.
B.
In promulgating, amending and supplementing the departmental
rules, the Commissioner in charge of the Department shall consult
with the Board of Fire Officers to determine what shall be contained
in the departmental rules.
C.
The Commissioner shall promulgate, with the assistance
of the Chief of the Department, separate rules and regulations for
the administration and operation of the Junior Fire Department.
A.
Membership requirements.
[Amended 12-8-1987 by Ord. No. 25-87]
(1)
An "active member" of a Village fire company shall
be defined as follows: any citizen who is elected to membership in
such company according to its constitution and bylaws while between
the age of 18 and 57 years of age, whose membership has been confirmed
by the Commissioners.
[Amended 4-23-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-01]
(2)
Residency requirements.
[Amended 11-10-1998 by Ord. No. 98-12]
(a)
Membership shall be open to any resident of
the Village of Ridgefield Park and the neighboring communities of
Bogota, Teaneck, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield, Little Ferry,
Moonachie, South Hackensack, Hackensack or any other community whose
boundaries are within five miles of the Village.
(b)
Active members of the Ridgefield Park Fire Department who move outside the geographic residency area set forth in § 55-5A(2)(a) may remain on active status in the Fire Department with the approval of the member's fire company and the Board of Fire Officers. Nonresident active members of the Fire Department shall not be eligible to serve as chief officers but shall be afforded all other rights and privileges afforded to resident members of the Fire Department. The status of nonresident members shall be reviewed and confirmed annually by the respective fire company and the Board of Fire Officers no later than the 1st of April of each year.
(3)
Membership in the Fire Department also shall be open
to those who work in the Village and who are willing to respond to
alarms and emergency calls while employed within the Village.
(4)
The Board of Fire Officers shall have the right to
approve appropriate rules and regulations relating to the membership
of individuals who are members of the Fire Department but who are
not residents of the Village of Ridgefield Park. Such rules and regulations
shall become enforceable only after they have been approved by the
Commissioner in charge of the Department and, if necessary, have been
adopted by ordinance.
B.
Any active member of a volunteer fire company may
be suspended or expelled as a member of the Department by the Chief
of the Department or the Board of Fire Officers for failure to conform
to the rules of the Department or for other improper conduct. He must
be notified of such action within five days by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested.
C.
Any active member so suspended or expelled by the
Board of Fire Officers shall have the right of appeal before the Board
of Commissioners.
D.
Any active member of a volunteer fire company who
may be suspended therefrom by the members thereof shall immediately
cease to be a member of the Department. Notice of such suspension
or expulsion shall forthwith be transmitted in writing by such fire
company to the Commissioner.
(1)
Any active member of a volunteer fire company may
be suspended by the members thereof for just cause. Upon such suspension,
the Board of Fire Officers and the Commissioners shall be notified
in writing within five days by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, of this action of suspension and the reasons for
such suspension.
(2)
A member suspended from a volunteer fire company shall
have the right to a full hearing before the Board of Fire Officers
to review such suspension.
(3)
The individual so suspended shall have the right to
counsel and to have sworn testimony taken under oath and to cross-examine
all witnesses produced at the hearing.
(4)
Upon the conclusion of such hearing, the Board of
Fire Officers shall decide whether such suspension was for just cause
and shall have the right to set aside the suspension or take such
other action as it deems necessary.
(5)
The decision of the Board of Fire Officers shall be
subject to review by the Board of Commissioners, and an individual
so suspended shall have a right to appeal the decision of the Board
of Fire Officers.
(6)
In the event the Board of Fire Officers decides to
expel an individual from a fire company, the Board of Commissioners
shall hold a plenary hearing on the expulsion and afford the individual
who has been expelled the right to have counsel of his own choosing,
to take sworn testimony under oath and cross-examine all witnesses
produced at the hearing.
(7)
All proceedings in connection with the suspension
or expulsion shall be concluded within 30 days upon an individual's
being notified that he has been suspended or expelled from the fire
company.
(8)
In the event that an individual is suspended by a
volunteer fire company or expelled or suspended by the Board of Fire
Officers, such individual shall not serve in any capacity as a member
of the Fire Department until the conclusion of such proceeding.
E.
All members shall attend at least one accredited fire
school for a course in basic firemanship during their first year as
an active fireman or as soon thereafter as practical in the event
of scheduling problems.
F.
An inactive member on medical leave for over 30 consecutive
calendar days will not be returned to active duty unless his physical
eligibility for return to active status is certified by the Fire Department
Physician.
A.
The line officers of each volunteer fire company shall
be chosen according to the constitution and bylaws of such company,
but no person shall enter upon the duties of office until he has:
B.
The officers of the Department shall consist of a
Fire Chief, First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal
and Assistant Fire Marshal, who shall be members in good standing
of the Department and shall be elected by ballot of all members of
the Department in the manner prescribed by the Department rules. Upon
confirmation by the Commissioner, they shall enter upon the performance
of their duties and hold office until their successors are appointed
and qualify.
C.
In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the
term of the Chief, First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief,
Fire Marshal or Assistant Fire Marshal, the Department rules and regulations
shall take effect. Vacancies in any office of any volunteer fire company
shall be filled as prescribed by its constitution and bylaws.
A.
The Fire Chief shall be the chief executive officer
of the Department, subject to the direction and control of the Commissioner.
He shall be responsible for all functions of the Department, including
but not limited to the Fire Prevention Bureau, the Junior Fire Department,
the fire apparatus and equipment used by the Department, and for the
conduct, discipline and efficiency of the members of the Department,
and for the enforcement of the Department rules and regulations.
B.
The Board of Fire Officers shall consist of the three
Chiefs and the Captain of each company. It shall be the duty of this
Board to rule on and hear such cases as may be provided in this particular
chapter and also to assist the Chiefs in such matters as the Chiefs
may deem advisable.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
C.
The First Assistant Chief shall perform the duties
of Fire Chief in the absence of the Chief and such other duties as
prescribed by the Department rules. It shall be the responsibility
of the First Assistant Chief to ensure the thorough and efficient
training of all companies and members of the Department, including
but not limited to company and Department drills, Department schools
and recognized fire schools and seminars.
D.
The Second Assistant Chief shall perform the duties
of Fire Chief in the absence of the Chief and First Assistant Chief
and such other duties as prescribed by the Department rules. It shall
be the responsibility of the Second Assistant Chief to oversee all
departmental purchasing and acquisitions along with upkeep and maintenance
of all departmental equipment.
E.
Under the direction of the Chief of the Department,
the Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal shall head the Fire Prevention
Bureau and shall be responsible for the enforcement of all ordinances
for the prevention of fires and laws, rules and regulations concerning
the prevention of fires and shall have all of the powers and duties
prescribed therein or thereby. The Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire
Marshal shall also be responsible for the investigations of all fires
and for the education of the general public for the betterment of
fire prevention.
F.
The Village Clerk shall act as Clerk of the Department
and shall keep all records necessary for the proper and efficient
administration of the Department, together with such other data as
directed by the Commissioner or prescribed by the Department rules.
G.
The Commissioner may appoint any licensed physician
of the State of New Jersey, resident in the Village, to be Fire Department
Physician. The Fire Department Physician shall perform such medical
services as the Commissioner shall determine. The Commissioner may
terminate the appointment of the Fire Department Physician at any
time, without cause or hearing.
A.
The active members of the respective volunteer fire
companies shall be responsible for the operation and care of the fire
apparatus and equipment entrusted to them by the Village and shall
observe all Department rules regarding such operation and care.
B.
No one but a member of the Department, duly licensed
under the laws of the State of New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle
and approved by the Commissioner as a driver therefor, shall operate
any of the fire apparatus of the Village.
C.
Each volunteer fire company shall annually designate
one of their active members to be the Mechanic of such company. Upon
confirmation as such by the Commissioner, the Mechanic shall perform
the duties of his office prescribed by the Department rules.
D.
The fire apparatus and equipment of the Village shall
be used only for the purpose of fire control, fire prevention or instruction
of members of the Department.
E.
Fire apparatus and equipment shall not be removed
from the Village except for the purpose of fire control, fire prevention
or instruction of members of the Department, and only then with the
consent of the Commissioner or in accordance with Department rules.
F.
All "authorized emergency vehicles" as defined in
N.J.S.A. 39:1-1, when operated by members of the volunteer fire company,
shall have attached thereto all necessary sirens, whistles, bells
and lights as may be required by the motor vehicle and traffic regulations
set forth in Title 39 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated and shall
be operated by all members of the volunteer fire company in accordance
with the aforesaid provisions of Title 39, New Jersey Statutes Annotated,
including but not limited to N.J.S.A. 39:3-64, 39:3-69, 39:4-92 and
39:4-93.
A.
The Fire Commissioner of the Village of Ridgefield
Park shall fix the compensation to be paid to members of the Department
to cover any losses that any of them may incur in attending upon and
putting out fires in said Village.
B.
The Chief, First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant
Chief, Company Captains and Company Mechanics shall receive additional
compensation for their services, payable once a year.
C.
The Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Marshal and Fire
Inspectors shall receive additional compensation for their services,
payable once a year.
A.
Each active member of a volunteer fire company shall
receive a copy of this chapter and a copy of any subsequent amendments
thereto.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
B.
In addition thereto, each active member of a volunteer
fire company shall receive a copy of the rules and regulations of
the Ridgefield Park Fire Department promulgated by the Fire Department
and any amendments made thereto.
C.
Rules and regulations shall be reviewed every five
years.
