[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Harrington Park as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-13-1915 by Ord. No. 26 (Ch. 17, Art. I, of the 1967 Code)]
[Amended 11-18-1941 by Ord. No. 124; 4-18-2011 by Ord. No. 658]
The Volunteer Fire Department of the Borough of Harrington Park be and the same is hereby established coextensive with the territorial limits of said Borough and shall consist of companies presided over by a Chief. Each company shall have apparatus necessary for the extinguishing of fires and shall be officered by an Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant and a Second Lieutenant, and a board of seven trustees.
[Amended 8-17-1964 by Ord. No. 205[1]]
Each company shall not have fewer than 25 nor more than 60 active members, and any person hereafter elected to active membership shall be not less than 18 years of age nor more than 50 years of age.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
[Amended 11-18-1941 by Ord. No. 124[1]]
The election of Chief, Assistant Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the Borough Council. The Borough Council shall have the power to remove for cause, suspend, fine or discipline said officers, after hearing; provided, however, that no fines imposed shall exceed the fine as designated in § 164-1. The vote of five Councilmen shall be necessary to remove or dismiss any of said officers.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
[Amended 4-18-2011 by Ord. No. 658]
The companies of said Volunteer Fire Department shall, by resolution of the Mayor and Council of this Borough, be recognized and designated numerically, in order as organized.
Each company shall have power to make, alter or amend its constitution, bylaws and rules describing the qualifications of its officers and members and for the regulation of the business and conduct of its affairs; provided, however, that no constitution, bylaws or rules shall contain anything contrary to the provisions of this article.
[Adopted 6-19-2000 by Ord. No. 531]
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-185 et seq.) to reward members of the Volunteer Fire Department for their loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents of the Borough of Harrington Park.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth below, that such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Borough of Harrington Park pursuant to P.L. 1997, c. 388 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-185 et seq.), and that such a plan shall be administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, the United States Internal Revenue Code, and this article.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member that meets the following criteria:
A. 
Points.
(1) 
One hundred points are required for a member to be eligible for full annual contribution.
(2) 
Ninety points are required for a member to be eligible for 90% annual contribution.
(3) 
Eighty points are required for a member to be eligible for 80% annual contribution.
(4) 
Seventy points are required for a member to be eligible for 70% annual contribution.
(5) 
Sixty points are required for a member to be eligible for 60% annual contribution.
(6) 
Fifty points are required for a member to be eligible for 50% annual contribution.
B. 
Five years of service are required for vesting; however, for past service, each active member shall be entitled to credit for vesting purposes only of one year of credit for each two years of active service to a maximum of five years credit, or full vesting.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Subsection C, which provided payment amounts for the years 2001 through 2005, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
C. 
The amount of payment may change annually, and the maximum base amount shall be increased by the consumer price index (cpi).[2],[3]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
[3]
Editor's Note: Original § 33-9, Estimated cost of program, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided to the Volunteer Fire Department in accordance with the attached schedule.
LOSAP Point System
100 points needed for a qualifying year
1.
Fire Department responses (50 points maximum, 20 minimum):
60% attendance
50 points
45% attendance
35 points
30% attendance
20 points
2.
Drills (40 points maximum, 20 points minimum): points are credited for participation in Department, mutual aid and special drills at 2 points per drill.
3.
Training (50 points maximum): points credited for certified firematic training courses upon receipt of certificate of completion at 2 points per hour.
4.
Holder of an elected office (40 point maximum): points are credited for completion of one-year term in an elected position. Only one position can be credited per year.
Chief
40 points
Assistant Chief
30 points
Captain
20 points
Lieutenant
15 points
President
15 points
Treasurer
10 points
Secretary
10 points
All VPs
5 points
Active Ex-Chief
15 points
5.
Meetings (24 points maximum, 12 points minimum): 6 meetings are required to get credit for any meetings, 2 points per meeting.
6.
Miscellaneous activities (35 points maximum): points will be credited for participation in the following activities which are deemed official Fire Department functions at 2 points per activity:
Work details
Cleanups
Truck inspection
Fund-raising activities
Wakes and memorial services
Firematic competitions
Committee meetings
Parades
Wetdowns
Attendance at an outside firematic association activity
This article shall not take effect unless it is approved by voters as a public question at the next general election.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article was approved 11-6-2000.
[Amended 4-18-2011 by Ord. No. 658]
Pursuant to the referendum question submitted to the voters of the Borough of Harrington Park at the general election held on November 6, 2000, the Borough of Harrington Park was authorized to establish a Length of Service Awards Program for the volunteer firefighters that serve the municipality pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
A. 
The program shall provide for annual contributions to a deferred income account for each active volunteer member that meets the eligibility criteria and in accordance with the schedule adopted by the Borough of Harrington Park.
B. 
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated at between $21,000 and $40,250 per year.