There shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Borough a committee
of two members who shall act as liaison to the Ambulance Corps. Members
as hereinafter provided shall comprise the Ambulance Corps of the
Borough.
The membership of said Corps shall not exceed 60 in number.
Any person of at least 16 years of age, of good moral character, who
is a resident of Ho-Ho-Kus, a surrounding community or gainfully employed
within the Borough shall be eligible for acceptance to membership
in the Corps. Each applicant must be physically fit to perform the
duties of a Corps member. Applicants must be able to read, write and
speak the English language. Applicants must not have been convicted
of a criminal offense. Every person accepted to membership in the
Corps shall sign the membership roll which shall be kept by the Borough
Clerk, and such member shall promise to perform all the duties of
Corps member as prescribed by the bylaws and rules of the Corps and
the ordinances of the Borough.
The Ambulance Corps shall adopt bylaws and make rules for the
government of the Corps which shall be subject to the approval and
confirmation of the Mayor and Council.
The officers of the Ambulance Corps shall be President, Vice
President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer
and Corps Captain, all of whom shall be elected by the members of
the Corps. All officers shall be subject to confirmation of the Mayor
and Council. In the event that the Mayor and Council fails to confirm
an officer so elected, the Mayor shall appoint a member of the Corps
to fill the vacancy so created until an officer is elected by the
Corps and confirmed by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 3-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-80]
A. In
addition to such disciplinary process as may be provided under the
Volunteer Ambulance Corps' bylaws, and notwithstanding the same,
any Ambulance Liaison of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus shall have the right
to expel or suspend any member or line officer as set forth below.
B. In
event of any accusation of any allegation of misconduct, violation
of Borough ordinance, or action affecting the health, safety or welfare
of the residents of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus by any member or officer,
any person may issue a written complaint, which shall be referred
to any Ambulance Liaison or his designee. Such Ambulance Liaison shall
consult with any other Ambulance Liaison, and such Liaisons shall
review the matter and may proffer charges against such member seeking
the member's expulsion or removal. In the event of a tie or disagreement
between the Liaisons, the Mayor shall have the ability to break the
tie.
C. Upon
proffering such charges, the Ambulance Liaisons shall provide such
member or officer with notice of the charges and an opportunity to
provide a written response to the charges. The Ambulance Liaisons
shall thereafter recommend sustaining, not sustaining, or modifying
the charges, without a further hearing. Any member or officer shall
have no greater rights than an at-will, nonpaid volunteer, and nothing
herein shall be read to provide any greater rights to such member
or officer. In the event of a tie or disagreement between the Liaisons,
the Mayor shall have the ability to break the tie.
D. If
any charges are sustained or modified, the Ambulance Liaisons shall
inform the Borough Council, which shall determine whether to suspend
or expel such member or officer from the Ambulance Corps or take such
other action as it deems appropriate, without a further hearing.
E. Notwithstanding
the above, any Ambulance Liaison, acting alone, may immediately suspend
any member or line officer prior to receiving the member's written
response, should he or she deem such suspension in the best interest
for the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Borough
of Ho-Ho-Kus.
F. In
the event of any conflict between the Ambulance Corps' bylaws
and this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
It shall be the duty of the Captain to report to the Council
at its meeting each month the activities of the Corps, the condition
of the rigs and equipment and upon such other matters as he/she shall
deem advisable.
Each member of the Corps shall, upon signing the roll, be entitled
to receive a badge and certificate of membership signed by the Mayor,
Borough Clerk and Secretary of the Corps. The badge shall remain the
property of the Corps and shall be surrendered to the Borough on the
death, resignation, suspension or expulsion of any member.
The services of the members of the Ambulance Corps shall be
voluntary and without compensation.
The Borough Council shall have the right to alter or amend this
chapter and the bylaws adopted by the Corps from time to time as it
shall deem advisable.
There is hereby established as part of the Ambulance Corps of
the Borough a Junior Corps Auxiliary in accordance with all of the
provisions of law. The qualifications for membership in the Auxiliary
shall be as follows:
A. A junior member is eligible to join the Corps between the ages of
16 and 18. When he/she reaches the age of 18, he/she is eligible to
transfer into senior membership subject to bylaws, Section 1, Subparagraphs
L and K. Further guidelines regarding junior membership shall be stated
in the rules and regulations or bylaws.
B. Membership shall be conditioned upon acceptance by the Corps and
confirmation of the Borough Council. Upon such approval, such member
shall sign the membership roll which shall be kept by the Borough
Clerk and he/she shall promise to perform all the duties of a junior
member as prescribed by the bylaws and rules of the Ambulance Corps.
C. Every member of the Junior Auxiliary shall be required to obtain
permission to join the Auxiliary from his/her parents or guardians,
and such permission shall be in writing, acknowledged or proved in
the manner provided by law for deeds to real estate.
There shall be appropriated in the budget or budgets of the
Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus sufficient funds to be held in a trust fund to
pay any claims which may be determined to be eligible under this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage and
publication as provided by law.