[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-11.1; amended by Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-7 et seq., there shall be a Department of Fire Protection, also known as the "Fire Department," the head of which shall be the Fire Chief, who shall be appointed by the Manager and who shall serve for such term and with such tenure as provided by law.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-11.2; amended by Ord. No. 3162, 8-9-1988, § 9; Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022]
The Department shall be responsible for the proper and efficient conduct of all fire prevention, fire alarm, hazardous material, and fire extinguishment functions of the Township. The Department shall enforce within the Township all applicable laws and ordinances pertaining to the fire prevention. It shall provide such fire assistance as may be necessary to any other department for its proper functioning.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-11.3; amended by Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
The Department shall have such powers and duties as are specified in N.J.S.A. 14A:14-7 et seq. and in Chapter 16 of the Code and the following powers and duties not inconsistent with law:
(a) 
The Department shall operate a training program to maintain and improve the efficiency of the members of the Department.
(b) 
The Department shall prepare and provide to the Council a detailed preventative maintenance manual for all Department equipment within 30 days of the reorganization of the Council.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988; amended by Ord. No. 3397, 6-26-1994; Ord. No. 4269, 8-28-2012; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
(a) 
Subject to the supervision and direction of the Manager, the Fire Chief shall organize and administer the work of the Department through divisions and bureaus, to the extent that any such organization is not inconsistent with law and the ordinances of the Township.
(b) 
All applicants for appointment to the Department of Fire Protection shall be classified according to the following classes:
I
Residents of the municipality
II
Other residents of the county in which the municipality is situate
III
Other residents of the state
IV
All other qualified applicants
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-11.5; amended by Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
Subject to the approval of the Manager, the Fire Chief shall promulgate and from time to time revise and enforce a Manual of Department Discipline, Practices and Procedures for the better administration of the work of the Department and for the discipline and efficiency of the Department, a copy of which shall be filed with the Clerk and made available to the public.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-11.6; amended by Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
The Fire Chief will recommend to the Manager disciplinary charges against any member of the Department, whenever the penalty does not involve demotion, suspension for more than five days or loss of pay for more than five days; otherwise, the Manager shall hear and determine any charge or charges filed against a member of the Department pursuant to law.