[Ord. 5/13/1963, § 2; as amended by Ord. 1735, 4/12/1993; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
The administration of the fire laws of the Borough of Pottstown shall be enforced by the Fire Chief, who shall have the powers prescribed by law for Fire Chiefs in the boroughs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Said Fire Chief shall have the power and it shall be his duty to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to make and enforce such additional rules and regulations as permitted him by law, as well as any and all rules and regulations now or hereafter adopted by and enacted and ordained by the Borough Council. Should any fire company or its personnel refuse to recognize the authority or obey the orders of the Fire Chief or any subordinate Fire Department officers, such actions shall be reported to the Borough Council for review and possible action.
[Ord. 5/13/1963, § 3; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1]
The office of Fire Chief shall be in the department of the Borough Manager and shall further be under the direction of the Borough Manager.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964; as amended by Ord. No. 2227, 7/10/2023]
The Fire Department of the Borough of Pottstown shall be composed of the following volunteer fire companies: the Goodwill Fire Company No. 1; the North End Fire Company No 1; and the Philadelphia Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 2; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1]
1. 
The personnel of the Fire Department shall consist of the Fire Chief and a Fire Marshal. They shall be appointed in accordance with regulations and procedures of the Borough governing the appointment of all Borough personnel.
2. 
In appointing the personnel of the Fire Department, consideration may be given as to the recommendation of the Borough Fire Committee as to qualified applicants.
[Amended by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 3; as amended by Ord. 1720, 12/29/1992, § 1; by Ord. 2103, 12/10/2012; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1. 
No person shall be eligible to the office of Borough Fire Chief, hereinafter referred to as the "Fire Chief," who shall not have attained the age of 25 years, nor shall any person be eligible for such office unless he/she shall be and/or satisfy the following:
A. 
A citizen of the United States.
B. 
Shall reside within 10 miles of the Borough limits within one year of his/her date of hire.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2175, 5/14/2018]
C. 
An active, experienced firefighter.
D. 
A member of a Fire Department for at least seven years.
E. 
Possess the requirements of the job description prepared by the Borough Manager and approved by the Borough Council from time to time.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 4; as amended by Ord. 1720, 12/29/1992, § 2; as repealed by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 2]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 5; Ord. 1585, 3/19/1988, § 1; Ord. 1735, 4/12/1993; Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1; Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 1; Ord. No. 2232, 5/13/2024]
At fire or other emergency scenes, the Fire Chief shall have the authority to select not more than three Fire Captains to ensure that there is command and control at the scene to prevent harm to civilians, firefighters, and property.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 6; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 2]
At anytime, Borough Council, by a vote of a majority of all members thereof, may remove the Fire Chief for incompetence, neglect of duty or any other cause touching upon the powers and duties of such officer, on charges preferred and sustained, and after a public hearing before Council. Vacancies occurring in the office of Fire Chief in this or any other manner shall be temporarily filled by advancement of the Deputy Chief of Fire Operations to the Office of Fire Chief, and to serve as such until the vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Fire Chief by the Borough Council.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 7; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1]
The Fire Chief shall receive such compensation as the Borough Council shall from time to time determine, to be paid periodically from the Borough Treasury.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 9; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, §§ 1, 2; by Ord. 2052, 6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1. 
The Fire Chief shall have full control over the Fire Department as it relates to firefighting and emergencies and related duties when occasions arise and shall dismiss each fire company when its services are no longer required. He shall make an effort to attend Fire Department emergency responses in the Borough; and in case of fires and emergencies, he shall have full control over all fire apparatus and Department personnel, and shall give instructions as to how, when and where such apparatus and personnel are to be used, and where the hose shall be attached, shall direct the streams and shall have general control over such matters. When he shall deem the same to be necessary, the Fire Chief shall cause the scene of a fire or emergency to be cordoned off, with no person to be admitted within the enclosure except emergency personnel and those authorized by the Fire Chief. He shall have the authority, in any extreme emergency, to cause any building or structure or portion thereof within the Borough to be demolished to prevent spread of fire, injury to the public or further damage to property.
2. 
The Fire Chief shall have the power and authority to establish suitable measures to put into effect emergency practices and procedures necessary for the efficient operations of the Fire Department.
3. 
The Fire Chief shall investigate all fires and keep a correct record thereof. He shall make monthly reports to the Borough Manager of all fires and of any other matters pertaining to the Fire Department and the activities and needs thereof and shall annually, in the month of January, submit a detailed report to the Borough Council.
4. 
The Fire Chief shall visit each fire company at least once a month, at which time he shall inspect the apparatus and equipment to assure it is in serviceable condition. He shall have free access at all times to the firehouses of the various fire companies comprising the Fire Department.
5. 
The Fire Chief shall have the authority to discipline any volunteer member of the Fire Department for insubordination or who may violate any of the rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Fire Department while operating during any fire or emergency response or training activity of the Fire Department. Said discipline may include but shall not be limited to verbal or written reprimand and/or suspension or permanent removal from responding to fires and emergencies with the Fire Department.
6. 
The Fire Chief shall have full authority to assign any apparatus, equipment or personnel to details, responses or activities within the Borough.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 10; as amended by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 1; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 3]
Consistent with the provisions of §§ 258 and 259, the Deputy Chief of Fire Operations shall be acting Chief in the absence of the Fire Chief, and the chain of authority shall move in a descending order as indicated by the approved Fire Department Organizational Chart, from Fire Chief to Deputy Chiefs, Assistant Fire Chiefs, Battalion Chiefs, and Captains, and when no Fire Officers are present the driver of the first apparatus to arrive on the fire or emergency scene shall be in charge. At all times the highest-ranking Fire Officer on scene shall be in charge of the scene. Any person acting as the Fire Chief shall have and may exercise all authority vested by this Part in the Fire Chief.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 13; as amended by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
No apparatus of the Fire Department belonging to the Borough shall at any time be taken beyond the limits of the Borough for other than mutual aid responses, unless the consent of the Fire Chief or officer acting as Fire Chief at the time shall be first had and obtained.
[Ord. 1711, 11/9/1992, § 1; as amended by Ord. 1735, 4/12/1993]
A fee, as established from time to time by resolution of Borough Council, shall be charged for a copy of a fire report.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052, 6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 4; Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1. 
The Borough Fire Committee shall consist of the three elected or appointed fire company officers of each volunteer fire company. The fire companies shall recommend action or policies to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall facilitate Fire Committee meetings. The fire company shall recommend action or policies to the Fire Chief.
2. 
The Borough Fire Committee, which shall meet on at least a quarterly basis, shall recommend Department policy and operating procedures in such matters as Fire Department administration, training, firefighting methods, developing specifications for and ordering of new equipment, fire-suppression operations, fire apparatus response and other matters pertaining to the management of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief shall have the final approval, authorization of all recommendations of the Fire Committee for implementation.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052, 6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1. 
Each volunteer fire company shall operate under its own bylaws, which shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards for similar organizations and with generally accepted accounting principles for similar organizations. Nothing in this subpart is intended to have any effect or control over the internal organization of the volunteer fire companies.
2. 
The volunteer fire companies shall, under the oversight of the Borough Fire Chief, train the members of their companies. All companies shall adhere to Fire Department procedures and policies as approved by the Fire Chief.
3. 
The Fire Chiefs and their subordinate officers at each volunteer fire company shall continue to be responsible for maintenance, efficiency and conduct of their respective companies.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052, 6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 5; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1. 
Annual appropriations shall be made by the Borough to each volunteer fire company in the Borough which is a member of the Fire Department, subject to such reasonable conditions as the Borough Council may from time to time impose. In determining the amount of the appropriation to a particular volunteer company, the Borough will give consideration to the needs and requirements of each company.
2. 
Each volunteer fire company shall submit its needs and requirements to the Borough Council on or before September 30 of the ensuing year.