[Amended 2-20-2024 by Ord. No. 02202024-01]
A. The purpose of this Committee shall include, but not be limited to,
the following:
(1) Review and recommend changes in the Bellefonte Borough codes pertaining
to the Bellefonte Fire Department, the Bureau of Fire Prevention and
Fire Codes.
(2) Establish and enforce Bellefonte Fire Department standard operating
procedures and/or guidelines.
(3) Keep Bellefonte Borough Council informed relative to the Bellefonte
Fire Department; oversee the operation of Bellefonte Fire Department
and provide assistance to the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief as
needed.
(4) Establish a ten-year strategic plan for the Bellefonte Fire Department.
(5) Review and approve all expenditures for major purchases as defined
as those that require advertised bids under the Pennsylvania Borough
Code.
(6) Review and recommend the annual budget for the Bellefonte Fire Department.
(7) Ensure that the Bellefonte Fire Department is functioning in an efficient
and fiscally responsible fashion.
B. Meetings of this Committee will be conducted at least once every
other month, or more often if needed, to take care of business, and
will be held in the Bellefonte Borough Building whenever possible.
C. The Bellefonte Fire Department Executive Committee is comprised of
the following members:
(1) Representatives from Benner Township, Spring Township, Marion Township,
and Bellefonte Borough with each appointing their respective backups.
(2) The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief/Acting Chair for the BFDEC.
The BFDEC can appoint a Co-Chair for the Committee if so desired.
(5) Undine Company Deputy Chief and two at-large members of the fire
company.
(6) Logan Company Deputy Chief and two at-large members of the fire company.
D. Meetings can be called by the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and
two at-large members of the fire company.
E. A quorum consists of a minimum of seven voting members excluding
the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief. Decisions are made by a simple
majority vote.
(1) The members-at-large of the fire companies (5 and 6) shall be appointed
based on criteria established.
(2) Effective January 2013, the following criteria shall be used by each
fire company for selecting their respective members-at-large to sit
as active members for the BFDEC:
(a)
Must have been an active member of either company for a minimum
of four consecutive years. An active member includes a firefighter,
fire officer, or administrative officer;
(b)
Must have been a firefighter technician level as defined by
the Bellefonte Fire Department SOGs during their time;
(c)
One at-large member from each company may be appointed solely
based on outside qualifications without the need to meet the minimum
firefighter requirements.
(d)
The Committee member must maintain membership status within
his/her respective organization;
(e)
The Committee member cannot miss more than 25% of meetings,
which includes special meetings;
(f)
The Committee member can hold successive terms if he/she meets
the above criteria;
(g)
Each appointed member will declare at the November meeting if
he/she is interested in serving the following year.
[Amended 2-20-2024 by Ord. No. 02202024-01]
A. The Bellefonte
Fire Department Executive Committee (BFDEC) shall recommend for appointment
to Bellefonte Borough Council the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief
to a three-year term, commencing July 1. The initial term shall be
commenced in the year 2012. Prior to the expiration of the Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief's term on June 30 of the third year of
the term, the BFDEC shall announce the vacancy by posting an announcement
along with the job description during the month of April. At the May
meeting, the BFDEC shall review the list of applicants' qualifications,
make a determination, and forward a recommendation to the Bellefonte
Borough Council for the appointment of a Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief for a three-year term. Bellefonte Borough Council shall vote
on the recommendation at one of their two June meetings. With Bellefonte
Borough Council's approval, the appointment shall become effective
July 1. An incumbent Bellefonte Fire Department Chief is eligible
to reapply at the end of a three-year term for up to no more than
one additional term for a total of six consecutive years. Should a
Bellefonte Fire Department Chief be selected for two consecutive terms
or six years, the individual is not eligible for any further appointment
without a minimum three-year hiatus as Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief. The exception to this qualification is if there are no qualified
applicants to fill the vacancy.
B. The qualifications for the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall
be as follows:
(1) Must be an active member of the Bellefonte Fire Department for a
minimum of six years.
(2) Must have been a chief officer for at least three years, with one
of those years as the ranking Company Chief of one of the Bellefonte
fire companies.
(3) Must be certified as either ProBoard or IFSAC Firefighter-1, and
complete certification as either ProBoard or IFSAC Firefighter-2 by
the completion of the individual's first term.
(4) Must have successfully completed the current ICS Leadership Level
(Example ICS 300).
(5) Must have successfully completed a course on Incident Safety Officer
training.
(6) Must be certified as either ProBoard or IFSAC to the level of Haz-Mat
Operations; or must have obtained the current operational level standard
and/or certification at the operational hazardous materials level.
(7) Must establish/maintain legal residency within the Bellefonte Fire
Protection District or reside within 2.5 miles of its border.
C. All eligible candidates wishing to be considered for the position
of Bellefonte Fire Department Chief will be required to submit a cover
letter, resume, and supporting documentation outlining their qualifications
during the posting timeline, which will be the month of April on the
year ending a three-year term.
D. All application packets will be reviewed by the selection committee,
which is comprised of three members of the BFDEC (two members to be
appointed by the Company Chiefs and the third member to be appointed
by a municipal representative).
E. In the event that no one meets the qualifications for Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief, the BFDEC has the authority to reopen and/or
extend the submission period with revised criteria.
F. The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief may appoint a support staff
as necessary.
Whenever a complaint is made against the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief, the complaint shall be made in writing with required signature.
The complaint shall be addressed to the BFDEC The BFDEC will take
the necessary measures to investigate the complaint, appointing municipal
members to investigate. Recusal is mandatory where a conflict of interest
exists by virtue of the Investigative Committee member's professional,
financial or personal relationship with the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief. The Bellefonte Borough Council, upon receiving a signed complaint
and recommendation of the BFDEC, may place the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief on administrative suspension pending investigation. If investigation
is sustained and appropriate to do so, the BFDEC shall recommend dismissal
of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief from office to the Bellefonte
Borough Council for a decision. If a dismissal occurs pursuant to
this section, the BFDEC will recommend an interim Bellefonte Fire
Department Chief to Bellefonte Borough Council for approval of recommendation
to fill the unexpired term.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and Deputies, when appointed
to such offices, shall be sworn into office by the Mayor to perform
their respective duties with fidelity and to the best of their ability.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief, or his/her delegate, is
hereby authorized, with the aid of the Police Department and the Fire
Police, hereinafter provided for, to prevent every person from in
any manner interfering with the functions of the Bellefonte Fire Department
while on duty at an emergency scene.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and the Company Chiefs
of the Bellefonte Fire Companies, with the assistance of the BFDEC,
shall make such rules and regulations as they deem proper and necessary
to regulate the work of the recognized fire companies in the Department
during training, upon arriving at incidents, while remaining at incidents
and while returning from incidents and in caring for and preserving
all property, apparatus and equipment of the Bellefonte Fire Department.
Each and every member of the Fire Police shall be sworn before
the Bellefonte Mayor.
At no time and under no circumstances shall any truck, fire
apparatus or other equipment belonging to the Bellefonte Fire Department
be removed from the Bellefonte Fire Department primary coverage area
without the consent of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief, unless
the same is required to assist at a fire in a neighboring municipality,
in which event the following regulations shall apply:
A. The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and the company Chiefs are jointly
responsible for the instruction of all officers of the Bellefonte
Fire Department in such a manner that the exercise of good judgment
with respect to the authority granted in the preceding subsections
will be assured so that trucks, fire apparatus and other equipment
not necessary to fulfill the fire protection responsibility at any
given fire will be available in reserve to meet other emergencies.
A member of Bellefonte Borough Council shall not be eligible
for the election to the office of Bellefonte Fire Department Chief
of the Bellefonte Fire Department during the term of office for which
he/she has been elected. No member of Bellefonte Borough Council who
belongs to a Bellefonte Fire Company in the primary response area
shall be appointed to the Bellefonte Fire Executive Committee and
shall abstain from casting a vote at a Bellefonte Borough Council
Meeting related to a motion affecting the Bellefonte Fire Department.
[Added 2-5-2024 by Ord. No. 02052024-01]
A. Bellefonte Fire Department shall have the authority and ability to
obtain insurance information, from the individuals, businesses, and
institutions who receive services of the Fire Department, for the
purpose of billing for the same.
B. Bellefonte Fire Department shall obtain the appropriate insurance
information for the purpose of billing for said services related to,
but not limited to, vehicle accidents, rescues, structural fires,
vehicle fires, and hazardous materials spills.
C. It is further provided that the Bellefonte Fire Department or third-party
billing service, as an authorized agent, is hereby authorized to seek
reimbursement from the appropriate insurance company/carrier's
policy limits. It is further provided that the said Bellefonte Fire
Department shall not bill the individuals or entities directly for
any services rendered except in the case of an intentional false alarm
of a fire that was intentionally set and for which insurance coverage
is not available.
D. It is hereby provided further that the Borough of Bellefonte and
its authorized representatives are hereby authorized to assist Logan
Fire Company No. 1 and Undine Fire Company No. 2, in receiving reimbursement
for the collection of any amounts due to the Bellefonte Fire Department
pursuant to its rendering public services as set forth above; and
in particular, for appropriate reimbursement for any extraordinary
services, including but not limited to abatement and disposition of
hazardous materials, spills or the threat of spills of toxic chemicals,
utility line breaks and leakages, or other imminent or received or
possible threat to the health, safety or welfare of the Borough residents.
This authorization shall include enforcement by the Borough by civil
action, for the collection of any amounts due hereunder, including
attorney fees or other relief that may be appropriate.