[Ord. 2-91, 2/7/1991, § 2]
The extended duties listed below are an extension of duties
which may be performed by officers of volunteer fire companies, members
of the respective fire teams and duly authorized special fire police.
[Ord. 2-91, 2/7/1991, § 2]
The duties listed below are hereby declared to be a part of
the powers and duties normally associated with the position held by
individuals identified as authorized personnel in the previous Section.
Personnel performing these duties or activities shall be recognized
as acting in their official capacity. The authorized duties shall
include the following:
A.
Participation in drills, practices, training sessions and pre-fire
planning activities authorized by the Fire Chiefs or Emergency Management
Coordinator and supervised by a qualified instructor or a Fire Department
official.
B.
Participating in community celebrations, ceremonial observances and
funerals for deceased firefighters or other public figures, where
such attendance is deemed appropriate by the Fire Chiefs. Out-of-Township
participation must have prior approval by the Township Manager or
other such duly authorized individual.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021; and by Ord. No. 2022-16, 11/3/2022]
C.
Performing duties necessary to prepare fire stations for use as a
distribution center or polling place for primary and general elections.
These duties are extended to include like services performed at other
municipal or school district buildings.
D.
Preparation for and responsible participation in parades, providing
that attendance has the prior approval of the Fire Department. Out-of-Township
participation must have prior approval of the Township Manager or
other such duly authorized individual.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021; and by Ord. No. 2022-16, 11/3/2022]
E.
Any public service functions performed for the welfare of the community,
including recovery of animals, as long as these activities are supervised
and are sanctioned by the Fire Department.
F.
Any and all public safety activities undertaken by Fire Department
members to render care to the injured, prevent loss of life, provide
comfort and security to victims, and limit or prevent damage to or
loss of property, as circumstances may dictate.
G.
Rendering assistance to police officers, where such aid is requested
or is done without request to protect the public welfare from imminent
danger, including fire police duties.
I.
Participating in public programs to promote health and safety, to
enlist new members or solicit community support or conduct fund-raising
activities, so long as no compensation is being paid to the member
while engaged in the fund-raising activity, with 100% of the proceeds
going to the Fire Department, so long as each such activity is sanctioned
by the Fire Department.
J.
Performing maintenance or remodeling work on the Fire Department's
vehicles, buildings, grounds or equipment in a safe and responsible
manner.
K.
Such other duties necessary for the efficient operation of the volunteer
services as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Township and
the officers of the Fire Department and as may be defined within the
constitutions and bylaws of the volunteer fire departments.
[Added by Ord. 2017-2,[1] 5/4/2017]
1.
The Township hereby sets forth the following minimum standards by
which all fire companies and fire company personnel shall operate:
A.
The Township's Emergency Management Coordinator/Director of Bureau
of Fire shall act as liaison between the fire companies within the
Township and the Board of Supervisors.
B.
All fire companies, individually and collectively, will provide trained
officers, operators, firefighters and fire police for performance
of fire prevention and protection, education, traffic control, investigation
activities and other public safety assistance, as may be common fire
company activities, to the Township in compliance with the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This shall also include an initial
level of certification in hazardous materials level training based
on the personnel's expected duties. An annual refresher in hazardous
materials level training shall be completed after initial certification
has been obtained.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2022 for these provisions.
C.
It shall be the responsibility of the fire companies to establish
district boundary lines between the fire companies as they relate
to responding to fire and emergency calls; the three Fire Chiefs,
or their designated representatives, will collaborate on determining
the box alarm assignments. Should the fire companies be unable to
agree on the establishment of district boundaries, then the district
boundaries shall be established by the Township.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021[3]]
[3]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2022 for these provisions.
D.
All Township-owned emergency vehicles with a gross vehicle weight
rating of 26,001 or more pounds operated by fire company personnel
shall be operated only by those who possess a valid Pennsylvania Class
B Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Personnel who operate a pumper-tanker
must also have a tanker endorsement.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021[4]]
[4]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2022 for these provisions.
E.
All volunteer fire company personnel who operate emergency fire company
vehicles shall agree to be subjected to random drug and alcohol testing
as well as an annual driving test. Should any said personnel fail
this testing, they shall not operate any emergency fire company vehicles
until further review by the Fire Chief of the fire company and Township.
F.
Fire companies will provide secure facilities for the housing and
protection of apparatus and equipment entrusted to them by the Township.
In addition, fire companies will ensure a state of readiness of apparatus
and equipment, maximize its availability and work collectively with
the other fire companies to ensure protection of the Township.
G.
Each of the fire companies, upon request, shall have its financial
records made available to the Township, including annual budgets and
annual audits of the financial records. Audits shall be conducted
annually by a certified public accountant (CPA). The fire companies
shall submit to the Board of Supervisors an annual report of the use
of the appropriated moneys provided by the Township for each completed
year before any further payment may be made to the fire companies
for the current year as stipulated by the Second Class Township Code.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-06, 5/6/2021[5]]
[5]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2022 for these provisions.
H.
Each of the fire companies shall strive to have at least one representative
present at the scheduled monthly meetings with the Emergency Management
Coordinator/Director of Bureau of Fire. The agenda for these meetings
will include, but not be limited to, fire preplans for high-risk uses
within the Township; discussion on new businesses in the Township;
training updates; grant money availability; information sharing; recruitment
and retention.
2.
Should there be a violation or failure to comply with these standards
by a fire company and/or fire company personnel, the Township, by
its Board of Supervisors or Township Manager, shall provide written
notice of said failure to comply or violation to the offending fire
company. Should the offending fire company not comply or cure the
violation within 30 days, said failure to comply or cure the violation
shall result with the matter being brought before the Board of Supervisors
and may result in the Township terminating or reducing funding and
support to that fire company.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former §§
7-411, Fire Commissioner/Emergency Management Administrator, and 7-412,
Requirements of Fire Companies and Fire Company Personnel, adopted
by Ord. No. 2009-8, 10/1/2009.
