[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Borough
of Haddonfield 7-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-06.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 92.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 114.
Fireworks — See Ch. 118.
Hazardous substances — See Ch. 128.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
29, Fire Department, consisting of Art. I, Membership, adopted 1-7-1941
by Ord. No. 749, as amended.
This chapter ratifies the creation of the Fire Department of
the Borough of Haddonfield which is to be referred to as "Haddon Fire
Company No. 1," which has and shall provide to the citizens of the
Haddonfield Borough an efficient and timely emergency response to
fire and other hazardous situations with the purpose of preservation
of life, property and the environment. Haddon Fire Company No. 1 is
herein referred to as the "Fire Department."
A.
The mission of Haddon Fire Company No. 1 is to:
(1)
Provide an efficient and timely response to fire(s) and other hazardous
situations.
(2)
Provide public education and awareness about firesafety and related
hazards.
(3)
Provide emergency and nonemergency support services to our community
and other public safety agencies.
(4)
Provide their members with continuous training and education.
(5)
Provide a safe and healthy environment for their members.
B.
Haddon Fire Company No. 1 takes great pride in its history and anticipates
a progressive future while constantly striving to improve the quality
of services provided.
The Director of Public Safety of the Borough of Haddonfield
is designated as the Appropriate Authority of the Fire Department
and shall be responsible for the overall performance of the Fire Department.
There shall be one Fire Chief in the Fire Department. The Fire
Chief shall be the highest ranking firefighter uniformed officer in
the Fire Department and shall be directly responsible to and report
to the Appropriate Authority. The Fire Chief is responsible for the
day-to-day operations of the Fire Department and shall exercise general
authority and control over all Fire Department personnel, apparatus,
equipment and the fire station located at 15 N. Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield,
New Jersey. The Fire Chief shall be in command of all fires and other
related emergencies. In the absence of the Fire Chief at a fire or
emergency, the next highest Fire Department uniformed firefighter
in accordance with the Fire Department's chain of command shall
be in command at such fire or emergency.
In the event the Fire Chief is unable to perform his/her duties
and obligations for any reason, then in such event the Director of
Public Safety as Appropriate Authority may designate an Acting Fire
Chief. The Acting Fire Chief must be appointed from that group of
individuals who hold the next ranked uniform officer title. The Acting
Fire Chief may serve in such title during that period of time that
the Fire Chief is unable to perform his/her duties and obligations
or until a new permanent Fire Chief is appointed.
The Fire Department, in it discretion, may create one or more
of the following firefighter uniformed officers, as the need requires,
and the chain of command and authority is as follows in descending
order.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Haddon Fire
Company No. 1 or any unit thereof unless he is above the age of 18,
a citizen of the United States, nor unless deemed physically fit to
perform the duties of a firefighter as evidenced by a certificate
to that effect completed by a licensed physician of the State of New
Jersey, after physical examination made to determine such fitness.
The further requirements for membership and for office in the Fire
Department shall be those set forth in the amended charter, constitution,
bylaws, rules and regulations of the Company. Final acceptance shall
be by resolution of the Board of Commissioners following receipt of
a recommendation by the Fire Chief, which includes certification that
the applicant meets all membership requirements.
After being entered on the roll of the Company, in the manner
prescribed by its amended charter, constitution and bylaws, each member
shall be given a badge, uniforms and equipment by the Company, which
shall only be worn and used when serving as a representative of the
Company. The badge and all issued equipment shall be delivered and
surrendered to the Chief Officer of the Fire Company, at any time,
upon the demand of the Chief Officer or whenever the member shall
be under charges or convicted of charges involving moral turpitude
or neglect of duty, or whenever the member ceases from any cause to
be an active firefighter.
Active firefighters shall comply with the minimum participation
requirements established by the Fire Department for fire call responses,
training and Fire Department activities, in order to maintain active
firefighter status. Such activities shall be composed of actual attendance
at fire calls, community events, training, and Company meetings. A
record of such attendance shall be kept by the Chief of the Fire Company
and reported annually to the Board of Commissioners.
Upon recommendation of the Director of Public Safety, the Commissioners
of the Borough of Haddonfield may employ and assign to the Fire Department
employees as the need requires. Such employees include but are not
limited to medical technicians, administrative assistants, station
attendants, clerks, secretaries, dispatchers, etc.
A volunteer member of the Fire Department may be subjected to
discipline for negligence, wrongdoing, and for conduct unbecoming
such volunteer member. Disciplinary actions against a volunteer member
shall be brought and conducted in accordance with the constitution,
bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Fire Department consistent with
federal, state and local laws.
The Borough of Haddonfield has agreed to the Mutual Aid Operation
Plan established by Haddon Fire Company No. 1 consistent with the
recommendations of the Camden County Fire Chiefs and Officers Association,
which may be amended from time to time as needed. The Fire Department
may terminate or modify its participation in such Mutual Aid Operation
Plan at any time as needed.
The Fire Chief shall submit to the governing body of the Borough
of Haddonfield an annual report. The annual report shall be in summary
form and contain the services rendered, services received, comments,
recommendations and such other information regarding Fire Department
operations as the Fire Chief deems appropriate. The Fire Chief shall
submit such report as soon as practicable after close of operations
of the preceding year.
[Amended 10-26-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-12]
The Fire Company President, Treasurer, and other financial representatives
shall meet annually (and as needed) with the Director of Public Safety,
to review the Company funds received and expenditures made for the
preceding year.
This chapter shall be implemented and construed consistent with
all federal, state and local laws, and any provision herein inconsistent
with such laws shall be deemed void and of no legal effect.
