[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Waterford by Ord. No. 2010-3.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 26.
Emergency and ambulance services — See Ch. 27.
Police Department — See Ch. 50.
Department of Public Works — See Ch. 54.
Volunteer fire fighters and EMS Squad — See Ch. 69.
Hazardous substances — See Ch. 159.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted
as Ch. 138, but was renumbered for organizational purposes.
A.
The Division of Emergency Rescue Services shall be headed by the
Chief of the volunteer emergency fire and rescue department. Rescue
services shall continue to be provided by the volunteer emergency
fire and rescue department previously organized and governed pursuant
to law, and said volunteer emergency fire and rescue shall be organized,
constituted and administered as heretofore established by ordinance,
except to the extent that any such ordinance is inconsistent with
the Charter, this chapter and general law. The Chief of the volunteer
emergency fire and rescue department shall report directly to the
Director of Public Safety and the Township Administrator on a quarterly
basis.
B.
Members.
(1)
In addition to such other qualifications as heretofore established
by ordinance or by general law, all members of the rescue unit services
providing emergency services shall be limited to those qualifications
to provide emergency care and rescue services as established by ordinance
or by general law.
(2)
The objective of the rescue unit is the protection and preservation
of life through providing rescue services. The age of active members
hereafter joining the rescue unit shall be above the age of 18, except
for junior members, but shall service at the discretion and direction
of the Chief of the volunteer emergency fire and rescue department.
The head of the volunteer emergency fire and rescue department shall
have the right to require a doctor's certificate from any current
or prospective member at any time as to their physical fitness and
ability to fulfill emergency rescue and medical service responsibilities.
Further, all members must comply with any and all federal, state or
other rules and regulations pertaining to technical emergency rescue
medical service qualifications for membership.
C.
Nonpaid employees; waiver of compensation. All nonpaid members, including
officers, of the volunteer emergency fire and rescue department shall
sign waivers acknowledging that they will not be compensated by the
Township for their services and that they waive any right to compensation
for their services. Said waiver and acknowledgment shall be on a form
approved by the Township Solicitor. This waiver shall not prevent
nonpaid officers from receiving expense compensation or nonpaid members
from receiving incentive compensation, nor shall it create an entitlement
to same. "Expense compensation" is a yearly amount paid by the fire
and rescue departments to its officers to compensate them for expenses.
"Incentive compensation" is a yearly amount paid by the department
to its members based upon the number of calls responded to in the
year.
D.
Billing.
(1)
The Township of Waterford, in order to support the Division of Emergency
Rescue Services and the volunteer rescue department comprising same,
shall bill for emergency rescue services in the emergency rescue for
persons trapped in vehicles within the Township of Waterford. The
rates of such services shall be set as follows: The amount to be billed
hereinbelow in this chapter.
(2)
These charges shall be billed to the insurance company of the resident
or party receiving assistance from the Division of Emergency Fire
and Rescue Department. The rates set herein shall be reviewed annually
by the Township Administrator, Director of Public Safety, and Chief
of the volunteer emergency fire and rescue department. The Township
Administrator, with input from the Director of Public Safety and Chief
of the emergency fire and rescue department, may thereafter recommend
to the Township Committee that the rate schedule be altered to reflect
appropriate increases or decreases.
(3)
The Township of Waterford shall obtain services for the mailing and
enforcement of these billings, which services shall be obtained through
public bidding if required under the Local Public Contracts Law.[1] The Township Administrator, with input from the Director
of Public Safety, may grant relief from these billings upon the grounds
of hardship.
[1]
Editor’s Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1.
E.
Use of tobacco. Members, volunteers and employees may not use any
tobacco products while on duty or at any time when in Township vehicles,
public buildings or during training. "Tobacco product" means smoking
and smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes or vapor-style smoking
devices.
[Amended 10-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-20]
F.
Extrication descriptions and corresponding charges.
(1)
Light rescue, batteries, fluid, stabilization: $200.
(a)
Operations such as stabilization, use of hand tools, hazard
control, and other scene-related light rescue operations.
(2)
Medium rescue: $450.
(a)
Operations include the use of power tools and hydraulic rescue
tools to perform activities such as opening or removing doors to provide
access to patients as well as stabilizing vehicles and performing
hazardous assessment.
(3)
Heavy rescue: $800.
(a)
Operations include any technical rescue procedures, including
but not limited to water and ice rescue, rope rescue, confined space
rescue, high angle rescue, trench rescue or structural collapse rescue.
Also includes motor vehicle rescue that includes the use of power
tools and hydraulic tools to perform operations such as partial or
full roof removal, front/dash displacement, third door access, and
separating vehicle from another.
