The Fire Chief, Assistant Chief and all officers of the Paid
and Volunteer divisions shall constitute the Board of Fire Officers.
The Volunteer Division of the Cresskill Fire Department shall
consist of volunteer firefighters (hereinafter referred to as "firefighters")
appointed by the Mayor and Council.
A. Appointment of members to the Volunteer Division. General qualifications
for membership in the Volunteer Division are as follows:
(1) Appointment of members. No person shall hereafter become a member
of the Volunteer Division except in accordance with the provisions
of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey. Such person shall be at least
18 years of age and not over the age of 45 years; shall be a citizen
of the United States; shall be sound in body, of good health and able
to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;
and shall be of good moral character. He shall be physically fit to
perform the duties of a fireman, which fact shall be evidenced by
a certificate issued by a practicing physician of the state after
physical examination by such practicing physician shall have established
such physical fitness.
[Amended 9-18-2013 by Ord. No. 13-07-1450]
(2) Qualifications for continued membership. Hereafter, no person shall
remain a member of the Volunteer Division unless such person is a
resident of the Borough of Cresskill or a resident of a municipality
that borders on the Borough of Cresskill (e.g., Dumont, Bergenfield,
Tenafly, Alpine or Demarest).
B. Application procedures for membership; classification of members.
(1) Every person seeking to become a member of the Volunteer Division
shall make written application on the forms provided by the Fire Department.
Such application shall be first submitted to the Board of Fire Officers
and, if approved by such Board of Fire Officers, shall be submitted
to the Mayor and Council for final action.
(2) Classification of members. Volunteer members shall be divided into
seven classifications as follows:
(a)
Active firefighter.
[1]
An active firefighter shall meet the membership qualifications of §
30-6A for membership and successfully complete courses of instruction entitled Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operational recognized by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. The active firefighter shall also attend all training and retraining courses or seminars mandated by law and the Board of Fire Officers. The active firefighter shall annually attend at least 35% annually of all fires, and shall regularly attend drills, meetings and work nights.
[2]
An active firefighter attaining 40% annually of all fires, drills,
meetings and work nights shall be entitled to a clothing allowance,
Cresskill municipal pool rebate and additional benefits when and if
made available.
(b)
Active reserve member. An active reserve member is a firefighter who is no longer able to respond to fires and emergency calls because of physical limitations. Active reserve members shall no longer ride out on any Department apparatus to fire or other emergencies. Active reserve members shall be entitled to the same benefits as active firefighters, as set forth in Subsection
B(2)(a)[1].
(c)
Probationary firefighter. The probationary firefighter shall meet the membership qualifications of §
30-6A and shall be considered a probationary firefighter until which time he or she successfully completes courses of instruction entitled Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operational, recognized by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. If he or she cannot complete Firefighter I within 24 months from the date of application, his or her status will be evaluated by the Board of Fire Officers for continued membership.
(d)
Life member. Life member status shall be bestowed upon all members
who have served 25 years as an active firefighter with the Cresskill
Fire Department.
(e)
Ex-Chief. Ex-Chief status shall be bestowed upon all members
who have served as Chief and/or Assistant Chief of the Cresskill Fire
Department. Ex-Chiefs, who are current members, are entitled to a
clothing allowance, Cresskill municipal pool rebate and additional
benefits when and if made available.
(f)
Exempt member. An exempt member shall be an active firefighter
who has obtained an exemption certificate from the New Jersey State
Firemen's Association.
(g)
Associate member.
[1]
An associate member shall be currently 18 years of age and not
over the age of 45 years and be a resident of a municipality which
is no further than two consecutive municipalities away from the Borough
of Cresskill. The associate member will hold probationary firefighter
status for at least six months and until such time he or she successfully
completes courses entitled Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness
and Hazardous Materials Operational, recognized by the New Jersey
Division of Fire Safety and complies with all training and retaining
courses or seminars as mandated by law or the Board of Fire Officers.
[Amended 9-18-2013 by Ord. No. 13-07-1450]
[2]
An associate member may also be a currently active firefighter
in good standing of no less than three consecutive years with a fire
company, who works within the Borough of Cresskill, including Borough
of Cresskill employees, and who will be available for fire calls during
the hours of which he or she is working in the Borough of Cresskill.
The member must have a letter of recommendation from his or her current
Chief of Department, must have successfully completed courses entitled
Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials
Operational, recognized by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety,
comply with all training and retraining courses or seminars as mandated
by law or the Board of Fire Officers, and will hold probationary firefighter
status for six months.
[3]
Associate members who have achieved two consecutive years of
service in good standing and achieved 45% of his or her Fire Duties
with the Cresskill Fire Department may be referred for regular active
firefighter status by the Fire Chief and then approved by the Board
of Fire Officers. Associate members shall not be eligible for any
Cresskill Fire Department Officer positions.
C. Election of officers to the Volunteer Division. The officers of the
Volunteer Division shall be elected by the active members of the Department
at a meeting to be held on or about the first Tuesday of December
of each year. The Fire Commissioner shall act as Judge. No officer
shall be qualified until his election shall have been approved by
the Mayor and Council. After such approval, each officer shall begin
his term of duty on January 1 of the following year, his term of office
to be for the next calendar year or until his successor qualifies.
(1) Eligibility to office of Assistant Chief. Any member of the Department,
who has served not less than three years as an officer in the fire
service, with at least two years in this Department in any grade lower
than Assistant Chief and has been a member of the Department for not
less than six years, shall be eligible for the office of Assistant
Chief of the Fire Department.
(2) Eligibility to office of Captain. Any member of the Department who
has served not less than two years as an officer in this Department
in any grade lower than Captain and has been a member of the Department
for not less than five years shall be eligible for the office of Captain
of the Department.
(3) Eligibility to office of First Lieutenant. Any member of the Department
who has served not less than one year as an officer in the Department
in the rank of Second Lieutenant and has been a member of the Department
for not less than three years shall be eligible for the office of
First Lieutenant in the Department.
(4) Eligibility to office of Second Lieutenant. Any member of the Department
who has served not less than two years in the Department shall be
eligible for the office of Second Lieutenant.
(5) Prerequisite of eligibility to any office in the Department. No member
of the Department shall be eligible to run for office unless he or
she has completed and passed Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Awareness
and Operational and Officers' Training at schools approved by
the Board of Fire Officers. He or she must prove to the Board of Fire
Officers working knowledge of all fire apparatus owned by the Borough.
He or she must be in compliance with any training mandated by the
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety.
D. Badge of membership. Upon approval of appointment, each person shall
be provided with a badge furnished by the Mayor and Council. The badge
of any member of the Fire Department shall be delivered to the Fire
Chief of the Department at any time when the Fire Chief so demands
or whenever written charges involving criminal conduct, moral turpitude
or neglect of duty shall be made against such member. The badge of
any member of the Fire Department shall be returned to the Fire Chief
if such person shall cease to be an active fireman.
E. Practice drills. Practice drills shall be held whenever ordered by
the Fire Chief. Drills shall be held at least a month from April 1
to November 1 and at such other times during the calendar year as
shall be ordered by the Fire Chief. Upon failure of the Fire Chief
to cause such practice drills, the Fire Commissioner may order the
Fire Chief to carry out his duty for the holding of drills. If the
Fire Chief refuses or neglects to comply with the order of the Fire
Commissioner, such neglect of duty shall be reported in writing by
the Fire Commissioner to the Mayor and Council.
F. Attendance at drills and fires; records of attendance. Every member
of the Volunteer Division shall in each and every year perform at
least 25% of the prescribed fire duties. The records as to attendance
by the members of the Volunteer Division at fires shall be kept by
the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall make reports as to the attendance
of all officers and members of the Department to the Mayor and Council
in his/her annual report at such other times as shall be designated
by resolution of the Mayor and Council. The Fire Chief may grant leave
of absence to a member of the Department for a period not to exceed
six months. Any such leave of absence granted by the Fire Chief shall
be reported to the Council.
G. Failure to perform; removal from membership. Members who at the end
of the Fire Department attendance reporting year (December 1 through
November 30) have not performed 25% of fire duties (fires, drills,
meetings and work nights) and have not attained ex-Chief status shall
be subject to review by the Board of Fire Officers and may be dropped
from membership.
H. Refusal to obey orders and rules.
(1) The Mayor and Council may suspend or expel the Assistant Chief and
any officer or member of the Volunteer Division for failure to serve
as an officer or member for six successive months, for criminal conduct,
moral turpitude, unbecoming conduct or behavior or neglect in violation
of any duty incumbent upon any such person. No suspension or removal
shall be made except upon notice to the person and an opportunity
to be heard.
(2) In addition, the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief or any officer or member may submit charges against any volunteer officer or volunteer member of the Fire Department for any of the actions in Subsection
H(3) and the Fire Chief may suspend any such officer or member pending a hearing. Such charges shall be brought before the Board of Fire Officers. If the charges are made against a member of the Board or if any Board member is unavailable for the hearing of the charges, the Fire Chief shall appoint an alternate to sit on the Board. The Board may suspend any member for a period of up to one year or expel such member from the Cresskill Fire Department.
(3) Any volunteer officer, or volunteer member of the Department who
shall refuse or voluntarily neglect to obey or execute any order from
any officer in charge of an alarm or drill, or who shall violate or
willfully neglect, or who shall refuse to be governed by, any of the
provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Fire
Department shall be subject to suspension, removal or expulsion from
the Department by the Board of Fire Officers, after a hearing given
by the Board of Fire Officers. Any one of the following, in addition
to any other violation of this chapter or any rules, regulations or
orders promulgated hereunder, shall be cause for suspension, removal
or expulsion from the Fire Department, although suspensions, removals
or expulsions may be made for sufficient causes other than those listed:
(b)
Incompetency or inefficiency.
(c)
Incapacity due to mental or physical disability.
(d)
Insubordination or serious breach of discipline.
(e)
Intoxication or being under the influence of a controlled substance
while at a fire call.
(f)
Chronic or excessive absenteeism.
(g)
Disorderly or immoral conduct.
(h)
Willful violation of any of the Fire Department rules and regulations.
(i)
The conviction of any criminal act or offense.
(j)
Negligence of or willful damage to public property or waste
of public supplies or Fire Department property or Fire Department
supplies.
(k)
Conduct unbecoming a member of the Cresskill Fire Department.
(4) The Board of Fire Officers shall notify the accused officer or member
of the charges against him or her and shall provide reasonable notice
of a hearing, at which time the accused officer or member shall have
the opportunity to defend against the charges and provide evidence
and/or witnesses in support thereof.
I. Retirement. The membership of any active firefighter in the Volunteer
Division who has attained the age of 65 years shall automatically
be put on inactive status without formal action by either the Fire
Department or the Mayor and Council, unless that member, upon his
or her 65th birthday and thereafter upon his or her successive birthdays,
obtains from the official Borough physician, and delivers to the Board
of Fire Officers or Mayor and Council, a certificate that he or she
shall be of such good health to be able to continue his or her service
as an active firefighter. The membership of any such firefighter shall
continue until he or she fails to obtain and deliver the aforesaid
certification or until his or her 75th birthday, whichever is sooner,
whereupon the active firefighter shall be placed into inactive membership
without formal action by either the Board of Fire Officers or the
Mayor and Council. The Borough of Cresskill will pay the reasonable
cost of the examining physician incurred in connection herewith.
J. Honorary memberships. In cases where the Board of Fire Officers shall
recommend in writing to the Fire Department and where such recommendation
is approved at a regular meeting of the Fire Department by a vote
of not less than 3/4 of the members present at such meeting, any person
may be elected to honorary membership in the Department or to an honorary
office, such as Chief of the Department. The Board of Fire Officers
shall recommend for honorary membership only such persons as have
given unusual service to the Fire Department or who have been forced
to retire from membership in the Fire Department because of physical
injuries received in the performance of duties as a member of the
Fire Department. Such honorary members may attend all meetings of
the Fire Department but shall have no vote upon any question presented
to the Department.
K. Exemption certificates. An exemption certificate shall be issued
to any member of the Fire Department who shall have performed such
duty as required by the Revised Statutes of New Jersey. Such exemption
certificate shall be signed by the Mayor and the Chief of the Fire
Department and attested by the Borough Clerk.
L. Annual uniformed inspection. An annual uniformed inspection of the
Volunteer Division shall be held at the headquarters of the Fire Department
at any time during the year upon such date as shall be fixed by the
Fire Chief and approved by the Mayor and Council.
M. Monthly meetings. The Board of Fire Officers shall meet with the
members of the Volunteer Division at least once a month for the transaction
of all business of the Department.
N. Platoons authorized. At the discretion of the Chief, the members
of the Department may be divided into two platoons. The Chief of the
Department and the Fire Commissioner shall fix the hours of duty for
each platoon and make an assignment of the members of the Department
to the two platoons. No credit shall be given to a member of the Department
assigned to one platoon for services furnished to the other platoon.