[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Cresskill 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 12-01-1423.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also superseded former Ch.
30, Fire Department, which was comprised of Art. I, Establishment
and Control, adopted 1-1-1981 by Ord. No. 80-23-780, as amended; Art.
II, First Aid Squad, adopted 1-1-1981 by Ord. No. 80-23-780 and repealed
6-15-2005 by Ord. No. 05-09-1296; Art. III, Junior Firemen, adopted
1-1-1981 by Ord. No. 80-23-780; Art. IV, Junior First Aid Squad, adopted
10-20-1981 by Ord. No. 81-20-801 and repealed 9-7-2011 by Ord. No.
11-11-1413; and Art. V, Length of Service Awards Program, adopted
8-9-2000 by Ord. No. 00-11-1219, as amended.
A.
A Fire Department, to be known as the Cresskill Fire Department,
is hereby established for the Borough, to consist of one or more companies
as shall be determined by resolution adopted at a regular meeting
of the Mayor and Council.
B.
The Cresskill Volunteer Fire Department, created by Ordinance No.
19-54, is hereby dissolved and reconstituted as the Volunteer Division
of the Cresskill Fire Department as hereinafter provided.
C.
The Fire Department shall be supervised by the Fire Committee of
the Council, which shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by
the Council at the organizational meeting of the Mayor and Council
on or about January 1 of each year. One of the members of the Fire
Committee of the Council shall be appointed as the Chairman of the
Fire Committee and shall be known as the "Fire Commissioner."
A.
There shall be three divisions within the organizational structure
of the Cresskill Fire Department: Paid Division, Volunteer Division,
and Division of Fire Prevention. All three divisions will fall under
the Borough of Cresskill, Division of Fire (hereinafter referred to
as Cresskill Fire Department), and shall be under the supervision
and control of the Fire Chief.
B.
The Paid Division of the Cresskill Fire Department shall consist
of a Fire Chief and as many officers and firefighters as deemed necessary
under a table of the organization approved by the Mayor and Council.
C.
In addition to the uniformed force, the Volunteer Division shall
consist of an Assistant Fire Chief, one Captain, two First Lieutenants,
two Second Lieutenants and as many firefighters as deemed necessary
under a table of organization required for the proper operation of
the Fire Department approved by the Mayor and Council.
D.
The Division of Fire Prevention shall consist of the Fire Official
and such other inspectors or personnel as may be approved by the Mayor
and Council.
A.
Fire Chief.
(1)
Office established; appointment; term of office.
(a)
The office of Fire Chief of the Fire Department is hereby established
in the Borough of Cresskill.
(b)
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed
by the Council of the Borough of Cresskill and shall hold office during
good behavior and capacity to carry out his duties in an efficient
manner.
(2)
Powers and duties.
(a)
The Fire Chief shall have jurisdiction and supervision over
all personnel comprising the Cresskill Fire Department, both paid
and volunteer, and all apparatus and equipment used by said Department
at all times.
(b)
The Fire Chief shall supervise and direct, either personally
or through his/her subordinates, the operations and activities of
the Cresskill Fire Department with respect to the prevention, control
and extinguishing of fires.
(c)
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to see that all fires
are extinguished with the least possible danger to life and damage
to property. The Fire Chief shall have the absolute and entire command
at fires, extrications, rescues, hazardous materials emergencies,
hazardous conditions and all orders issued by him in exercising his
discretion to meet any emergency or fire related incidents shall have
the full force of law.
(d)
The Fire Chief is authorized to inspect, or cause to be inspected
by Department members, all buildings and premises for the purpose
of ascertaining any condition liable to cause fire or which effects
a fire hazard, or for the purpose of investigating any violation of
state laws or Borough ordinances relating to fires or fire prevention;
and the Fire Official shall be held responsible for the keeping of
complete records of all fire prevention work of the Department.
(e)
The Fire Chief is authorized to render the assistance of personnel,
apparatus or equipment to another municipality in the event of a conflagration
or disaster. Such authorization shall be given by the Fire Chief if
it does not seriously lessen the efficiency of the Department. Such
requests for assistance shall only be recognized when made by or through
the other municipality's chief or then commanding officer in
charge of the fire and confirmed as closely as conditions permit.
(f)
The Fire Chief shall investigate all written complaints made
by citizens against a member or members of the Department, regardless
of whether or not the alleged offending member or members were on
or off duty at the time of the alleged offense.
(g)
The Fire Chief shall have the authority in the event of fire
to order the demolition of buildings or parts of buildings, the position
of which, in his/her judgment, constitutes a serious threat to life
or further devastation of property.
(h)
The Fire Chief shall devise forms or methods of keeping records
and shall see that the records are kept of all alarms of fire, methods
used for extinguishing fires, fire losses, drills, conditions of hydrants,
inspection of motors and all equipment belonging to the Borough and
used by the Fire Department. The form and manner of keeping such records
shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Commissioner.
(i)
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to make and file an annual
report, including an inventory of equipment, to the Mayor and Council,
specifying the condition of the various pieces of apparatus and all
equipment belonging to the Department. This report shall be filed
by the Fire Chief not later than February 1 of the succeeding year.
(j)
The Fire Chief shall, from time to time, adopt a code of bylaws
and rules for the control, management and government of the Department.
Such code or codes of bylaws and rules, after review by the Board
of Fire Officers, shall not become effective and operative until submitted
to and approved by the Mayor and Council.
B.
Chief of Operations. The Chief of Operations will be assigned to
the senior officer of the Paid Division in the absence of the Fire
Chief. He/she will have full authority to command the Department in
the absence of the Chief.
C.
Tour Commander(s). Tour Commanders will be added and assigned at
such times deemed necessary for the advancement of the Department.
D.
Captain. Under direction of the Fire Chief, the Captain supervises
and performs fire suppression, emergency aid, hazardous materials
and other emergency situations. The captain is responsible for the
safety and operations of his company.
E.
Lieutenant. The Fire Lieutenant usually performs work on an assigned
basis under the direction of the Fire Chief. Lieutenants may perform
duties similar to those of a Fire Captain. These activities include
but not limited to the supervision of fire personnel at scenes and
in fire stations.
F.
Firefighter. A firefighter protects lives and property through activities
associated with fire prevention, fire suppression, hazardous materials,
emergency medical incidents and participates in the training and maintenance
activities. Paid Division members shall be appointed upon suitable
application for employment. Appointment as a member of the Department
will be pursuant to the rules and regulations governing the Borough
of Cresskill Fire Department. Approval for appointment will be contingent
upon official action of the Fire Chief and the Mayor and Council.
General qualifications for membership in the Paid Division are as
follows:
(1)
The applicant:
(a)
Is a citizen of the United States.
(b)
Has attained the age of 21 years through 35 years, or 40 years
if appointed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-42 through 44.
(c)
Is sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the
Borough Physician and the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's
Retirement System of New Jersey as to his eligibility for membership
in the retirement system.
(d)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and
intelligently.
(e)
Is of good moral character.
(f)
Has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral
turpitude.
(g)
Has complied with all laws of the State of New Jersey.
(2)
Appointments thereto shall be made from the members of the Volunteer
Division who shall have served as active firefighters for at least
two years next preceding said appointment or from among the exempt
firemen of the Volunteer Division. If no such qualified persons are
available for appointment, preference for hiring will be given to
Borough residents first and Bergen County residents second.
(3)
Nothing herein contained shall affect the employment or continuance
in office of any person, as a permanent fireman, employed by the Borough
prior to the adoption of this chapter.
G.
Per diem firefighter. A firefighter approved for this position by
the Fire Chief will be a "fill in" in the event that a member from
the Paid Division is excused from duty. These per diem firefighters
will be required to maintain the same level of certification as members
of the Paid Division. He/she must follow all rules and regulations
of the Cresskill Fire Department. Members of the Volunteer Division
will be given priority for placement on the per diem list. In the
event that the approved per diem list is unable to support the Paid
Division, applications will be opened to the public to fulfill the
per diem list to meet the Borough's needs. The per diem rate
of pay will be determined by the Mayor and Council.
H.
Any officer or firefighter of the Paid Division 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
that may be adopted, shall be subject to suspension, removal or expulsion
from the Fire Department by the Mayor and Council after notice and
a hearing. Pending such determination, the Fire Chief may suspend
any such officer or firefighter in accordance with state law.
The Fire Chief, Assistant Chief and all officers of the Paid
and Volunteer divisions shall constitute the Board of Fire Officers.
A.
The
Fire Official shall be solely responsible for inspecting all buildings
and premises, including the interiors thereof, as often as may be
necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be correct
any conditions liable to cause fire or any violation of the purpose
and intent of this chapter and of any other ordinance affecting the
fire hazard. For the purposes of making such inspections, the Fire
Official is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at all
reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units, buildings and other
premises.
B.
The
Fire Official shall report to the Mayor and Council and the Fire Chief
regarding inspections made, violations noted and other matters within
his jurisdiction.
C.
Subject
to the approval of the Mayor and Council, the Fire Official shall
also:
D.
Qualifications.
No person shall be appointed Fire Official unless such person satisfies
the requisite qualifications as established by the Commissioner for
the Department of Community Affairs for the position of Fire Official.
Such person shall also have at least 10 years' experience in
the field of firefighting and/or fire prevention.
E.
In addition to the above requirements, the Fire Official should demonstrate
that he or she has received appropriate schooling and shall, to the
extent possible, be a current member of the Department.
F.
Appointment and removal. The Fire Official with the recommendation
of the Fire Chief shall be appointed annually by the Mayor and Council
and may be removed by the Mayor and Council for good cause.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, regarding whether the
Fire Official may hold a position on the Board of Fire Officers, which
immediately followed this section, was repealed 12-18-2013 by Ord.
No. 13-11-1454.
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:
(a)
Neglect of duty.
(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.
A.
Chain of command at fires.
(1)
In all cases of fire, the Fire Chief shall have full power and absolute
control and command of all the members and the apparatus of the Department.
In the absence of the Fire Chief, the Chief of Operations shall be
in charge. In the event that the Paid Division is off duty and the
Fire Chief is not available, the ranking Chief or officer of the volunteer
division shall be in charge and command of the Department.
B.
Police authority at fires. The officers of the Department at any
fire shall have police authority as granted by the Revised Statutes
of New Jersey.
C.
Apparatus drivers. Drivers of the apparatus belonging to the Department
shall be appointed by the Chief.
D.
Repairing equipment by members. No member of any company shall be
permitted to repair any apparatus of the Fire Department unless so
directed by the Fire Chief or, in case of the absence of the Fire
Chief, by order of one of the officers of the Department. Such repairs
shall be ordered by an officer of the Fire Department, other than
the Fire Chief, only in case of an emergency.
F.
Junior Firemen.
(1)
Training provisions. The Mayor and Council of the Borough may, on
application from the Fire Chief, provide for training of new firemen,
who shall be designated as Junior Firemen.
(2)
Eligibility. Any person who is a resident of the Borough and who
is at least 16 years of age and less than 21 years of age may become
a Junior Fireman.
(3)
Application; designation as Junior Fireman. Any person desiring to
become a Junior Fireman shall make application to the Fire Chief or
Assistant Chief of the Borough Fire Department and shall complete
an application prescribed by the Mayor and Council. The name of the
applicant shall then be submitted, together with a report of a medical
examination, to the Mayor and Council which, if it approves such applicant,
shall designate such applicant as a Junior Fireman.
A.
Creation; purpose. A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is
herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997,
to reward members of the Cresskill Volunteer Fire Department for their
loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents of the Borough
of Cresskill.
B.
Contributions to deferred income account. The LOSAP shall provide
for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each
volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth below; that such
contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be
established by the Borough of Cresskill pursuant to P.L. 1997, Chapter
388; and that such plan shall be administered in accordance with the
laws of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and
this chapter.
C.
Criteria. The LOSAP shall provide for annual, calendar year, January
1 through December 31 basis of each year, contributions to each member
that meets the criteria so as to earn not less than 100 points as
follows:
(1)
Any volunteer who accumulates 100 or more points in a calendar year
will be considered an active volunteer for that year and therefore
be eligible for the benefit amount.
(2)
The annual contributions shall be $600 per eligible member for year
one; $850 per eligible member for years two, three and four; and $1,150
for year five for an eligible member.
(3)
Five full calendar years of eligibility and service are required
for vesting.
(4)
A member not accumulating 100 points during a calendar year shall
receive no contributions, and points are not carried into a succeeding
calendar year so that each member has no points on January 1 of each
year.
D.
Cost. The estimated cost of the program based upon current total
combined membership of 71 persons, each earning 100 points in each
calendar year has been calculated as follows:
(1)
For annual services*:
|
Year
|
Amount
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
$42,600
| |
|
2
|
$60,350
| |
|
3
|
$60,350
| |
|
4
|
$60,350
| |
|
5
|
$81,650
| |
|
6
|
Unknown
| |
|
*NOTE: Membership may increase or decrease and not all members
may earn 100 points each calendar year.
| ||
E.
Points credited to members. To earn eligibility, each active volunteer
member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided
to the Cresskill Fire Department (Volunteer Division) in accordance
with the following schedule:
F.
Schedule A, LOSAP point system; 100 points needed for a qualifying
year; Fire Department Point System.
(1)
Fire Department responses. Points are credited based upon the following
schedule of percent attendance at the Fire Department responses dispatched
that year:
|
Percentage of Attendance
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
0% — 10%
|
0
| |
|
11% — 20%
|
10
| |
|
21% — 30%
|
20
| |
|
31% — 40%
|
30
| |
|
41% — 50%
|
40
| |
|
51% — 60%
|
50
| |
|
61% and above
|
60
|
(2)
Years of service points. Points will be given for years of dedicated
service to the Department. Points will be awarded as follows:
|
Years of Service
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
After 5
|
5
| |
|
10
|
10
| |
|
15
|
15
| |
|
20
|
20
| |
|
25
|
25
| |
|
30
|
30
| |
|
35
|
35
| |
|
40
|
40
| |
|
45
|
45
| |
|
50
|
50
|
(3)
Holder of elected or appointed positions. Members who are holding
or held positions of responsibility shall be awarded points based
on the following schedule:
|
Position
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief and Assistant Chief of the Department
|
10
| |
|
Captain
|
7
| |
|
First Lieutenants
|
5
| |
|
Second Lieutenants
|
3
| |
|
Ex-Chiefs
|
5
| |
|
Drivers
|
3
| |
|
LOSAP Administrator
|
10
|
(4)
Points system for additional Departmental activities.
|
Activity
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Meetings
|
2
| |
|
Drills
|
3
| |
|
Work nights
|
2
| |
|
Fire prevention details
|
2
| |
|
Extra details prescribed by the Chief (maximum of 20 points)
|
2
| |
|
Training classes, per hour of class (maximum of 30 points)
|
2
|
A.
A
stipend program shall be established to encourage active recruitment,
retention and participation by members of the Volunteer Division.
B.
The
terms, conditions and governing rules applicable to the stipend program
shall be established by a resolution adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Cresskill and may be amended, in their sole discretion,
by subsequent resolutions of the Mayor and Council.
