[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Northampton 3-6-1936 by Ord. No. 423 (Ch. 7, Part 1, of the 1993 Code of
Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 2-12-1954 by Ord. No. 526; 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
The Council of the Borough of Northampton shall biennially appoint
a Chief; a First Assistant Chief, a Second Assistant Chief, and a
Third Assistant Chief; and three Captains of the Fire Department.
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
Said Chief, his assistants, and his captains shall be citizens
of the Borough of Northampton and shall be members in good standing
of a fire company of said Borough.
[Amended 2-12-1954 by Ord. No. 526]
Said Chief of the Fire Department and his assistants shall serve
for the period of two years until their successors have been duly
appointed and their appointments confirmed.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to
attend to all fires and alarms, superintend and direct the operation
of the several fire companies of said Department; he shall have full
control of all the men and apparatus, issue and enforce all such orders
as in his judgment may be best calculated for the protection of property,
the extinguishment of fires and the welfare of the Department. He
shall enforce all the rules and regulations of the Fire Department,
and the Borough ordinances pertaining thereto. The Chief of the Fire
Department shall be First Fire Marshal of the Borough, and shall perform
all duties pertaining to that office which are or may be prescribed
by law or ordinance. He shall visit all the firehouses and make a
personal examination of the same, at least once per month, examine
carefully the condition of the houses, etc., as to order and cleanliness.
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
In the absence of the Chief of the Fire Department, the First Assistant shall be in charge and assume the duties of Chief as set forth in § 28-4 hereof. In the event of the absence of both the Chief and his First Assistant, then the Second Assistant shall be in charge and assume the duties of the Chief, and so on, as hereinbefore set forth.
[Amended 7-18-1974 by Ord. No. 846; 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
Council shall fix the compensation to be paid to the Chief,
Assistants, and Captains of the Fire Department at the time of their
appointment.
It shall be the duty of every member of the Fire Department
to obey the rules and regulations of the Department, as well as the
constitution and bylaws of their respective companies, and upon hearing
an alarm of fire, to repair at once to the fire apparatus of the company
to which he may belong, and render all possible assistance in the
extinguishing of conflagrations and fires.
[Amended 7-18-1974 by Ord. No. 846; 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
All repairs to fire apparatus under the cost of $1,000 may be
done without approval of Council. All repairs to apparatus over $1,000
shall be done only after approval by Council.
