[Adopted 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGENCY or AGENCIES
Any of the companies or squads comprising the Readington
Township Emergency Services Agency as defined below.
[Added 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
APPLICANT
An individual, of 18 years or older, desiring initial membership
in an emergency services agency in Readington Township.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012]
MEMBER
A current member of a Readington Township emergency services
agency.
[Added 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
READINGTON TOWNSHIP EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCY
A.
Any of the fire companies which comprise the Readington Township Fire Department as set forth in Chapter
21 of the Readington Township Code; or
B.
The Whitehouse Volunteer Rescue Squad or any other rescue squad
established in the Township of Readington.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No.
31-2012]
Any applicant desiring membership in a Readington Township emergency
services agency, as well as every current member of these agencies,
must complete and file with the same agency a Township-prescribed
form containing, among other things, the following information about
the applicant/member:
F. A signed statement certifying as to whether or not the applicant/member
has been convicted of any of the following crimes or offenses:
(1) In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons offense:
(a)
Involving danger to the person, meaning those crimes and disorderly
offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 et
seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq.; or N.J.S.A.
2C:15-1 et seq.;
(b)
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those
crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:24-1
et seq.;
(c)
Involving theft as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the
New Jersey Statutes; or
(d)
Involving any controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance
analog as set forth in Chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes,
except paragraph (4) of Subsection a of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10; or
(2) In any other state or jurisdiction, conduct which, if committed in
New Jersey, would constitute any of the crimes or disorderly persons
offenses described above.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
Following the filing of the information statement referred to above, the Readington Township emergency service agency shall transmit a copy of the information statement to the Readington Township Chief of Police, or his/her designee, who shall conduct an investigation to ascertain the truth of statements made by the applicant's/member's background as he/she may deem necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. If, as a result of such investigation, the applicant/member is found to have been convicted of any violation, crime or offense as set forth above in §
112-2, or any other information is discovered that would indicate that the applicant/member may be a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the community, the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, shall report such information to the head of the applicable agency, and the applicant/member shall not be eligible for membership in that or any other emergency services agencies included in this article.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
In connection with said investigation, the applicant/member
shall submit to fingerprinting, and the Chief of Police, or his/her
designee, is authorized to submit the applicant's/member's fingerprint
card and obtain history record information from the Division of State
Police/State Bureau of Identification for use in determining the suitability
of all applicants/members governed by this article.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No.
31-2012]
The above investigation by the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, shall be completed within 60 days of receipt of the application and fingerprinting of the applicant/member. At the discretion of the Chief of Police, temporary approval may be given to any applicant/member while in the process of the background investigation. The Chief of Police may revoke the temporary approval of membership should the completed investigation disclose the applicant's/member's membership is prohibited as provided in §
112-3 above.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012; 5-6-2013 by Ord. No. 09-2013]
A. Any member
of a Readington Township emergency services agency who is arrested
in any jurisdiction is required to notify the head of his/her organization
as soon as possible, but not later than 72 hours after the arrest
occurs.
B. An arrest in any jurisdiction for an offense listed in §
112-2F(1) and
(2) will result in immediate suspension for that member from any Readington Township emergency services agency. Suspension for any other arrest will be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
C. If a member
requests an appeal of the decision of the Chief of Police, then a
board consisting of the Chief of the member’s agency, the Township
Administrator, and the Township Mayor, or his/her appointed designee
from the governing body, will be convened. The decision of the board
will be final.
D. Upon conviction of an offense listed in §
112-2F(1) and
(2), or any other offense that would indicate that the member may be a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the community, the member shall be immediately removed from that agency.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
Any member of a Readington Township emergency service agency
who loses his or her New Jersey driver's license is required to notify
the head of his or her organization as soon as possible, but not later
than 72 hours after the revocation occurs.
Members shall not drink any kind of intoxicating beverage or
consume any illegal narcotics, or narcotics contrary to the directions
of their prescriptions, before or at any time during the operation
of any Township vehicle or apparatus.
Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall,
upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days and/or a period of community service
not exceeding 90 days.