[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Palmerton 12-19-2013 by Ord. No. 704. Amendments noted where applicable.[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Ch. 10, Fire
Department, adopted 6-12-1978 by Ord. No. 380, as amended.
[Amended 7-27-2018 by Ord. No. 736]
The Palmerton Municipal Fire Company is hereby established in
the Borough of Palmerton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, and is hereby
designated as an officially recognized fire company for the Borough.
In the future, the Borough Council shall have the right to designate
any other fire company to provide fire protection services to the
Borough. Any fire company so designated by the Borough in the future
shall join the Palmerton Fire Department. The Borough Council shall
adopt standard operating guidelines/procedures for the Palmerton Fire
Department.
A.
The
Fire Department recognized by the Borough is hereby authorized to
provide such services to the Borough as may be necessary for the protection
of property and persons located in the Borough, which include, but
are not limited to, the extinguishments and prevention of loss of
life and property from fire, automobile accidents, hazardous materials
incidents, and other dangerous situations.
B.
The
Fire Department may also provide nonemergency and public service functions,
such as removing water from property after storms and assisting in
the removal, abatement and prevention of damage or injury to persons
or property, whether through natural causes or man-made situations.
C.
The
Fire Department may also conduct and participate in such training
activities and drills, either within or outside the Borough, as may
be deemed necessary by the Fire Department Chief in order to maintain
proficiency in providing the services.
D.
The Fire Department may also respond to calls and provide the services
to municipalities outside the Borough pursuant to any written mutual
aid agreement approved by the Borough.
E.
The Fire Department may engage in any ceremony or parade as may be
deemed appropriate, subject to formal approval by the Borough Council.
F.
The Fire Department may engage in fund-raising activities for the
Fire Department as may be deemed appropriate by the officers of the
Fire Department.
G.
The Fire Department may engage in fire prevention, fire education,
and other fire-related activities as may be deemed appropriate by
the officers of the Fire Department.
H.
Any nonemergency or non-fire-related activity proposed by the Fire
Department, including use of vehicles or equipment, shall be approved
by the Borough Manager or his designee.
[Amended 7-27-2018 by Ord. No. 736]
The Palmerton Fire Department will consist of Palmerton Municipal
Fire Company.
[Amended 7-27-2018 by Ord. No. 736]
The departmental officers of the Fire Department of the Borough
of Palmerton shall consist of one Fire Chief and one Assistant Fire
Chief. The departmental Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief shall
operate out of the centrally located Palmerton Municipal Fire Company
Building. The Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief shall have control
and authority over the Fire Department and shall be ultimately responsible
for managing and coordinating efforts of the Department.
A.
The
Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief of the Palmerton Fire Department
shall be appointed by the Borough Council annually and shall serve
at the pleasure of the Council until such time as relieved of said
duty by appropriate action by Borough Council or until successors
are duly appointed.
B.
The
Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief and Chairperson of the Borough Council
Safety Committee shall appoint the remaining officers with such terms,
stipulations, requirements and duties as deemed appropriate by departmental
standard operating guidelines/procedures.
A.
In
addition to the powers and duties of the Fire Chief as set forth in
the standard operating guidelines/procedures, the Fire Chief shall
have full charge and control over the fire apparatus, equipment of
the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company and personnel at all times and
shall give general directions as to how, when and where to use such
apparatus and equipment. He shall be responsible for the condition
and proper maintenance of all apparatus and equipment of the Fire
Department and, to that end, shall, at all times, have free access
to the firehouses for the purpose of inspecting such apparatus and
equipment. He shall report the condition of such apparatus and equipment
to the Council from time to time and, as often as he deems the same
necessary, shall recommend to the Council repairs, renovations or
replacements to firehouses, apparatus and equipment. It shall be the
duty of the Fire Chief to report to the Council any unusual fire risks
within the Borough and any fire hydrants or water mains which need
special attention.
B.
Additional
powers and duties of Fire Chief at fires. The Fire Chief shall have
the power to direct the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company to eject,
dismiss or suspend from service any member of any fire company comprising
the Palmerton Fire Department for disobedience of his orders; to enter
any premises for the purpose of investigating the cause of or subduing
a fire; to call to his assistance the police force of the Borough
or any citizen to maintain peace or protect property at a fire; and
to prosecute on behalf of the Borough any person for interfering with
the Fire Department at a fire or for interfering with the fire hydrants
or with any of the fire apparatus or equipment.
The Assistant Fire Chief shall perform the duties and have the
powers set forth in the standard operating guidelines/procedures.
A.
Eligibility for membership to the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company
shall be by application to the Borough, subject to the recommendation
of the Fire Chief and formal approval by Borough Council.
B.
Probationary period.
(1)
An individual whose application has been approved by the Borough
Council shall become a member of the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company
on a probationary basis.
(2)
The probationary period shall last for six months, which shall begin
upon the approval of the individual's membership by the Borough
Council.
(3)
During the probationary period, a disciplinary infraction by a probationary
member in the following areas shall be cause for immediate removal
of the probationary member from the fire company:
(4)
Following the expiration of the six-month probationary period, a
member will no longer be considered on probationary status, and any
infractions shall be handled by the guidelines/procedures set forth
in the standard operating guidelines/procedures.
C.
Once membership to the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company has been
approved by the guidelines/procedures set forth in this section, the
members shall serve exclusively for the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company.
Members of the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company may, however, serve
as social members in any other fire company or fire department.
[Amended 7-27-2018 by Ord. No. 736]
[Added 10-22-2015 by Ord.
No. 719]
Members of the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company shall be appointed
by the Borough Council on an annual basis in January of each year.
A.
No
person shall be allowed to ride upon Palmerton Municipal Fire Company
vehicles or apparatus unless such person is an active member of the
Palmerton Municipal Fire Company or unless such person has the prior
approval of the Borough Manager or his designee.
B.
No
person shall make use of any fire apparatus, hose, or other equipment
of the Fire Department, other than for the purpose for which the same
was intended, without the prior consent of the Borough Manager or
his designee.
A.
All fire equipment, supplies and apparatus bought for the use of
the Fire Department are to be the property of the Borough and under
the control of the Borough Council, and nothing is to be sheltered
in any firehouse of said Borough unless the same be under the control
and with the knowledge of Borough Council.
B.
An inventory shall be conducted annually and forwarded to the Borough
Secretary by the 30th of November.
No alcoholic beverages shall be allowed on any Borough property,
including on any fire trucks maintained or operated by the Palmerton
Municipal Fire Company.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
