The West Reading Fire Company No. 1, instituted October 12, 1903, together with such other fire companies as may be hereafter organized with the consent and by ordinance of the Council of the Borough of West Reading, is hereby recognized as the duly organized Volunteer Fire Department of said Borough, subject to such necessary rules and regulations as shall from time to time be approved by said Council, or adopted by said Fire Company or companies not inconsistent therewith.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading 10-27-1927 by Ord. No. 185 (Ch. VII, Part 2, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances); amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
All such sums of money as may be received by the Borough Treasurer in accordance with the Act of Assembly approved June 28, 1895, its amendments and supplements,[1] may as and when received be considered to be received for the benefit of the West Reading Firemen's Relief Association, and by motion or other action of Council be authorized to be paid over to said Relief Association.
[1]
Editor's Note: This refers to the proceeds of the state tax on premiums of foreign fire insurance companies.
Immediately after the passage and publication of this chapter, and annually thereafter during the month of January, the West Reading Fire Company No. 1, together with such other fire companies as may hereafter be organized in accordance with § 39-1 of this chapter, shall nominate and by and with the advice and consent of the Borough Council appoint a Fire Chief, a Deputy Fire Chief, an Assistant Fire Chief, a Captain, and two Fire Lieutenants of the Fire Department of the Borough of West Reading, who shall each hold office for the term of one year or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, and their annual salaries shall be in such amount as the Borough Council shall from time to time fix.
The Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Captain, and the Fire Lieutenants shall, before entering upon their respective duties, take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the Mayor to discharge their duties with fidelity.
The Fire Chief, or in his absence, the Deputy Fire Chief, the Assistant Fire Chief, Captain, or the Fire Lieutenants, shall have control over all fire apparatus and the members of the Fire Department while in service at fires, going to and from fires, and may for insubordination during said periods suspend any members from service for such period as he/she may deem proper, subject to an appeal by such members to the Council of the Borough. While said apparatus and equipment is in the building controlled by the West Reading Fire Company, it shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief, the Assistant Chief, the Captain, and the two Fire Lieutenants of said Fire Company. Said Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Captain, or Fire Lieutenants, and the officers of the Borough police force, are hereby authorized to exclude from interference with the functions of the regularly organized Fire Department while on duty at fires or going to or from fires all persons not members thereof, except owners of property in the immediate neighborhood of such fires, persons having a pecuniary interest therein or their agents, and to take into custody every person or persons persisting in such unauthorized interference.
The Fire Chief, or in his absence, the Deputy Fire Chief, the Assistant Chief, Captain, or the two Fire Lieutenants, are hereby authorized, upon the request of the proper authorities of any near or adjacent city, borough or township, to send any of the apparatus and/or equipment of the West Reading Fire Department for service in such city, borough or township in case of serious conflagration. Provided, in every such instance, the apparatus and equipment shall be in charge of and accompanied by experienced firefighters belonging to the West Reading Fire Department.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief, or in his absence, one of the line officers of the Department, to present a monthly report to Borough Council of matters pertaining to the Fire Department.