[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Tamaqua as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 12-7-1993 by Ord. No. 489]
The Citizens Fire Company, South Ward Fire Company, American
Hose Fire Company, and East End Fire Company duly organized and existing
in the Borough of Tamaqua, County of Schuylkill, and Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, are hereby designated as the officially recognized
fire companies of the Borough of Tamaqua.
A.
The fire companies recognized by the Borough are hereby authorized
to provide such services to the Borough as may be necessary for the
protection of property and persons situate therein, which include,
by way of example, and not of limitation, the extinguishment of fire
and the prevention of loss of life and property from fire, automobile
accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and other dangerous situations.
B.
The fire companies may also provide nonemergency and public-service
functions, including, but not limited to, removal of water from property
after storms, and assisting in the removal, abatement and prevention
of injury or damage to persons or property, whether through natural
causes or man-made disasters or situations.
C.
The fire companies may also conduct and participate in such training
activities, exercises and drills, either within or outside of the
geographical limits of the Borough, as may be deemed necessary and
appropriate by the officers of the company to maintain necessary proficiency
in providing service.
D.
The fire companies may also respond to calls and provide services
to municipalities outside of the Borough's geographical limits.
In addition to the fire companies participating in the activities authorized above in § 24-2 of this article, or in going to or returning from any authorized activity, the members of the fire companies are also authorized to conduct the following activities:
A.
Engage in any type of drill, training, practice, test, parade, ceremony
when such activities are duly called for or authorized by an officer(s)
of the fire companies subject to the approval of the Fire Chief;
B.
Engage in any type of fund-raising activity for the fire companies,
when authorized by an officer(s) of the fire companies, and the Council
of the Borough of Tamaqua.
The purpose of this article is to recognize the Citizens Fire
Company, South Ward Fire Company, American Hose Fire Company, and
East End Fire Company as the official fire companies of the Borough
of Tamaqua and to define the additional authorized activities for
firefighters for liability and workers' compensation purposes.
[Adopted 4-7-2015 by Ord.
No. 678]
A.
Council of the Borough of Tamaqua shall appoint a Chief of the Fire
Department:
(1)
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be selected in the order of
Chief rotation from each individual fire company in order of Assistant
Chief Seniority. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed
to serve a term of five years. At the expiration of that five-year
term, that individual may be appointed to a second five-year term;
however, the Chief of the Fire Department cannot serve for more than
two consecutive terms (10 years).
(2)
The following minimum qualifications must be met to be appointed
Chief of the Fire Department:
B.
In the event a Chief of the Fire Department candidate is appointed
and who does not meet the minimum requirements at the time of the
appointment, he or she will be given six months to complete the applicable
requirements. If the applicable requirements are not met, the Chief
will be removed and will remain eligible to serve as an Assistant
Chief. His or her name will be placed at the bottom of the seniority
rotation. These provisions shall apply to any company appointed or
elected company Chief who does not meet the requirements at the time
of a Department Chief appointment.
C.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall continue his or her fire service
training each year by successfully completing no less than eight hours
of fire service training from an accredited agency. All required course
documentation must be submitted to the Borough at the end of each
calendar year.
D.
The Chief of the Fire Department can be removed from office at any
time by the Borough for just cause or if the Chief of the Fire Department
does not meet the required continuing education requirements set forth
above.
A.
The Borough of Tamaqua shall recognize three Assistant Chiefs of
the Fire Department,
(1)
The Assistant Chief of the Fire Department is selected by each of
the respective five companies and will present their name to the Borough
on a yearly basis. The seniority rotation of the Assistant Chief of
the Fire Department will be based on the seniority rotation in place.
(2)
The following minimum qualifications must be met to be appointed
Assistant Chief of the Department:
B.
If an Assistant Chief of the Fire Department candidate is appointed
and does not meet the minimum requirements at the time of the appointment,
he or she will be given six months to complete the applicable requirements.
If the applicable requirements are not met, the Assistant Chief of
the Fire Department will be removed and the fire company will have
the opportunity to present another name to the Borough that meets
the stated qualifications. The newly appointed Assistant Chief of
the Fire Department will go to the bottom of the seniority rotation.
C.
Since the Borough has no control over the internal protocols, procedures,
or bylaws of each company, in the event that a company cannot present
an Assistant Chief of the Fire Department candidate with the qualifications,
that company's unsuccessful designee may carry the title of Company
Chief. Under this classification, the Company Chief title will be
equivalent to a Captain rank within the chain of command of the department.
The Company Chief is not entitled to any compensation or recognition
as an Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, and will not be considered
in any chain of command or seniority rotation. If at such time the
Company Chief obtains Assistant Chief of the Fire Department qualifications,
they may be then presented to the Council for appointment and, if
successfully appointed, will enter at the bottom of the seniority
rotation as outlined above.
D.
The Assistant Chiefs of the Fire Department shall continue their
fire service training each year by successfully completing no less
than eight hours of fire service training from an accredited agency.
All required course documentation must be submitted to the Borough
at the end of each year.
E.
Any Assistant Chief of the Fire Department can be removed from office
at any time by the Borough if they feel there is legitimate just cause
to do so or they do not meet the required continuing education stipulation.
