[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Washington 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5 as Ch. 19 of the 1985 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
A.
There is hereby established in the Township of Washington, County
of Bergen, a Volunteer Fire Department, to exist at the pleasure of
and function under the supervision of the Director of the Fire Department,
for the protection of lives and property of the citizens of the Township
against loss or damage by fire. Such Department shall consist of the
company now existing and the present membership thereof and such other
companies as may hereafter be established and accepted by the Township
Council.
[Amended 6-25-1974 by Ord. No. 74-14; 6-24-1975 by Ord. No. 75-18]
A.
The entire membership of the said Fire Department of the Township
of Washington, including any and all companies or units thereof, shall
not at any time exceed 60 active members and such number of active
life members as are eligible for such status pursuant to this chapter.
Any subsequent change in the aforesaid maximum number of members of
said Fire Department shall be accomplished only by ordinance duly
adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Washington.
C.
ACTIVE LIFE MEMBER
ACTIVE MEMBER
SENIOR MEMBER
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any active member who has completed 20 years of active service
with the Township of Washington Volunteer Fire Department and has
either completed his 64th year of age or completed his 59th year of
age and has so indicated his choice, or who has completed 10 years
of service with the Township Fire Department and who, either through
causes not connected with service in the Township Fire Department,
is no longer capable of performing the duties described in the definition
of "active member" below, or who, as a result of injuries suffered
while performing such duties as described below, shall be rendered
incapable of performing such duties.
Any member who has not completed his 64th year of age and
who is physically and mentally capable of performing all duties, including
answering the fire alarms, actual attendance and duty at fires, drills,
operation of fire apparatus and other duly established fire duties.
Any member who has attained the age of 65 years. Senior members
may be authorized to ride on fire trucks and perform only the following
duties, provided that such members are medically certified to be capable
thereof: police duty, roping off the area, assisting in providing
equipment to other members and removing equipment.
[Added 11-7-1983 by Ord.
No. 83-17]
D.
Privileges and duties of active life members.
(1)
An active life member shall have all the rights and privileges accorded to an active member. He shall have the option to participate in all duties of an active member, except those specifically described in Subsection C above, in the definition of "active member."
(2)
Uniform allowance payable to an active life member shall be paid
at the rate last in effect at the time he attained such status.
(3)
Uniform allowance payable to an active life member shall terminate
when he no longer resides in the Township or upon his death, whichever
comes first.
E.
Determination of physical or mental disability of active members.
(1)
When it shall appear that an active member, who shall otherwise be eligible for active life membership, shall have become incapable of performing the duties described in Subsection C above, in the definition of "active member," the Chief of the Fire Department shall have the authority to suspend him from participation as an active member.
(2)
Within 10 days after suspension, the Chief shall convene the Board of Fire Officers, who may, after an investigation of the circumstances, make a determination that the member undergo a physical and/or mental examination as set forth in Subsection E(3). Suspension of said member shall continue pending the physician's report as set forth in Subsection E(3).
(3)
Upon such determination, the Board of Fire Officers shall appoint a physician or physicians licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey who shall examine the member. The physician or physicians shall make a report to the Fire Board, which report shall state his or their opinion of the member's physical and/or mental condition with knowledge of the physical and/or mental stresses to which an active member may be exposed, his or their opinion as to whether or not the member is capable of performing the duties described in Subsection C above without endangering himself, other members or the public, and whether such disability may be permanent.
(4)
The examination and report required by Subsection E(3) above shall be performed and obtained in an expeditious manner.
(5)
Upon the receipt of such report, the Fire Board shall make an appropriate
recommendation to the Director, who with the approval of the Mayor
may remove the member from active membership.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Fire Department
of the Township of Washington or any unit thereof unless such person
is above the age of 21 and not over the age of 55 years, a resident
of the Township of Washington, a citizen of the United States and
of good character; provided, however, that all members admitted over
the age of 35 years must waive all rights to any benefits provided
for either under the statutes of the State of New Jersey or under
the jurisdiction of the local authorities[1] as well as the New Jersey State Firemen's Association
through the local relief association.
All applicants for membership shall be physically fit to perform
the duties of firemen and shall produce evidence of their fitness
by a certificate to that effect, made by a practicing physician of
the State of New Jersey, said certificate to be made after a physical
examination.
[Amended 9-17-1979 by Ord. No. 79-22]
A.
Nonresidence in the Township of Washington shall terminate the membership
of any person in the Department.
B.
Upon recommendation of the Fire Board of Officers, the Director may
waive the residency requirement of a member if all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
C.
Recommendation by the Fire Board of Officers shall be made within
30 days of the termination of residency of such member.
D.
Termination of availability for daytime firematic activities shall
terminate any waiver of residency.
Every active member of the Fire Department shall, in each and
every year, perform at least 60% of duty, to be composed of actual
attendance and duty at fires and drills, and a record shall be kept
of such attendance by the Secretary of the Fire Company and reported
to the municipal officers annually.
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of a Chief,
Assistant Chief and such other officers as may be provided for by
the bylaws of said Department.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
The Chief and Assistant Chief shall be elected by the members
of the Department by ballot at an annual meeting of said Department
to be held in the last week of November in each year; and, after confirmation
by the Director of the Fire Department, with the approval of the Mayor,
they shall assume their respective offices on January 1 and hold office
for one year. All officers shall be elected from the membership of
the Department; provided, however, that no member of the Department
shall be eligible for the office of Chief or Assistant Chief unless
he has been a member of the Department for at least two years.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
Each member of the Department, upon signing the roll of said
Department, shall be entitled to receive a badge of the Fire Department;
said badge shall remain the property of the Township and shall be
surrendered to the Director upon the death, removal, resignation,
suspension or expulsion of any member.
It shall be the duty of the members of the Fire Department to
respond to all alarms of fire, fire drills and emergencies and to
proceed promptly to the firehouse so as to convey the fire apparatus
to the place of the fire or emergency, unless otherwise directed by
the Chief or other officer who may be in charge, and to perform any
duty required of them at such fire, remaining on duty until relieved
by orders, which shall be given only by the officer in command, and
to conduct themselves at all times in a manner becoming a fireman.
After any such fire shall have been extinguished, each member of the
Department shall return to fire headquarters and perform such duties
as may be necessary.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
The Township of Washington Volunteer Fire Department may elect
associate members to said Department and establish in its constitution
and bylaws the rules and regulations applicable thereto relative to
such election, subject, however, to the approval of the Director.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 25-12 of the 1967
Township Code, which followed this section and which established a
Fire Committee; was repealed 6-3-1985 by Ord. No. 85-5.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
All members of the Fire Department of the Township of Washington
or any unit thereof shall be confirmed by the Director, with the approval
of the Mayor.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
Should the Director fail to confirm the election of any Chief
or Assistant Chief, then he shall appoint said Chief or Assistant
Chief, with the approval of the Mayor, to hold office until such officers
are elected by the Department and confirmed by the Director, with
the approval of the Mayor.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
It shall be the duty of the Chief to submit a written report
to the Director each month, showing the condition of the Fire Department
and of the apparatus and its activities during the previous calendar
month and any other matters concerning the Department the Director
may deem necessary.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
In case of insubordination by or unbecoming conduct of any member
of the Department, the Chief shall make complaint to the Director,
who shall have the right to hear the same, and if charges are sustained,
the Director may suspend or expel such member from the Department
with the approval of the Mayor.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord.
No. 85-5]
The bylaws of the Fire Department and any changes therein, before
becoming effective, shall be subject to the approval of the Township
Council.
A Board of Fire Officers is hereby created, whose membership
shall consist of the Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain and Lieutenants
of the Township of Washington Fire Department.[1]
