ALARM MALFUNCTION — The activation of any alarm which
results in the response of the East Pennsboro Township Fire Service
caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation,
or lack of proper maintenance of any other response for which the
East Pennsboro Township Fire Service personnel are unable to gain
access to the premises for any reason, or are unable to determine
the apparent cause of the alarm activation.
| |
FALSE ALARM (UNWANTED ALARM) — An alarm malfunction or
malicious fire alarm as defined herein.
| |
MALICIOUS FIRE ALARM — The activation of any alarm which
results in the response of the East Pennsboro Township Fire Service
caused by the negligence or intentional misuse of the system by the
owner or his employees, servants or agents; or any other activation
not caused by heat, smoke or fire, exclusive of an alarm malfunction.
An alarm is not considered a malicious fire alarm if the alarm is
activated due to causes beyond the control of the owner.
|
MISSION STATEMENT: The East Pennsboro Fire Department is dedicated
to the protection of life, property, and the environment for those
who live, work, visit, or invest in our community. Through a well-trained
and dedicated team of properly equipped volunteers, we pledge to deliver
the highest quality fire suppression, public fire education, rescue
and emergency response to all natural or man-made distress. This professional
commitment to service in the proud neighbor-helping-neighbor tradition
that is the basis of our community-based volunteer fire companies
is also put forth by promoting personal development within the department
and by promoting the retention and recruitment of active members,
while utilizing effective principles and practices of modern fire
and life safety technology in an accruable manner.
| |
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
| |
1.
|
There are six volunteer fire companies (hereinafter referred
to as the "Companies"), located within East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania (hereinafter known as the "Township"), and which
provide fire protection to the Township. The names of said volunteer
fire companies are: Citizens, Creekside, Goodwill, Midway, Summerdale
and West Enola.
|
2.
|
A Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners
of East Pennsboro Township (hereinafter referred to as the "Board:),
to oversee the East Pennsboro Township Fire Department (hereinafter
referred to as the "Department"). This appointment shall be made biannually
and will occur in January. This appointment shall be with the recommendation
of the Department, but the Board will have final approval.
|
3.
|
Additionally, the Board will appoint two assistant fire chiefs,
one in charge of fire prevention techniques, and one in charge of
training. These appointments will be made biannually in the month
of January and will be recommended by the Department. Final approval
will be made by the Board during the month of January.
|
4.
|
During January of each year, the Department will appoint a retention
and recruitment officer, as well as two safety officers.
|
5.
|
During January of each year, the Department will establish training
standards and will hold joint training sessions at least four times
per year. Failure of any company to participate in the aforementioned
training session may be adequate basis for the Board to withhold its
financial appropriation to any company.
|
6.
|
The Fire Chief shall be the coordinator and oversee all firefighting
efforts. However, the District Chief of the Company within the District
where the fire is located is primarily responsible for fighting and
suppressing the fire.
|
7.
|
The Department will continue to coordinate its various insurance
coverage(s), which may result in the reduction of costs and/or increase
in the amount of coverage.
|
8.
|
In the interest of coordinating fire equipment purchases and
eliminating the potential for the purchase of duplicative equipment,
each Fire Company shall appoint a representative to an East Pennsboro
Fire Department Equipment Committee to approve fire equipment purchases.
The Department shall notify the Board of all fire suppression and/or
rescue vehicle purchases and such purchases are subject to final approval
by the Board.
|
9.
|
The units purchased by the Board will be titled in the name
of East Pennsboro Township and will be the property of East Pennsboro
Township. Each unit will be assigned to the respective companies.
The Township shall be responsible for providing the maintenance, repairs,
and insurance on these units. Certificate of Insurance will be provided
to the Department. Each Fire Company Chief will coordinate any repairs
and/or maintenance needed on Township owned vehicle(s) through the
Fire Chief, who in turn will coordinate such work through the Township
Manager or Assistant Township Manager. The Board shall have the right
to make inspections of all units at their discretion.
|
It shall be the responsibility of each Fire Company that has
been assigned Township owned fire apparatus to properly care and operate
said equipment, with neglect or abuse of said equipment subject to
forfeiture. All newly purchased Township-owned fire apparatus shall
be graphic and decaled uniformly as recommended by the Equipment Committee
and approved by the Board.
| |
It shall be the responsibility of each respective Fire Company
to comply with all township codes and ordinances with respect to real
estate owned by the company and/or leased to the fire company by the
Township.
| |
10.
|
If the Board determines that certain companies are non-responsive
to the requirements for adequate fire protection, firefighting and
training, the Board may, within 30 days' written notice to the
respective companies, reassign any apparatus owned by the Township.
However, during said thirty-day period, any company may request an
opportunity to meet and discuss with the Board in order to evaluate
the relative positions of the Company and the Board.
|
11.
|
It shall be the responsibility of each respective Fire Company
to submit to the Board by March 31st of each year a year-to-date Incident
Participation Report for the previous year's activities.
|
12.
|
Before any new applicant shall become a member/volunteer of
any Fire Company, it shall be the responsibility of each Fire Company
to contact the Fire Chief, who will coordinate with the Chief of Police
who will conduct a background check on each applicant.
|
13.
|
The Department and the Board shall hold a meet and discuss at
least once annually, or additional times as the Board and/or Department
might deem necessary, with the chief and presidents of all six fire
companies.
|
14.
|
The Department and Board are both committed to the continuation
of recruitment and incentive programs for the volunteer firefighters.
|
15.
|
Each Fire Company shall provide the Board by December 31st of
each year a proposed budget for the upcoming year. Also, by March
31st of each year, each company shall submit to the Board a true and
accurate report of the previous year's actual revenue and expenditures.
Said revenue and expenditure report and budget shall be in a standardized
form. At its discretion, the Board may conduct an independent audit
of any Fire Company at any time at the Township's expense by
a Township-appointed auditor. Each Fire Company shall bond [the appropriate
officers] all officials with fiduciary responsibility.
|
Each Fire Company shall receive its annual contribution from
the Township in quarterly installments.
| |
16.
|
Each Fire Company shall have representation and attendance at
all monthly Fire Board meetings and all quarterly meetings of the
Firemen's Relief Association. A representative from the Fire
Police, the EMS, the Police Department, and a Codes Officer shall
attend the regular monthly Department meeting.
|
17.
|
It shall be the right of the Board of Commissioners to withhold
the Township's contributions to the individual companies for
any violations of this Memorandum of Understanding. Once the Board
of Commissioners determines that a Company is in violation(s) of the
Memorandum of Understanding, the Company will have 30 days from written
notification to correct any and all deficiencies. If after 30 days
the Company does not make the necessary corrections to such violation(s),
the Board of Commissioners will withhold 1/52 per week of their yearly
allocation until compliance is made from a Company for noncompliance
of the Memorandum of Understanding will be deposited into the East
Pennsboro Township Fire Department Equipment Fund.
|
18.
|
The Board may, upon 30 days' written notice, terminate
this Memorandum of Understanding and declare same null and void. However,
during said thirty-day period, any Company may request an opportunity
to meet and discuss with the Board in order to evaluate the relative
positions of the Company and the Board.
|
19.
|
This Memorandum of Understanding is binding upon the parties
hereto, their successors and assigns.
|