The Fire Department shall be and is at all times under the control
and supervision and subject to the orders of the Mayor and the Borough
Council, except at a fire scene, drill or disaster, at which time
the Fire Chief or other superior officer in charge shall have complete
control and supervision of the Fire Department.
A. Fire Committee; appointment and duties.
(1) At the time of the annual organization of the Borough Council, the
Mayor and Council shall appoint a Fire Committee from the Council,
consisting of three members. One of these shall be designated as Chairman
by the Mayor and Council.
(2) The Fire Committee shall have full and complete control over and
direction of the equipment and personnel of the Fire Department, except
at fires or otherwise on duty.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Committee to report at
each meeting of the Borough Council on the activities of the Fire
Department and to make recommendations for the general efficiency
and welfare of the Department.
(4) The Fire Chief shall make monthly reports to the Chairman of the
Fire Committee.
B. Establishment of Board of Fire Officers; duties.
(1) A Board of Fire Officers is hereby established to assist the Fire
Committee in its work. It shall consist of the officers of the Fire
Department, the officers of its respective companies, and the officer(s)
of the career members. The members of the Fire Committee shall be
ex-officio members of the Board, but shall have no power to vote.
(2) The Board of Fire Officers shall meet at such times as the Board
shall designate to transact the business of the Department, and shall
administer a code of best practices, policies and procedures adopted
by the Fire Department for the control and management of the Department.
The best practices, policies and procedures shall not conflict with
any municipal ordinance.
No apparatus shall be taken out of the limits of the Borough
for the purpose of attending a parade or a fire convention without
first obtaining permission of the Fire Chief or the Fire Department
officer in command in the Chief's absence, or the Borough Administrator
or Chairman of the Fire Committee. Permission shall not be needed
for purposes of existing mutual aid agreements and conformance with
the State Deployment Act.
There shall be one annual official inspection of the Fire Department
by the Mayor and Council held on Memorial Day of each year.