An ordinance to provide that the Lawrence Township Board may
establish the Lawrence Township Emergency Services (LTES); provide
for the basic organizational structure of this Department; delegate
broad management authority and responsibility to the Department Chief;
provide standards of accountability for the Chief and other Department
personnel to the Township Board; and repeal any parts or portions
of ordinances inconsistent herewith.
Consistent with appropriations and budget authorization, the
Department is authorized to provide, to the citizens of all covered
areas, the following programs and services:
C. Emergency medical education.
D. Fire prevention and code enforcement.
E. Emergency medical services at the EMT basic level.
F. Other emergency services, including, but not limited to, cold-water
rescue, hazardous material operations and vehicle extrications.
The Township Board shall approve an annual appropriation for
the operation and maintenance of the Department and its equipment,
and for that purpose shall have the authority to use general funds,
to initiate the creation of a special assessment district and levy
assessments, sell bonds, establish user fees, or raise revenues in
any other manner provided for under law for the operation and maintenance
of the Department; it shall provide for payment of any debts incurred
incidental to its continued operation; it shall purchase necessary
equipment, and/or construct public buildings for uses incidental to
the maintenance and operation of a department devoted to providing
emergency services to its community.
The Township Board shall establish rules and regulations for
the operations of the Department and the care of the equipment through
adoption of general policies, and the Chief shall prepare and enforce
specific procedures consistent with such policies.
Compensation to service members shall be in such amounts as
may be determined from time to time by the Township Board. The Department
shall keep accurate records that indicate the amount of compensable
time served by all personnel. The time records shall be submitted
quarterly to the Township Board for payment, and all such time slips,
shall be reviewed and approved by the Department before submission.
Only Township-owned vehicles and equipment may be kept at the
Community Services Building. Department equipment shall not be borrowed
for private use. Alcoholic beverages shall not be brought into the
Community Services Building or used as shall be proscribed by Department
rule or regulation. Controlled substances may not be brought onto
Township property except as shall be medically prescribed.
The Chief, with the assistance of the Township Attorney, shall
write rules and regulations applicable to the Department and its membership.
Once written, these rules and regulations shall be presented to the
Township Board for approval. Until approved, the constitution and
bylaws of the former Fire Department and Quick Response Team, together
with the Fire Department's Recommended Operations Guidelines (ROGs)
and the Quick Response Team's Operational Guidelines (OGs), shall
be deemed the rules and regulations of the Department to the extent
that they do not conflict with the provisions of this chapter. In
the event of conflict, this chapter shall control. Should any rule
or regulation conflict with any other rule or regulation, the standard
designed to give the most protection to the membership, as determined
by the Chief, shall be deemed controlling; provided, however, in the
event of a dispute, the Township Board shall be the last judge of
the meaning, effect and applicability of any Department rule or regulation.
Should any court of competent jurisdiction declare any portion
of this chapter unenforceable, the remainder of this chapter shall
remain in full force and effect unaffected by the portion that might
be so declared to be unenforceable.
This chapter shall take effect after notice of adoption through
publication as required by law. All ordinances in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed.