The Borough of Merchantville is the owner of all the firefighting
apparatus and equipment of the Merchantville Fire Department, as established
in the Borough of Merchantville by this chapter.
A person or persons may be employed who shall constitute the
paid Fire Department of the Borough of Merchantville; said person
or persons shall work in conjunction with the volunteer fire company
of the Borough of Merchantville, as directed by the Director of Fire
and shall be referred to as the Merchantville Fire Department.
A person having years of experience in fighting fires shall
be appointed to act as the Fire Administrator of the Merchantville
Fire Department. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council, shall appoint the Fire Administrator of the Merchantville
Fire Department. The Fire Administrator shall promote a high standard
of fire protection for the Borough of Merchantville while providing
supervision and guidance for the employees of the Merchantville Fire
Department and volunteers acting is such capacity. The Fire Administrator
shall hold his office for one (1) year, or until his successor is
appointed.
The Fire Administrator shall be responsible for and charged
with the duty of the supervision of the care and maintenance of the
apparatus and equipment used for firefighting and fire prevention
purposes and also with the supervision of the care and maintenance
of the building used for housing such apparatus and equipment. Before
any apparatus is removed from the Fire House, except in case of fire,
the permission of the Fire Administrator must be obtained. It shall
also be his duty to determine and fix the length of time that any
apparatus may be absent from the Fire House. He shall also be responsible
for and charged with the care and custody of the supplies used for
fire prevention purposes and of the oil and gas supplies which may,
from time to time, be placed in his charge for the general use of
motor vehicles used for public purposes by the Borough.
The Fire Administrator, when so ordered by the Director of Fire,
shall engage in drills in the operation of the fire equipment, and
attend fire schools and courses of study in Fire Department procedure.
The Fire Administrator shall supervise, document, implement and enforce
any required federal, state, county and local training, record keeping
or other programs now required or any which may be required for the
employees of the Merchantville Fire Department and volunteers acting
is such capacity.
The Fire Administrator shall issue semi-annual reports to the
Mayor and Council of the Borough of Merchantville which shall include
reports on program efficiency and compliance with federal, state,
county and local rules and regulations, as well as recommendations
for improvements in the operation of the Merchantville Fire Department
in conjunction with the volunteer company and companies serving the
Borough.
All applicants or appointees for or to positions in the Fire
Department shall qualify, hold and occupy said appointment and receive
such compensation for their services as directed by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Merchantville; provided, however, that nothing herein
contained shall in any way interfere or change the organization of
the volunteer fire companies in the Borough of Merchantville.
The paid Fire Department may consist of such a number of firefighters
as the Director of Fire shall designate.