[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Bellefonte 4-6-2009 by Ord. No. 040609-02; amended in its entirety 8-19-2019. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
A.
All fire companies now in existence and recognized in Bellefonte
Borough as belonging to and being a part of the Bellefonte Fire Department
of Bellefonte Borough, and any which may hereafter be organized or
chartered and recognized by Bellefonte Borough, shall together form
the Bellefonte Fire Department of Bellefonte Borough.
B.
Each of the companies now recognized as forming a part of the Bellefonte
Fire Department of Bellefonte Borough shall be issued a certificate
of recognition by Bellefonte Borough Council, signed by the Bellefonte
Borough Council President and attested by the Bellefonte Borough Secretary,
on which the corporate or common seal of Bellefonte Borough is affixed.
A similar certificate may be granted by Bellefonte Borough Council
to any new company which may be formed and thus recognized by Bellefonte
Borough Council as forming a part of the Bellefonte Fire Department
and which shall be required to comply with the same conditions applicable
to the present companies.
A.
The purpose of this Committee shall include, but not be limited to,
the following:
(1)
Review and recommend changes in the Bellefonte Borough codes pertaining
to the Bellefonte Fire Department, the Bureau of Fire Prevention and
Fire Codes.
(2)
Establish and enforce Bellefonte Fire Department standard operating
procedures and/or guidelines.
(3)
Keep Bellefonte Borough Council informed relative to the Bellefonte
Fire Department; oversee operation of Bellefonte Fire Department and
provide assistance to the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief as needed.
(4)
Establish ten-year strategic plan for the Bellefonte Fire Department.
(5)
Review and approve all expenditures for major purchases as defined
as those that require advertised bids under the Pennsylvania Borough
Code.
(6)
Review and recommend the annual budget for the Bellefonte Fire Department.
(7)
Ensure that the Bellefonte Fire Department is functioning in an efficient
and fiscally responsible fashion.
B.
Meetings of this Committee will be conducted at least once every
other month, or more often if needed, to take care of business, and
will be held in the Bellefonte Borough Building whenever possible.
C.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Executive Committee is comprised of
the following members:
(1)
Benner Township Supervisor, Spring Township Supervisor, Marion Township
Supervisor or, in each respective instance, his/her designee, Bellefonte
Councilperson Safety Chairman, Chair of the BFDEC.
(2)
Bellefonte Fire Department Chief (only votes in the event of a tie).
(3)
Undine Company Chief.
(4)
Logan Company Chief.
(5)
Undine Company Deputy Chief and two at-large members of the fire
company.
(6)
Logan Company Deputy Chief and two at-large members of the fire company.
D.
Meetings can be called by the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief, Borough
Manager, Bellefonte Borough Safety Chair, or at the request of four
or more members of the Board.
(1)
A quorum consists of a minimum of seven voting members excluding
the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief. Decisions are made by a simple
majority vote.
(2)
The members at-large of the fire companies (5 and 6) shall be appointed
based on criteria established
(3)
Effective January 2013, the following criteria shall be used by each
fire company for selecting their respective members at-large to sit
as active members for the BFDEC:
(a)
Must have been an active member of either company for a minimum
of four consecutive years. An active member includes firefighter,
fire officer, or administrative officer;
(b)
Must have been a firefighter technician level as defined by
the Bellefonte Fire Department SOGs during their time;
(c)
One at-large member from each company may be appointed solely
based on outside qualifications without the need to meet the minimum
firefighter requirements.
(d)
The Committee member must maintain membership status within
his/her respective organization;
(e)
The Committee member cannot miss more than 25% of meetings,
which includes special meetings;
(f)
The Committee member can hold successive terms if he/she meets
the above criteria;
(g)
Each appointed member will declare at the November meeting if
he/she is interested in serving the following year.
A.
The Bellefonte Fire Department shall at all times be under the direction,
control and supervision of an officer who shall be titled the Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief. The Company Chief of each of the recognized
fire companies, now or hereafter recognized as part of the Bellefonte
Fire Department, shall be Deputies to the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief. The companies and their subordinate officers shall at all times
be subject to the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief's order and
direction. All changes or repairs to any fire apparatus or equipment
shall be authorized by the order of the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief, who shall also authorize the purchase of all supplies by signing
all vouchers for said purchases.
B.
Company Chiefs from both companies shall submit to the Bellefonte
Fire Department Executive Committee a list of fire officers (Deputy
Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Captains).
A.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Executive Committee (BFDEC) shall
recommend for appointment to Bellefonte Borough Council the Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief to a three-year term, commencing July 1. The
initial term shall be commenced in the year 2012. Prior to the expiration
of The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief's term on June 30 of
a third year of the term, the BFDEC shall announce the vacancy by
posting an announcement along with the job description during the
month of April. At the May meeting, the BFDEC shall review the list
of applicants' qualifications and make a determination and forward
a recommendation to the Bellefonte Borough Council for appointment
of a Bellefonte Fire Department Chief for a three-year term. Bellefonte
Borough Council shall vote on the recommendation at one of their two
June meetings. With Bellefonte Borough Council's approval, the
appointment shall become effective July 1. An incumbent Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief is eligible to reapply at the end of a three-year
term for up to no more than one additional term for a total of six
consecutive years. Should a Bellefonte Fire Department Chief be selected
for two consecutive terms or six years, the individual is not eligible
for any further appointment without a minimum three-year hiatus as
Bellefonte Fire Department Chief. The exception to this qualification
is if there are no qualified applicants to fill the vacancy.
B.
The qualifications for the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall
be as follows:
(1)
Must be an active member of the Bellefonte Fire Department for a
minimum of six years;
(2)
Must have been a chief officer for at least three years, with one
of those years as the ranking Company Chief of one of the Bellefonte
fire companies;
(3)
Must be certified as either ProBoard or IFSAC Firefighter-1, and
complete certification as either ProBoard or IFSAC Firefighter-2 by
the completion of the individual's first term.
(4)
Must have successfully completed ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, ICS 800,
and ICS 300;
(5)
Must have successfully completed a course on Incident Safety Officer
training.
(6)
Must be certified as either ProBoard or IFSAC to the level of Haz-Mat
Operations; or must have obtained the current operational level standard
and/or certification at the operational hazardous materials level.
(7)
Must be a legal resident within a radius extending 6.75 miles from
the center of Bellefonte Borough. (Radius will be from the Court House
to the maximum distance of primary coverage area based on Centre County
GIS.)
C.
All eligible candidates wishing to be considered for the position
of Bellefonte Fire Department Chief will be required to submit a cover
letter, resume, and supporting documentation outlining their qualifications
during the posting timeline, which will be the month of April on the
year ending a three-year term.
D.
All application packets will be reviewed by the selection committee,
which is comprised of three members of the BFDEC (two members to be
appointed by the Company Chiefs and the third member to be appointed
by a municipal representative).
E.
In the event that no one meets the qualifications for Bellefonte
Fire Department Chief, the BFDEC has the authority to reopen and/or
extend the submission period with revised criteria.
F.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief may appoint a support staff
as necessary.
A.
In the event of the vacancy of the office of Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief for any reason, the BFDEC must convene a special meeting within
seven working days. Such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired
term by a recommendation of the BFDEC This recommendation shall be
forwarded to Bellefonte Borough Council within two weeks for approval.
The BFDEC has seven days to name an interim Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief and three months to select a new Department Chief.
B.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief position description is on file
at the Municipal Building and shall be included in any vacancy announcement
package.
Whenever a complaint is made against the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief, the complaint shall be made in writing with required signature.
The complaint shall be addressed to the BFDEC The BFDEC will take
the necessary measures to investigate the complaint, appointing municipal
members to investigate. Recusal is mandatory where a conflict of interest
exists by virtue of the Investigative Committee member's professional,
financial or personal relationship with the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief. The Bellefonte Borough Council, upon receiving a signed complaint
and recommendation of the BFDEC, may place the Bellefonte Fire Department
Chief on administrative suspension pending investigation. If investigation
is sustained and appropriate to do so, the BFDEC shall recommend dismissal
of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief from office to the Bellefonte
Borough Council for a decision. If a dismissal occurs pursuant to
this section, the BFDEC will recommend an interim Bellefonte Fire
Department Chief to Bellefonte Borough Council for approval of recommendation
to fill the unexpired term.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and Deputies, when appointed
to such offices, shall be sworn into office by the Mayor to perform
their respective duties with fidelity and to the best of their ability.
A.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall be responsible for the
direction of all firefighters and all fire apparatus and equipment
at the time of incidents. The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief may
delegate responsibility to either Fire Company Chief or their authorized
fire ground officers.
B.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief may suspend any member for such
period as he may deem proper, and not to exceed 90 days, subject to
an appeal by such member to the BFDEC, which shall thereupon investigate
the circumstances of such suspension and recommend concurrence of
the action of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief or reinstatement
of the member so suspended. Persons sitting on the BFDEC who supervise
or work under the accused party, or who initiated a complaint against
the suspended member, shall recuse themselves from participating in
such investigation. Recusal is also mandatory where a conflict of
interest exists by virtue of the Committee member's professional,
financial or personal relationship with the accused party.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief, or his/her delegate, is
hereby authorized, with the aid of the Police Department and the Fire
Police, hereinafter provided for, to prevent every person from in
any manner interfering with the functions of the Bellefonte Fire Department
while on duty at an emergency scene.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief to verify
through Company Chief certification that fire apparatus has been inspected
based on the recommendation of the manufacturer and state mandates.
It shall be the duty of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief to verify
through Company Chief certification that fire equipment has been inspected
based on the recommendation of the manufacturer of said fire equipment.
Records of such tests shall be maintained by each respective company
Chief for a minimum of five years.
B.
At the first Bellefonte Borough Council meeting in November each
year, the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall appear before Council
and present a report detailing the state of the Bellefonte Fire Department,
the number and type of response incidents, the condition of apparatus
and key equipment, personnel status, and proposed major purchases
for the upcoming year.
A.
By February 15 of each year, the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief
shall submit to the Bellefonte Borough Police Department, for a background
check, the names and operator's license numbers of members requesting
to be qualified drivers and operators of fire apparatus. After the
background check has been completed, a copy of the list shall be given
to the Bellefonte Borough Manager for addition of those approved names
to the insurance records. Each Company Chief shall be responsible
for the training and testing of the operators of such companies.
B.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall submit a list of members
of such companies who are qualified to act as drivers and operators
of fire apparatus to Bellefonte Borough Council, Bellefonte Police
Department, Spring Township Police Department and State Police entities
within the Bellefonte Fire Department's jurisdiction.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and the Company Chiefs
of the Bellefonte Fire Companies, with the assistance of the BFDEC,
shall make such rules and regulations as they deem proper and necessary
to regulate the work of the recognized fire companies in the Department
during training, upon arriving at incidents, while remaining at incidents
and while returning from incidents and in caring for and preserving
all property, apparatus and equipment of the Bellefonte Fire Department.
A.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief shall annually appoint the Fire
Police Captain and those members who are eligible to be and wish to
be members of the Fire Department Fire Police. It shall be the primary
duty of those fire police officers to aid in traffic and crowd control
and to secure property as needed and to assist the Bellefonte Fire
Department Chief during emergencies as needed and any other duties
assigned by the Bellefonte Department Chief or the incident commander.
B.
Each fire police officer shall at all times be subject to and under
the order and direction of each respective Company Chief.
Each and every member of the Fire Police shall be sworn before
the Bellefonte Mayor.
At no time and under no circumstances shall any truck, fire
apparatus or other equipment belonging to the Bellefonte Fire Department
be removed from the Bellefonte Fire Department primary coverage area
without the consent of the Bellefonte Fire Department Chief, unless
the same is required to assist at a fire in a neighboring municipality,
in which event the following regulations shall apply:
A.
The Bellefonte Fire Department Chief and the company Chiefs are jointly
responsible for the instruction of all officers of the Bellefonte
Fire Department in such a manner that the exercise of good judgment
with respect to the authority granted in the preceding subsections
will be assured so that trucks, fire apparatus and other equipment
not necessary to fulfill the fire protection responsibility at any
given fire will be available in reserve to meet other emergencies.
A member of Bellefonte Borough Council shall not be eligible
for the election to the office of Bellefonte Fire Department Chief
of the Bellefonte Fire Department during the term of office for which
he/she has been elected. No member of Bellefonte Borough Council who
belongs to a Bellefonte Fire Company in the primary response area
shall be appointed to the Bellefonte Fire Executive Committee and
shall abstain from casting a vote at a Bellefonte Borough Council
Meeting related to a motion affecting the Bellefonte Fire Department.
