[Ord. No. 2011-13 § 1]
It is hereby created in the Township of Union a Department of Roads and Facilities (the "Department" or "DRF"). The head of the Department shall be the Union Township Committee, operating and supervising through a designated member of the Township Committee who shall be known as the DRF Liaison. The Department shall serve the following functions:
a. 
Streets and Roads. The Department shall manage and supervise the maintenance, improvement and operation of all municipal streets and roads with the assistance of the Township Engineer and his office. Specifically, the responsibilities of the DRF shall include, but not be limited to:
1. 
Maintain and repair all Township roads, streets, culverts and drains.
2. 
Control vegetation within the rights of way of Township streets and roads, including mowing, weed and brush control, and tree trimming.
3. 
Maintain and repair storm facilities under Township jurisdiction.
4. 
Maintain and repair such drainage and conservation easements as are required by law to be maintained by the Township.
5. 
Keep the Township's streets and roads in clean, safe and usable condition, free from obstructions and hazards, and remove snow and ice there from as required.
6. 
Undertake road repair projects when so instructed by the Township Committee.
7. 
Insure that utilities having rights-of-way within the Township, and contractors operating within the Township, maintain safely the use of public thoroughfares and historic thoroughfares to their original condition upon the completion of work.
8. 
Install, repair and maintain street traffic signs, lines and markers and paint control signals.
9. 
Operate a garage for the storage, servicing, repair and maintenance of Township owned vehicles, and supervise such maintenance and repairs as may be done thereto by outside vendors.
10. 
Control the maintenance of Township vehicles through vehicle operating records, cost studies and replacement schedules.
b. 
Buildings and Grounds. The DRF shall:
1. 
Maintain all public buildings owned by the Township.
2. 
Provide and/or supervise such custodial services for all municipal buildings as may be directed by the Township Committee Liaison.
3. 
Maintain records of public buildings maintenance and repair activities.
c. 
Parks Facilities. The DRF shall, in coordination with the Township Committee operating as the Parks Committee, maintain all Township parks and recreation areas, and maintain records of maintenance, repairs and improvements to the parks facilities.
d. 
DRF Foreman; Duties and Responsibilities. The DRF Foreman shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department, subject to oversight of the Township Committee and the DRF Liaison. In addition, he shall be responsible for:
1. 
Establishing all regular and emergency work assignments to DRF staff, and issuing schedules therefor.
2. 
Establishing rules and regulations for the proper maintenance and repair of all vehicles, equipment and tools used by the Department staff.
3. 
Maintaining records of repairs to, and periodic maintenance of, all vehicles, tools and equipment of the DRF.
4. 
Preparing and transmitting to the Township Clerk periodic reports on the activities of the DRF, as directed by the Township Committee.
[1]
Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history: Ordinance Nos. 4-9-72, 2000-12.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
The Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company, heretofore organized as a non-profit organization, is hereby authorized, established and continued as the official Fire Department for the Township of Union, along with such additional companies of said Fire Department as the Township Committee may hereafter authorize and approve (hereinafter "Fire Company"). The Fire Company must comply with all the requirements of this chapter and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder to remain the designated Fire Company of the Township of Union.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
Regular Officers and Members. Officers and members of the Fire Company shall be 18 years of age or more and shall be chosen and admitted to membership in accordance with the bylaws of the Fire Company, subject to approval and confirmation by the Township Committee.
b. 
Junior Members. Junior members shall be no less than 16 years of age nor more than 18 years of age and shall be chosen and admitted as junior members in accordance with the bylaws of the Fire Company, subject to approval by the Township Committee. Junior members shall only do those activities allowed by law for persons of their age and shall be supervised at all times by active members of the Fire Company.
c. 
Application Procedure. Every person seeking to join the Fire Company shall make application to the Fire Company in accordance with this section and the bylaws of the Fire Company. Upon approval of his/her membership in the Fire Company, and appointment by the Union Township Committee, said person shall become a member in good standing of the Fire Company, and his/her name shall be entered on the Role of Active Firefighters kept by the Township Personnel Administrator.
d. 
Physical Examination. As part of the application process, and prior to appointment every applicant for active or reserve membership in the Fire Company must pass a physical examination by a practicing physician in the State of New Jersey, certifying that the applicant is fit for firefighting duties. A copy of all certifications shall be on file with the Fire Company and available on request by the authorized Township official.
e. 
Firefighter Certifications. Every active and reserve member of the Fire Company shall, at minimum, be certified as a Firefighter-1 in the State of New Jersey. Every line officer must obtain an Incident Management Level 1 certification prior to assuming any line officer position. A copy of all certifications shall be on file with the Fire Company and available on request by the authorized Township official.
f. 
NIMS Requirements. All members shall stay current with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements.
g. 
Mandatory Requirements. Any member failing to meet any of the above requirements or any requirement mandated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety shall be cause for immediate removal of the member from the Fire Company, and discipline, up to termination, of the Chief of the Fire Company.
h. 
Line Officers. Appointment of line officers shall be subject to approval and confirmation by the Township Committee, with the exception of the appointment or election of the Chief of the Fire Company, which shall remain the prerogative of the membership of the Fire Company as set forth in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-68(a).
i. 
Qualifications of Members and Officers. All active and reserve members of the Fire Company shall undergo medical and fitness evaluations in accordance with recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Copies of all medical and fitness evaluation results, mandatory training documents and certifications for all active Fire Company officers and members shall be on file with the Fire Company and available on request by the authorized Township official.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
Every active member of the Fire Company shall, in each and every year, perform at least 50% of duty to be composed of actual attendance and duty at fires and drills, in accordance with requirements of the New Jersey State Fireman's Association. A record shall be kept of such attendance and duty by the Chief of the Fire Company and reported to the Mayor and Township Committee annually.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
If at any time, the Fire Company becomes noncompliant with any subsection of this section, the Township Committee may remove the Fire Company from service as the Fire Department of the Township of Union.
b. 
The Township Committee may choose one of its members to act as a liaison to the Fire Company, in conjunction with other appropriate Township officials such as the Public Safety Coordinator and the Personnel Administrator.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
Exempt Fireman Certificates may be issued to members of the Fire Company in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-56, its amendments thereto and supplements thereof.
b. 
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-57, the official in charge of the Fire Company shall annually file with the Municipal Clerk a verified list of all of the members not having exempt Fireman Certificates which list shall contain their names and residences and information relevant subsequently to their qualifications for such certificates.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
A copy of all certifications of every firefighter in the Fire Company shall be on file with the Fire Company and available on request by the authorized Township official. Any record of any firefighter's failure to obtain his/her proper certifications shall be on file with the Fire Company and available on request by the authorized Township official.
b. 
Any and all records of equipment obtained and the testing thereof shall be submitted to the Township of Union. Any record of failing equipment shall be immediately reported, in writing, to Public Safety Coordinator and Township Committee Liaison.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
In addition to all of the requirements of this section, the Chief shall be in full command and complete control at all fires and during the period of all alarms and shall be held accountable for his/her action to the Township Committee. The Chief shall make written reports to the Township Committee every month. The Chief shall be present at any Township Committee meetings by written request of the Mayor or Fire Company liaison.
b. 
The Chief shall be responsible for obtaining the proper certification of every member of the Fire Company. Failure to do so may result in removal of the Chief.
c. 
The Chief shall be responsible for all fire-related equipment. The Chief shall ensure that all equipment is properly licensed and operational. The Chief shall be responsible for obtaining the proper certification for every piece of equipment.
d. 
By January 15 of each year, the Chief shall prepare and submit to the Township Committee an annual budget for the Fire Company, listing all anticipated expenditures and estimating prices thereof. The budget shall include an accounting of the previous year. No expenditure to be borne by the Township shall be submitted without prior approval by the Township Committee and Chief Financial Officer in accordance with law. Any expenditure request shall be submitted in writing.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
The Township may provide worker's compensation insurance coverage for all approved members of the Union Township Fire Department.
b. 
The Township may provide insurance for all or certain of the Fire Company's vehicles, apparatus and equipment, covering liability and property damage.
c. 
The Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company shall be responsible to provide all insurance coverage not provided by the Township. If recommended by the Township's Insurance Risk Manager, the Township of Union shall be listed as an additional insured on all Fire Company insurance policies, and as loss payee on any Township owned vehicles and equipment, and the Fire Company shall supply the Township with insurance certificates evidencing same. The Fire Company shall also supply the Township with copies of all insurance policies covering the Fire Company, its equipment and its members.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
a. 
The use of Fire Company vehicles, apparatus, or equipment for private use, profit, benefit or advantage is prohibited, except in case of fire or other emergency which shall be immediately reported to Hunterdon County 911. Violation of this section shall be cause for discipline as provided in this section.
b. 
Only certified active, reserve or junior firefighters shall be permitted to ride on or in fire apparatus, engines or vehicles. All other members of the Fire Company, such as EMTs, paramedics and first responders should respond in the designated first response vehicle, unless otherwise ordered by the Fire Chief or officer in charge. Violation of this section shall be cause for discipline as provided in this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2016-7]
The Union Township Public Safety Coordinator, or if unavailable, the Township Committee Liaison to the Fire Company shall be notified by the Chief, or in his absence his designee, of any emergencies, incidents, alarms, mutual aid, stand-bys or any non-emergency responses, violations, apparatus leaving Union Township or any other circumstances affecting the operation of the Fire Company or the public health, safety or welfare.
[Ord. No. 2000-12 §§ 1 — 6]
a. 
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997, to reward members of the Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company for their loyal, diligent and devoted services to the residents of Union Township.
b. 
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth below; and such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Township of Union pursuant to P.L. 1977, c. 388; and that such plan shall be administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and this ordinance.
c. 
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions to each eligible member that meets the criteria as follows:
Number of points required:
50
Years of service required:
1
Award amounts:
$600 per participant
d. 
The LOSAP shall not provide for contributions for prior years services.
e. 
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated as follows:
1. 
For regular annual services: $19,200 per year.
f. 
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided to the Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company in accordance with the following schedule:
Point Schedule
I.
Training Courses — 25 point maximum
a.
Courses under 20 hours duration — 1 point per hour, with a maximum of 5 points
b.
Courses of 20 to 45 hours duration — 1 point per hour for each hour over initial 20 hours, with a maximum of 10 points
c.
Courses over 45 hours duration — 15 points per course
II.
Drills — 20 point maximum
a.
1 point per drill, minimum 2 hour drill
III.
Sleep-In or Stand-By — 20 point maximum
a.
Sleep-in: 1 point each full night
b.
Stand-by: 1 point each — a stand-by is defined as line of duty activity of the volunteer fire company, lasting for 4 hours, not falling under 1 of the other categories
IV.
Elected or Appointed Positions — 25 point maximum
Elected or appointed position means line officers, department or company officers and president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of a fire company or department
a.
Completion of 1 year term in an elected or appointed position
b.
An active volunteer firefighter elected to serve as a delegate to a firefighters' convention shall also be eligible to receive 1 point per meeting
V.
Attendance at Meetings — 20 point maximum
a.
Attendance at any official meetings of the volunteer fire company — 1 point per meeting
VI.
Participation in Department Responses — 25 points for responding on the minimum number of calls as outlined below:
Fire Calls
a.
Total number of alarms volunteer fire company responds to annually
0-200
201-350
351-500
b.
Minimum number of calls volunteer firefighters must respond to annually in order to receive 25 points credit
20%
15%
10%
VII.
Miscellaneous Activities — 15 points maximum
a.
Participation in inspections and other activities not otherwise listed — 1 point per activity