[Amended 12-28-1970; 11-3-1977 by Ord. No. 12-1977; 12-28-1989 by Ord.
No. 10-1989; 8-19-1991 by Ord. No. 14-1991; 10-7-1993 by Ord. No. 34-1993; 11-4-1993 by Ord. No. 36-1993; 3-21-1994 by Ord. No.
6-1994; 4-7-1994 by Ord. No. 4-1994; 2-3-2000 by Ord. No. 2-2000; 4-4-2002 by Ord. No. 6-2002]
There shall be established in the City of Gloucester City a
Fire Department. This Department shall, in accordance with this article
of the Administrative Code and in compliance with all pertinent statutes,
rules and regulations governing municipal Fire Departments, be responsible:
A.
To enact policies and procedures to prevent, extinguish, and control
fire and hazardous conditions.
B.
To enact and enforce policies and procedures to identify and rectify
circumstances that may be related to the ability to prevent, extinguish
and control fires and hazardous conditions.
C.
To enact policies and procedures to rescue, safeguard and educate
the public as to prevention, extinguishment and control of fire and
hazardous conditions.
D.
To enact policies and procedures to issue violations to correct circumstances
that hinder the Department in the prevention, extinguishment and control
of fire and hazardous conditions and to create billing procedures
for the collection of funds for the provision of services or violations.
The Gloucester City Fire Department shall consist of a minimum
of three stations and be geographically located as listed below:
A.
At least two stations shall be located on the west side of the City,
between the river and Broadway.
B.
At least one station shall be located on the east side of the City,
between the Broadway and the City line.
C.
Any other station as may be available shall be located where possible
and be subject to the conditions of this ordinance.
A.
There shall be a Chief of Fire appointed by the Common Council in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Department
of Personnel. The Chief shall be the ranking officer of the Department
and will also be in full charge of the Career and Volunteer Divisions
of the Department. The Chief shall make, administer, and enforce rules
and regulations for the control, discipline and disposition of the
Department and its officers and employees. He shall have exclusive
jurisdiction of the control, extinguishment, and prevention of fires.
He shall, within the appropriations of the annual budget, assign personnel,
maintain the headquarters and acquire and maintain equipment and apparatus.
B.
There shall be a Division of Career Fire and Emergency Medical Services,
staffed with sufficient personnel to safely operate under the terms
of this ordinance and departmental standard operating procedures.
All personnel shall be appointed by the Council in accordance with
the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel including
the provision that each fire fighter shall have and maintain a valid
emergency medical technician certification to be appointed and remain
a member of the Department. There shall be an amount of personnel
as authorized by this ordinance and limited annually only by the appropriations
of the final adopted budget of the City.
[Amended 6-5-2003 by Ord.
No. 14-2003]
(1)
There shall be four supervisory officers, if eligible and appointed
through the promotional procedures of the New Jersey Department of
Personnel. These shall be in the title of Battalion Chief. At those
times when there are no eligible employees to be permanently promoted
to Battalion Chief, an employee meeting the requirements and appointed
to the position of Fire Lieutenant shall serve in this position until
such time as a promotion to Battalion Chief shall be available. The
supervisory officer shall be the shift supervisor and have full responsibility
for all personnel, both career and volunteer, for the purpose of daily
operations of the Department. The supervisory officers shall be in
command behind the Chief of the Department as specified in the hierarchy
section of this ordinance.
(2)
There shall be a fire fighter appointed to a title as set by the
New Jersey Department of Personnel as the EMS Training Officer, who
shall be certified as required by the New Jersey Department Health.
This staff positions reports to the Chief of the Department on administrative
matters and to the Supervisory Officer for fire operations.
C.
There shall be a Volunteer Division staffed with a sufficient number
of officers and firefighters as determined by the Chief and Fire Committee
of Council to safely operate under the terms of this ordinance and
standard operating procedures. Members shall be assigned to stations
at the discretion of the Chief.
(1)
There shall be a Deputy Chief assigned to the entire Department subordinate
only to the Chief of the Department. Common Council, upon consultation
with the officers of all the battalions and the Chief of the Department,
shall appoint the Deputy Chief.
(2)
There shall be one Battalion Chief assigned to each station and shall
have full responsibility of the operations of their respective station
and the supervision of the Captains, Lieutenants and firefighters
under his/her command. Common Council, upon consultation with the
officers of the affected battalion and the Chief of the Department,
shall appoint Battalion Chiefs.
(3)
There shall be one Captain assigned to each station. Captains shall
meet the requirements set forth by this ordinance and Department policy.
Common Council, upon consultation with the officers of the affected
battalion and the Chief of the Department, shall appoint Captains.
(4)
There shall be one Lieutenant assigned to each station. Lieutenants
shall meet the requirements set forth by this ordinance and Department
policy. Common Council, upon consultation with the officers of the
affected battalion and the Chief of the Department, shall appoint
Lieutenants.
(5)
There shall be firefighters assigned as available among the ranks
of the Volunteer Division. The firefighters shall meet all the training
requirements as set forth in this ordinance and departmental policy.
D.
There shall be a Division of Emergency Management. The City's Emergency
Management Coordinator shall come from the ranks of the career employees.
Council shall make the appointment according to the terms of this
ordinance, the City Code and in consultation with the Chief of Fire
and pursuant to the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel.
The employee shall acquire and maintain all certifications and training
certificates as specified under the State of New Jersey regulations
in a timely manner. The EMC shall report to the Chief of Fire on all
fire duties and the Mayor and Council or New Jersey State Police through
the designated procedures.
(1)
The EMC shall coordinate investigations and emergency responses to
situations that have the potential to become environmental/health
hazards to the City and do related emergency prevention work.
(2)
The EMC shall do planning, organizing and develop varied emergency
management programs and procedures within the municipality and do
related work as required.
(3)
The EMC shall assist with directing and integrating the practice
exercises of the municipality with that of the county and state emergency
management organizations.
(4)
The EMC shall manage the environmental cleanup activities through
the City and represent the City on environmental issues.
(5)
The EMC shall manage the emergency operations center and coordinate
all agencies involved in the abatement of an incident, whether caused
by nature, chemicals or some other disaster.
(6)
The EMC shall maintain and update all annexes to the City emergency
management plan and be the liaison between the City and the county,
state, and federal FEMA representatives.
[Added 6-5-2003 by Ord.
No. 14-2003]
There shall be in the Department a Division of Fire Prevention.
This office shall be manned by a Fire Prevention Specialist UFD who
shall serve under the direction of the Chief of the Fire and perform
such duties as assigned including those outlined in this section and
as a fire fighter under the command established in this ordinance.
A.
Staffing:
(1)
The appointment to this position shall be made by the Common Council
under the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel.
(2)
The employee in this position shall maintain all requirements as
to remaining a career fire fighter in Gloucester City and the licensing
required to perform such life, safety and inspection duties under
the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
B.
Duties:
(1)
Under the direction of the Chief of the Department, perform all inspections
as required in the Uniform Fire Code of New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5) as
Life Hazard Uses and Non Life Hazard Uses.
(2)
Perform all inspections as encoded in the local fire prevention standards per Chapter 48 of the ordinances of the City of Gloucester City.
(3)
Establish and implement programs for the instruction and investigation
of business establishments in fire safety practice.
(4)
Report findings and violations to the Fire Official detailing infractions
and recommendations.
(5)
Coordinates and takes reports from fire fighters conducting neighborhood
inspections to issue violations and/or recommendations to situations
found during block inspections.
(6)
Maintains files of inspections and findings.
(7)
Coordinates and implements programs with schools, business organizations,
and civic organizations to promote fire awareness and safety, including
participation in scheduling and reviewing fire drills and demonstration
of proper utilization of equipment and procedures.
(8)
Coordinates with the Emergency Management Coordinator to establish
and conduct tests of emergency awareness programs.
(9)
Performs special duties at events where congregations of people may
dictate special arrangements.
(10)
Inspects fire hydrants or coordinates inspections with fire
fighters and utility division.
(11)
Performs as a fire fighter or Emergency Medical Technician where
needed in response to alarms.
(12)
Performs other various tasks as may be directed by the Fire
Chief in conformance with the description of this title.
The volunteer members of the Department that are in good standing
shall receive the following allotment:
|
Position
|
Annual Allotment
|
|---|---|
|
Deputy Chief
|
$550
|
|
Battalion Chief
|
$450
|
|
Captain
|
$400
|
|
Lieutenant
|
$350
|
|
Firefighters
|
$300
|
A.
The chain of command of the Gloucester City Fire Department shall
be as follows: upon the occurrence of an incident, the first arriving
officer shall establish command until a higher ranking officer arrives
on the scene. At this time, he shall be briefed on the incident and
will become the incident commander. The same procedure shall occur
upon the arrival of each higher ranking officer until the arrival
of the Chief of the Department.
B.
The following shall be the hierarchy for the Department during fire
suppression activities:
[Amended 6-5-2003 by Ord.
No. 14-2003]
Members of the Gloucester City Fire Department and all staff
positions established by this ordinance shall be subject to the orders
and administration of the Chief of the Department.
A.
The Chief of the Department shall have the power to take disciplinary
action after a review of the infractions or violation of this ordinance,
the City's Personnel Policy as provided in accordance with the standard
operating procedures and/or any departmental policies. The Career
Division employees shall be disciplined in accordance with the regulations
of the New Jersey Department of Personnel and any pertinent contractual
provisions. The Fire Committee of the Common Council shall have the
right to hear any appeal of action taken by the Chief.
All personnel of the Department shall function as a single unit
under one command while on the scene of a fire or incident; all personnel
shall be subject to the orders of any officer, whether Uniform Division
or Volunteer.
Any apparatus, equipment or gear in need of repair or maintenance
shall be reported to the on-duty ranking officer for action. The ranking
officer shall take action in accordance with departmental policies.
Certain responsibilities may be assigned by the Chief to maintain
an effective and efficient policy on the maintenance of departmental
property.
The Department and the City shall follow all state and federal
laws and guidelines concerning the retirement age of both career and
volunteer members.
Any member having completed 20 years of service to the Department,
and is in good standing, may be presented for life membership. This
shall include the recommendation of the Chief of the Department. The
Fire Committee and the Chief shall review all other cases. Once approved,
the Council may pass a resolution declaring the life member status
of the person presented.
A.
All firefighters and candidates for officer must have the following
minimum training. These requirements are a minimum standard only and
are not the final requirement for appointment. The Chief shall have
the authority to set additional requirements as needed and in accordance
with standard operating procedures and departmental policy.
B.
All levels of training shall be completed prior to the appointment
of said positions. All levels of training shall be in addition to
any lower level positional requirements.
C.
A departmental training officer may be appointed from the ranks of
the employees of the Department. The training officer shall coordinate
all training and be assisted by other department personnel.
D.
All EMS training shall be handled by the FF/EMT assigned by the Chief
to perform such duties as administrative aide listed above.
All career personnel and officers shall be appointed in accordance
with New Jersey Department of Personnel requirements for entry and
promotion.
The annual salaries provided by ordinance for the members of
the Department shall be in lieu of any and all fees, commissions,
emoluments of any kind paid to or received by any such member. All
members of the Department of Fire shall be required to account for
and pay any fees, commissions, or emoluments to the Treasurer of the
City.
All members of the Department of Fire shall be required to serve
on such shifts and for such hours and for such times as may be assigned
by the Chief of Fire.
