[1972 Code § 20-1]
There is hereby established a Fire Department of the Borough
of Watchung to undertake the fire protection services in the Borough
of Watchung.
[1972 Code § 20-2]
The Watchung Chemical Engine Company, Inc., a duly organized
volunteer fire company, is hereby designated to undertake the fire
protection services in the Borough of Watchung, subject to the provisions
of this chapter and such other amendments hereof.
[1972 Code § 20-3]
The members of the Fire Department shall be and they are hereby
authorized to exercise police powers for the discharge of their duties,
for the preservation of the peace and property at all fires and in
the general discharge of their duties.
[1972 Code § 20-4]
No person shall hereafter become an active member of the Fire
Department of the Borough of Watchung, or of the Watchung Chemical
Engine Company, Inc., unless above the age of 18 years and not over
the age established by statute. Such person shall be physically fit
to perform the duties of a firefighter evidenced by a certificate
to that effect by a practicing physician of the State of New Jersey,
after a physical examination for that purpose.
[1972 Code § 20-5]
The Watchung Chemical Engine Company, Inc., may, however, by
its bylaws, create classes of honorary, associate, nonactive, social,
junior or other class of membership, and define the duties and privileges
and rights of said various classes of membership.
[1972 Code § 20-6]
A record shall be kept by the Chief of the Fire Department of
each member's actual attendance and duty at fires and drills,
and such record shall be reported annually to the Mayor and Council.
[1972 Code § 20-7]
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall make
application to the Watchung Chemical Engine Co., Inc. and, upon his
election to membership in accordance with the bylaws of the company,
shall become a member in good standing of the Fire Department, after
confirmation by the Mayor and Council. His name shall be entered on
a roll of firefighters to be maintained by the Municipal Clerk. He
shall be given a badge of membership in his unit by the Borough Council,
which badge shall be worn at all times when on duty and which shall
be delivered up to the Chief at any time upon demand by the Chief,
or whenever said person shall be under charges involving moral turpitude
or neglect of duty, or for any cause shall cease to be an active fireman.
[1972 Code § 20-8]
Exemption certificates shall be issued to members of the Fire
Department who shall have served seven years of active duty under
the control of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Watchung, as
required by law of April 29, 1935, and as amended May 26, 1936.
[1972 Code § 20-9]
The Fire Department shall be subject to such rules and regulations
as the Mayor and Council may from time to time make and adopt.
[1972 Code § 20-10]
The Chief and Assistant Chief of said Watchung Chemical Company,
Inc., duly elected, shall be subject to confirmation by the Mayor
and Council of the Borough of Watchung at the first regular Council
meeting in January, and shall hold their offices for the term of one
year and until their successors are appointed, and shall be subject
to removal by the Mayor and Council for just cause upon the affirmative
vote of four members of the Governing Body. Nothing contained in the
constitution and bylaws of the said Watchung Chemical Engine Company,
Inc., shall conflict with the foregoing provisions.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
When provided for in the annual budget of the Borough of Watchung,
the members of the Fire Department of the Borough of Watchung, or
of the Watchung Chemical Engine Company, Inc., may receive a stipend
based upon the criteria established by this section.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
The stipend will be awarded for service performed during the
prior calendar year from January 1 through December 31.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
The criteria to award a stipend will be based upon a point system
including:
a.
Satisfactory completion and passing Firefighter 1 and the Borough
probationary test administered by the Watchung Fire Department;
b.
Attend a minimum of 10 Watchung Fire Department drills annually;
c.
Attend a minimum of four Watchung Chemical Engine Company, Inc.,
meetings annually;
d.
Attend a minimum of at least 25% of actual fire service calls responded
to, with additional credit provided for all other calls responded
to over the minimum of 25% based upon the time of the day the call
is answered.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
When provided for in the budget of the Borough, there shall
be established a funding cap annually.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
All fire call sheets, including drill and meeting attendance
records will be provided to the Borough designated representative
by the Fire Department officer in charge on a weekly basis.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
The members of the Fire Department and the Watchung Chemical
Engine Company, Inc., may annually review the criteria to award a
stipend and may recommend modifications to the Mayor and Council for
consideration.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
On or before January 15 of each year, the Fire Chief shall submit
the stipend recommendation to the Borough for the prior year, which
shall include a certification that the calculation of the stipend
is accurate and follows the criteria established for the stipend program.
[Ord. No. 2016-17]
After the Fire Chief makes the recommendation to the Borough,
the Mayor and Council may consider that recommendation and consider
a resolution to award stipends as soon as reasonably possible.
