[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Lawnside 8-4-1993 by Ord. No. 11-FY993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company I Inc., as the borough's official volunteer fire company in order to facilitate its entry into the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
It is hereby determined and declared that the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company I Inc., duly incorporated volunteer fire company of the State of New Jersey, is the official volunteer fire company of the Borough of Lawnside.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company I Inc., or any unit thereof, unless at the time of appointment, such person is above the age of 18 years, a resident of New Jersey, and a citizen of the United States of good moral character. He or she shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a fire person as evidence by a certificate to that effect by a practicing physician of the State of New Jersey. This certificate shall be provided at the member's own expense.
Every member of the fire company shall, in each and every year, perform at least 60% of fire duty, as defined by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-55 and 56. These statutory sections define.
FIRE DUTY
Active participation in the usual duties of a fireman under the direction and supervision of the official in charge of the fire department and force.
60% OF DUTY
Actual recorded attendance and rendering of fire service at not less than 60% of regular alarms of fire answerable by the members during any calendar year; the total number of alarms used in computing said percentage may include no more than 20 fire drills called at the direction of the official in charge of the fire department or force.
A record shall be kept of such attendance and duty by the Chief and Membership Committee of the fire company and reported to the Borough Council annually.
Each person seeking to join the Lawnside Borough Volunteer Fire Company I, Inc., after approval of his or her membership by the Chief of the fire company and confirmation by the Borough Council, subject to a criminal background check, his or her name shall be entered on a roll of firemen kept by the Borough Clerk.
Upon adoption of this chapter, the Borough Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this chapter to the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon publication following final passage, according to law.
[Adopted 11-3-2004 by Ord. No. 06-FY2005]
The name of the organization shall be the Junior Firefighters Auxiliary of the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company, Lawnside, New Jersey.
To understand the purpose of the Junior Firefighters Auxiliary program, it is first necessary to understand the objective of the fire service in our community. The primary objective of the fire service is the protection of life and property from the dangers of fire. On the fire ground, this is accomplished by a coordinated effort of the Fire Department hazardous process.
A secondary objective is the development and maintenance of an effective fire prevention program within the community. These programs should include, but not limited to, school safety, home and commercial fire inspections and public relation functions, such as programs for civic and social organization. Therefore, the development of a Junior Firefighters Auxiliary program is designed to introduce 16, 17 and 18 year old individuals to the techniques, equipment and programs of the fire service. By carefully controlling the experiences of those in the junior program, it is possible to train these junior firefighters for potential senior firefighters' positions in a safe and supervised environment. In addition it is hoped that the program will teach the principles of leadership and community responsibility.
NOTE — All activities of the Junior Firefighters Auxiliary will be under the direction and supervision of a Chief Officer, a line officer and/or a senior firefighter coordinator. All duties and assignments are to take place in a safe area or place. Regulations are based on adherence to the New Jersey State Codes governing Junior Firefighter programs, Workman's Compensation Rules and the application of the Child Labor Law as interpreted from the Department of Labor and Industry - Labor and Industry Relations and Workplace standards (8-8-1975). Workman's Compensation Rules #34:15-10 and Assembly Bill #a94, now Chapter 61, Laws of 1968, adopted January 13, 1968.
A. 
Members of the Junior Auxiliary shall be permitted to respond in the fire apparatus, as long as the junior member is not taking the place of a senior firefighter. Members of the Junior Auxiliary will not respond on the first out apparatus unless extreme manpower needs dictate this necessity; and then only when ordered by the officer in command of that vehicle.
Upon arrival on the fire ground; members of the auxiliary shall report to the driver/pump operator of the assigned apparatus on the scene. Members are to remain with the apparatus assigned and receive all assignments from the designated officer in charge of the apparatus. After completion of assignments, members are to return to the apparatus and report to the designated officer or driver/pump operator.
B. 
Members of the Auxiliary are expected to meet together regularly to provide for fund raising activities, plan and execute projects and receive additional basic firefighting training.
C. 
At the end of each school marking period, a copy of all grades shall be submitted to the Junior Firefighter Committee Chairman. If, in the opinion of the supervising committee, a member's grades have substantially fallen, contact shall be made with the appropriate school counselor and one or more of the following actions shall be taken:
(1) 
No action;
(2) 
Interview with the junior member;
(3) 
Contact the parent(s) or guardian(s);
(4) 
Suspension from the program for up to one marking period;
(5) 
Dismissal from the program.
D. 
Junior members will not have access to the fire hall (no combination to the doors). There must be a senior member present when a junior member is in the hall.
E. 
Members of the Junior Auxiliary shall be permitted to:
(1) 
Deliver equipment to on-duty firefighters outside of the fire building.
(2) 
Handle and set up equipment (with the exception of hoisting apparatus).
(3) 
Carry, raise and climb ladders in safe areas of the fire ground and/or during planned and supervised training exercises.
(4) 
Hook up suction hose.
(5) 
Roll or otherwise handle unpressurized hose.
(6) 
Handle a booster line at a brush fire.
(7) 
Aid in ground rescue and first aid.
(8) 
Help clean up and replace equipment for return to station.
F. 
A junior member shall be defined as one applying for membership in the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company between the ages of 16 and 18.
G. 
The name and purpose of the organization, the general procedures and limitations, as well as the specific rules and regulations, as they apply to the junior membership, shall be listed in the Junior Member Handbook that shall be part of the Standing Rules and Regulations of the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company.
H. 
Junior membership shall be limited to no more than 12 at any time.
I. 
The Chief of the Lawnside Volunteer Fire Company shall appoint a committee to oversee the activities of the Junior Firefighter's Auxiliary, which, in turn, shall report on a regular basis to the Chief Officers.
J. 
Junior members may be accepted for Active Junior Membership after Subsection C of this section has been met. For the junior member to meet the Company requirements, he or she will assist in a manner decided by the Junior Firefighters Auxiliary Committee.
(1) 
Junior member shall have a voice on the floor. However, shall not be eligible to vote.
(2) 
When the junior member turns 18 years of age and holds an Active Junior Membership, he or she will not have to meet Subsection C of this section.
(3) 
All applications must be completed when joining the regular membership at age 18.
(4) 
The junior member will be classified according to the percentages described in Subsection A of this section.
(5) 
Life membership active service time will begin upon obtaining Active Junior Membership status.
(6) 
A junior member may not hold an elective office.
Any and all junior firefighters will be included on the same borough insurance as provided to senior firefighters.