[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Bordentown as Ch. 2.80 of the 2003 Municipal Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The paramount purpose of each volunteer fire company and of every member thereof shall be to provide the utmost protection possible to life and property within the Township during the occurrence of fire.
In order to best accomplish the purpose stated in § 81-1, the Mission Volunteer Fire Company shall be primarily responsible for responding to those alarms of fires occurring north of the center line of Ward Avenue, and the Derby Volunteer Fire Company shall be primarily responsible for responding to those alarms of fires occurring south of the center line of Ward Avenue; provided that each company shall cooperate with the other as needed to provide maximum protection against fire to the entire Township, as required for the public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of the Township.
Each volunteer fire company shall be directed by a Fire Chief, and shall have such additional officers as each company may determine. Each Fire Chief shall report to the Administrator on the operations of the company which the Fire Chief heads, and the Administrator shall make suggestions for the operation of and coordination between the respective companies, subject to their approval and implementation.
Each Fire Chief shall be selected by their respective volunteer fire company in such manner and for such term as the company shall determine; provided that such person shall have a minimum of three years' experience as an active firefighter, shall have served at least one full year in the fire company immediately prior to selection and shall have held the rank of Captain or Assistant Chief for a one-year period prior to selection as Fire Chief; and further provided that the selection of such person be approved by the Township Committee at its regular meeting next following selection. Should the Township Committee disapprove selection of any person as Fire Chief, the reasons therefor shall be stated in the minutes.
Each Fire Chief shall be the commanding officer of the Fire Chief's company and shall have full authority to deploy and direct its members and equipment at all fires and during the period of all alarms. At such times, the Fire Chief's authority shall extend to controlling all premises endangered by fire, directing firefighting and emergency activities thereon, routing traffic therefrom, and taking such other actions and precautions as in the Fire Chief's judgment are necessary to minimize risk to life and property, and may call upon the Department of Police for any assistance required. In those situations where both companies are on duty at the same fire, the Fire Chief within whose jurisdiction the fire is located, as provided in § 81-2 herein, shall assume command. The Fire Chief's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. 
Prescribing training requirements for members of the fire company, subject to approval of the Township Committee;
B. 
Preparing and submitting monthly reports to the Administrator on the condition of the company and attendance of members;
C. 
Maintaining a fire alarm system;
D. 
Inspecting certain buildings, in accordance with § 81-10;
E. 
Authorizing the emergency use of fire apparatus outside the Township limits, in accordance with § 81-11;
F. 
Initiating disciplinary proceedings against a member.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Every person seeking to join a volunteer fire company shall apply to the company which the person desires to join. No application shall be entertained unless the applicant is not less than 18 years of age and a citizen of the United States. Such applicant shall be interviewed by the Fire Chief of the company to which the person has applied and shall undergo such physical, mental and psychological examinations as the Township Committee may by resolution direct. The Fire Chief shall thereafter compile the results of such examinations and, on the basis of the results and the interview, recommend to the Administrator that the applicant be accepted or rejected. The Administrator shall act on such recommendation within 30 days of receipt. If such action is favorable, the applicant shall become a member of the company, subject to the conditions set forth in § 81-8. If such action is unfavorable, the applicant may appeal such action to the Township Committee, whose decision shall be final. Not more than 49% of the active membership of each company shall reside outside the Township limits.
[Added 4-22-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-06]
A. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-10.1a, the Township Committee hereby classifies all of the duly qualified applicants for the position or positions to be filled in the Fire District One and Fire District Two as follows:
(1) 
Residents of the municipality.
(2) 
Other residents of the county of which the municipality is situated or contiguous county.
(3) 
Other residents of the state.
(4) 
All other qualified applicants.
B. 
Fire District One and Fire District Two shall within their respective district appoint individuals as paid employees of the district in accordance with the classifications and as per N.J.S.A. 40A:14-10.1a. The residency classification established in this section is subject to the veterans' hiring preference as well as any volunteer firefighter list within each district.
The following conditions shall apply to membership in volunteer fire companies:
A. 
Training period. Every new member shall serve a training period of one year during which time the member shall undergo and satisfactorily complete such training as may be prescribed for new members by the Fire Chief of the fire company. The participation of such new members in activities of the company at the scene of fires may be limited to such tasks as the Fire Chief may, in the Fire Chief's discretion, deem appropriate for firefighters who are not fully trained. At the end of said training period, the Fire Chief shall review the performance of the member, and if the Fire Chief determines that such member has not satisfactorily met the standards of the company, the Fire Chief shall recommend to the Township Committee that such person's membership be terminated. The Township Committee shall act on such recommendation within 30 days of receipt of the recommendation, and its action shall be final. If said Fire Chief determines that such member has satisfactorily completed the required training, such member shall automatically continue in good standing.
B. 
Waiver of training period. The above training requirement may be waived by the Fire Chief in the case of any applicant having served previously in another fire company and who submits with the application a letter from that company stating that the applicant has satisfactorily met their training requirements. Factors which shall guide the Chief shall include the recency and degree of thoroughness of the training received.
C. 
Physical fitness. Physical fitness shall be prerequisite to continuing membership in any volunteer fire company. The Fire Chiefs may, in their discretion, require any member to be medically examined as to fitness at any time, at the member's expense. The results of such examinations shall be reviewed by the Township Committee, whose decision on continuation of membership by the person examined shall be final.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Every member of a volunteer fire company shall, in each and every year, participate in at least 60% of the drills and at least 60% of the fire duty calls in which the member's company participates. Attendance records shall be kept by the Fire Chief of each company and shall be reported monthly to the Administrator, who shall include such reports in the Administrator's annual report to the Township Committee. Every member shall also satisfactorily complete all training requirements as may be prescribed by the Fire Chiefs and by the Township Committee. Failure of any member to comply with these requirements shall be evidence of neglect of duty, for which the company may impose discipline.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2.80.090 of the 2003 Municipal Code, Disciplinary proceedings, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The Fire Chiefs shall have authority to enter upon, at a reasonable hour, any building used for public purposes or any building wherein three or more persons are employed, for the purposes of inspecting it for possible fire hazards therein and familiarizing themselves with the interior and contents thereof for the protection of members of the companies should they be called upon to enter the building. Such fire inspections shall also include inspection of the building water supply and distribution system and evaluation of its usefulness for firefighting. A report shall be made of every inspection, and copies thereof shall be given to the Construction Official and the other Fire Chief. The substance of the report, along with any safety or fire prevention recommendations, shall be discussed with the owner and/or occupant of the building. All fire inspections authorized by this section shall be coordinated with the Department of Construction, UCC and Inspections.
No fire apparatus shall be taken outside the limits of the Township for fire, emergency duty or any other purpose without order of the Fire Chief, or of the person designated by such Fire Chief or designee to act for the Fire Chief; of the company owning such apparatus. In such event, such Fire Chief shall be responsible for making adequate arrangements to protect the area of the Township for which the fire company has primary responsibility, pursuant to § 81-2, and shall notify the other Fire Chief of the use of the fire company's apparatus outside the Township as far in advance as is feasible.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating an agency relationship between the Township and either volunteer fire company; provided that, should the Township Committee by ordinance contract with such volunteer fire company or companies, the members of such company or companies shall be under the supervision and control of the Township and in performing fire duty shall be deemed to be exercising a governmental function.
[Added 9-27-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-20]
A. 
Establishment of Ambulance Squad. There is hereby established an organization known as the "Bordentown Township Emergency Medical Services" ("BTEMS") under the authority of Bordentown Township Fire District No. 2. The objective of the Ambulance Squad is the protection and preservation of life by providing emergency medical services.
B. 
Third-party billing.
(1) 
The Township of Bordentown, in order to support the BTEMS and the volunteer squads comprising it, shall bill for ambulance and transportation services provided by the BTEMS. The rates of such services shall currently be set as follows:
[Amended 9-8-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-22; 2-8-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-2; 2-28-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-4; 9-26-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-21; 4-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-5; 7-20-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-11; 2-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-6]
(a) 
A fee of $800, plus $17 per laden mile, calculated one way shall be charged to all persons receiving emergency medical services or ambulance transport services by BTEMS. A fee in the amount of $200 for each treatment without transport.
(b) 
An additional fee for the administration of the following will be incurred:
[1] 
Disposable cervical collar: $45.
[2] 
Oxygen administration: $65.
[3] 
Narcan administration: $95.
[4] 
EpiPen® administration: $150.
[5] 
CPAP administration: $95.
[6] 
Aspirin administration: $3.
(2) 
These charges shall be billed to the insurance company of the resident or party receiving assistance from the BTEMS. The rates set herein shall be reviewed annually by the Township Administrator and the Chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners, District No. 2, of the volunteer-emergency squad. The Township Administrator in consultation with the Chairman may thereafter recommend to the Township Committee that the rate schedule be altered by resolution of the Township Committee to reflect appropriate increases or decreases.
(3) 
The Township of Bordentown shall obtain services for the mailing and enforcement of these billings, which services shall be obtained through public bidding if required under the Local Public Contracts Law.[1] The Township Administrator may grant relief from these billings based on hardship.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.