[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
There is hereby created a fire department (referred to in this chapter as the "Company"), which shall be an independent, part-paid and part volunteer municipal fire and rescue fire department serving the Township of Frelinghuysen and such other areas as may be designated by the Township Committee, known as the "Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company."
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
a. 
The Company shall consist of a Chief and Deputy Chief and such firefighters, engineers, lieutenants and captains as established in the Company's bylaws as shall be appointed as hereinafter set forth.
b. 
There shall be a liaison representative from the Township Committee, who shall attend all Company meetings.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The Company shall prepare its own bylaws. The Company shall provide a copy of the bylaws to the Township Committee and shall provide the Township with copies of any updates or amendments that are adopted. In the event of a conflict between the bylaws and this chapter, this chapter shall take precedence.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
a. 
Administrative control of the Company shall reside with the Company, with oversight by the Township Committee. The Chief of the Company shall provide regular reports to the Township Committee. The Company shall provide copies of its meeting minutes to the Township Committee upon request.
b. 
The Township Committee shall approve all grant applications prior to the Company submitting same. All grant proceeds shall be payable to and shall be disbursed by the Township, unless the terms of the grant specifically require otherwise.
c. 
The Township shall have title to the firehouse, all equipment and apparatus used by the Company.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The Company shall maintain all records, including meeting minutes, as required by state law and regulations. The Company shall produce records in response to requests made under the Open Public Records Act[1] as required under the Act. The Company shall produce records for inspection by the Township Committee liaison or Township Committee upon request.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
After discipline has been implemented by the Company's Disciplinary Committee, the Township Committee shall have the right to expel or suspend any member or officer of the Company upon charges preferred, related to a violation of the Company's bylaws or the Township's personnel policies, provided that the member or officer of the Company who is the subject of the discipline shall be entitled to notice and a hearing before the Township Committee.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The officers of the Company shall be elected annually by ballot at an election of the Company, to be held on such date and time and at such location as shall be designated by the Company, and they shall hold office for one year from the first day of January following their election; provided, however, that the election of the Chief and Deputy Chief shall be confirmed by the Township Committee before they shall assume the duties of their office.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The duties of the Chief shall be as follows:
a. 
The Chief shall preside at all meetings of the Company and shall maintain order and decorum therein.
b. 
The Chief shall order any special meetings as required.
c. 
The Chief, together with officers and trustees, shall have the power to refer, to the Disciplinary Committee, disciplinary matters against a member for improper conduct.
d. 
The Chief shall order a fire drill or other exercise pertaining to fire duties at least once per month, and the members shall be notified of such at a regular meeting.
e. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief, from the time the apparatus leaves the firehouse until it returns, when in attendance, to lead the operations of the Company while at fires, drills or parades.
f. 
The Chief shall order the time for working the apparatus and shall set such time as he/she deems best for the welfare of the Company.
g. 
The Chief shall appoint all special and standing committees and members as shall be deemed necessary for the proper transaction of the business of the Company.
h. 
The Chief shall appoint three persons at the annual meeting each year, to be designated as the Auditing Committee, whose duty it shall be to examine the books and accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and report upon the same at the next regular meeting.
i. 
The Chief shall render an annual report of the operations of the Company at the annual meeting and furnish a copy of the report to the Township Committee.
j. 
The Chief's salary shall be determined by the Township Committee.
k. 
The Chief shall appoint one member to act as historian, who shall maintain an appropriate history of the Company.
l. 
The Chief shall report to the Township Committee at the regular meeting each month as to the condition of the Company and its apparatus, and of any other Company matters that the Chief deems necessary.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The Township Committee reserves the right to amend this chapter as necessary.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The services rendered by the members of the Company shall be voluntary and without compensation, with the exception of the Chief, Deputy Chief, Secretary and Treasurer. The salaries of these individuals are as set by Township ordinance.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The Mayor and Township Committee liaison shall, at all times and in the presence of the Chief or his/her designee, be admitted to the firehouse for the purpose of examining the conditions of the fire apparatus and any property of the Township.
[4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
The duties of all firefighters of the Company shall be as follows:
a. 
It shall be the duty of all members of the Company to obey all commands of their officers.
b. 
It shall be the duty of all members of the Company to answer all fire alarms, and the Secretary shall maintain a record of same.
c. 
Sickness or death in the family of a member, personal sickness, or absence from the Township shall be deemed sufficient excuses for neglect of duty, and no others will be accepted; "absence from the Township" to mean absence from the coverage area of the Company.
d. 
No member shall appear at the meetings of the Company, or on duty, in a state of intoxication or under the influence of drugs, or shall be guilty of using indecent or profane language, or shall disobey the orders of the Chief, Deputy Chief, or officer in charge of the Company, or be guilty of unbecoming conduct or otherwise bringing disgrace upon the Company or Township, under penalty of expulsion.
e. 
Any firefighter ceasing to be a member of the Company, either by resignation or by expulsion, shall lose all title to any and all property in any way belonging to the Company or the Township of Frelinghuysen.
f. 
Any member leaving the Township for longer than one month shall notify the Chief or the Secretary of same.
g. 
It shall be the imperative duty of all members who may be a witness to any improper or disorderly conduct by an officer or member, in the firehouse or while in service, to report same at once to the Chief or Deputy Chief.
h. 
The Chief, Deputy Chief, or Secretary shall be the official spokespersons for the Company.
i. 
It shall be the duty of all SCBA-certified members to have an annual physical. This physical must conform to the standards set forth by PEOSHA. If this physical is performed by the Township-approved doctor, it can be billed to the Township. If the physical is performed by a doctor of the member's choice, payment shall be the member's responsibility.
j. 
Any member who is on disability from work under any circumstances, even if minor, must notify the Chief and Deputy Chief as soon as possible. A doctor's written clearance letter is mandatory before returning to attend fires.
k. 
Members of the Company are expected to adhere to and comply with the specific personnel policies adopted by the Township Committee.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
There is hereby established an auxiliary to the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company, to be known as the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary, which shall operate under and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95 et seq.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
a. 
Any person who is a resident of the Township of Frelinghuysen and is at least 16 years and not more than 18 years of age shall be eligible for membership in the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary.
b. 
Prior to being accepted for membership in the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary, a person eligible to serve pursuant to § 11-17a shall:
1. 
Obtain permission to join the Auxiliary from that person's parent or guardian. Permission shall be granted in writing on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs;
2. 
Complete an application and be interviewed by officers of the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company. This interview shall take place with the person's parent or guardian present;
3. 
Submit documentation from a qualified physician verifying that the person is medically able to perform the activities of the Auxiliary as established herein, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-98, and
4. 
Obtain working papers from the New Jersey Department of Labor. The original written permission and working papers shall be retained by the Township Clerk, who shall forward a copy to the Chief of the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
Members of the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary shall be provided with the same insurance coverage as provided for the regular volunteer firemen of the Township of Frelinghuysen.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
The Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary program shall be under the guidance of a standing committee within the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company. The standing committee shall be appointed annually by the Chief, and shall consist of three active Fire Company members, at least one of whom shall presently hold or have previously held a firematic officer's position within the Fire Company.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
Service in the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary shall not be taken into account in determining eligibility for or the amount of income to be received in the event that there is a Length of Service Award Program ("LOSAP") established for the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company.
[Added 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08]
The following rules are established to govern the activities of the Auxiliary and to provide for the training of its members with a view toward their eventual membership in the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company:
a. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall attend at least 50% of all scheduled meetings and required training.
b. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall maintain a "C" or higher average in their schoolwork.
c. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall conduct themselves in a professional and appropriate manner when representing the Fire Company, including but not limited to following orders and observing designated procedures. Horseplay shall not be tolerated during training or in responding to calls.
d. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-98, no Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary member shall be required to perform duties which would expose the junior fireman to the same degree of hazard as a regular member of the Fire Company.
e. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-98, a Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary member may be permitted to perform non-hazardous support duties at a fire site, provided that: (1) the member has been appropriately and adequately trained to perform the support duties; (2) the member is appropriately and adequately supervised in performing those support duties at the fire site; (3) the member's parent or guardian has provided written permission allowing the member to perform those support duties; and (4) the member is provided with insurance coverage that is identical to that provided for the regular members of the Fire Company.
f. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall not be permitted in the immediate vicinity of a hazardous condition involving the handling of dangerous or poisonous acids or dyes or injurious quantities of toxic or noxious dust, gases, vapors or fumes.
g. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall be on probation until the age of 18 years, and may be expelled from the Auxiliary for just cause.
h. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company, as well as any rules and regulations that may be established by or on behalf of the Auxiliary itself.
i. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members shall obey all New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicle laws while responding to calls.
j. 
Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members may apply for an adult class of membership in the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company upon achieving the age of 18 years by completing the appropriate application forms in accordance with the Fire Company's procedures.