[Adopted 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11; amended in its entirety 5-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-03]
There is hereby established an auxiliary to the Allamuchy Township Fire Department to be known as the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary, which shall operate under and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95 et seq.
A. 
Any person who is a resident of the Township of Allamuchy 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 § 27-17A 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 Allamuchy Township Fire Department. 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 Department Chief.
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 Allamuchy.
The Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary program shall be under the guidance of a standing committee within the Allamuchy Township Fire Department. The standing committee shall be appointed annually by the Fire Chief, and shall consist of three active Fire Department members, at least one of whom shall presently hold or have previously held a firematic officer's position within the Department.
Service in the Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary shall not be taken into account in determining eligibility for or the amount of income to be received under the Length of Service Award Program ("LOSAP") established under Article II of this chapter.
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 Allamuchy Township Fire Department:
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 Department, 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 Department.
E. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-98, a Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary member may be permitted to perform nonhazardous 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 Department.
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 Allamuchy Township Fire Department, 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 Allamuchy Township Fire Department upon achieving the age of 18 years by completing the appropriate application forms in accordance with the Fire Department's procedures.