[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Readington as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 21.
Police Department — See Ch. 43.
[Adopted 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGENCY or AGENCIES
Any of the companies or squads comprising the Readington Township Emergency Services Agency as defined below.
[Added 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
APPLICANT
An individual, of 18 years or older, desiring initial membership in an emergency services agency in Readington Township.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012]
MEMBER
A current member of a Readington Township emergency services agency.
[Added 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
READINGTON TOWNSHIP EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCY
[Amended 6-3-2024 by Ord. No. 16-2024]
A. 
Any of the fire companies which comprise the Readington Township Fire Department as set forth in Chapter 21 of the Readington Township Code; or
B. 
The Whitehouse Volunteer Rescue Squad or any other rescue squad established in the Township of Readington; or
C. 
The Office of Emergency Management and its appointed members.
D. 
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and its appointed members.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Readington.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
Any applicant desiring membership in a Readington Township emergency services agency, as well as every current member of these agencies, must complete and file with the same agency a Township-prescribed form containing, among other things, the following information about the applicant/member:
A. 
Name.
B. 
Home address.
C. 
Birth date.
D. 
Social security number.
E. 
Driver's license number.
F. 
A signed statement certifying as to whether or not the applicant/member has been convicted of any of the following crimes or offenses:
(1) 
In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons offense:
(a) 
Involving danger to the person, meaning those crimes and disorderly offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq.; or N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 et seq.;
(b) 
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:24-1 et seq.;
(c) 
Involving theft as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; or
(d) 
Involving any controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as set forth in Chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, except paragraph (4) of Subsection a of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10; or
(2) 
In any other state or jurisdiction, conduct which, if committed in New Jersey, would constitute any of the crimes or disorderly persons offenses described above.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
Following the filing of the information statement referred to above, the Readington Township emergency service agency shall transmit a copy of the information statement to the Readington Township Chief of Police, or his/her designee, who shall conduct an investigation to ascertain the truth of statements made by the applicant's/member's background as he/she may deem necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. If, as a result of such investigation, the applicant/member is found to have been convicted of any violation, crime or offense as set forth above in § 112-2, or any other information is discovered that would indicate that the applicant/member may be a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the community, the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, shall report such information to the head of the applicable agency, and the applicant/member shall not be eligible for membership in that or any other emergency services agencies included in this article.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
In connection with said investigation, the applicant/member shall submit to fingerprinting, and the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, is authorized to submit the applicant's/member's fingerprint card and obtain history record information from the Division of State Police/State Bureau of Identification for use in determining the suitability of all applicants/members governed by this article.
[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 23-2012; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
The above investigation by the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, shall be completed within 60 days of receipt of the application and fingerprinting of the applicant/member. At the discretion of the Chief of Police, temporary approval may be given to any applicant/member while in the process of the background investigation. The Chief of Police may revoke the temporary approval of membership should the completed investigation disclose the applicant's/member's membership is prohibited as provided in § 112-3 above.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012; 5-6-2013 by Ord. No. 09-2013]
A. 
Any member of a Readington Township emergency services agency who is arrested in any jurisdiction is required to notify the head of his/her organization as soon as possible, but not later than 72 hours after the arrest occurs.
B. 
An arrest in any jurisdiction for an offense listed in § 112-2F(1) and (2) will result in immediate suspension for that member from any Readington Township emergency services agency. Suspension for any other arrest will be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
C. 
If a member requests an appeal of the decision of the Chief of Police, then a board consisting of the Chief of the member’s agency, the Township Administrator, and the Township Mayor, or his/her appointed designee from the governing body, will be convened. The decision of the board will be final.
D. 
Upon conviction of an offense listed in § 112-2F(1) and (2), or any other offense that would indicate that the member may be a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the community, the member shall be immediately removed from that agency.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 31-2012]
Any member of a Readington Township emergency service agency who loses his or her New Jersey driver's license is required to notify the head of his or her organization as soon as possible, but not later than 72 hours after the revocation occurs.
Members shall not drink any kind of intoxicating beverage or consume any illegal narcotics, or narcotics contrary to the directions of their prescriptions, before or at any time during the operation of any Township vehicle or apparatus.
Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days and/or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days.