There is hereby created and established a part-paid Fire Department for the City which shall consist of such members, officers and personnel as the governing body shall deem necessary for the effective government of the Department. The governing body is the appropriate authority to exercise legislative authority to:
A. 
Provide for the maintenance, regulation and control of the Fire Department;
B. 
Provide for a line of authority relating to the fire fighting function;
C. 
Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the Fire Department and for the discipline of its members; and
D. 
Determine the terms of office of its members, fix their compensation, and prescribe their powers, functions and duties, all as the governing body shall deem necessary for the effective government of the Department.
The Director of Public Safety is the appropriate authority to exercise administrative authority to establish policies providing guidelines to the Fire Chief for the operation of the Fire Department. Furthermore, he is the appropriate authority to:
A. 
Appoint the paid firemen and other civil service employees from a list of candidates supplied by the Civil Service Commission;
B. 
Control the preparation of the budget for the Fire Department and be responsible for submitting it to the governing body for approval;
C. 
Establish policies to control the budget once adopted to ensure that moneys are spent in accordance with the adopted budget;
D. 
Establish policies formulating fundamental principles to serve as guidelines to the Fire Chief in making his decision with respect to discharging his responsibility for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operation of the Fire Department;
E. 
Issue special emergency directives to provide for the health, safety or welfare of the municipality in an emergency situation; and
F. 
Preside as hearing officer in disciplinary matters that originate within the Fire Department, including matters involving civilian employees under his jurisdiction.
The Fire Chief shall be the chief executive officer of the Fire Department, and he shall be directly responsible to the Director of Public Safety for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operation of the Fire Department. Furthermore, pursuant to policies established by the Director of Public Safety, he shall:
A. 
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the Department and its officers and personnel;
B. 
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers, and duties of the Department;
C. 
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other personnel;
D. 
Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the Department to be exercised under his direction and supervision; and
E. 
Report at least monthly, in writing, to the Director of Public Safety on the operation of the Department during the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested by the Director of Public Safety.
The rules and regulations adopted by the governing body shall be contained in a manual known as the "Fire Fighters Manual."
A. 
Adoption. The City of Millville Fire Fighters Manual of 1995 containing the revised rules and regulations is hereby adopted.
B. 
Amendments. The City of Millville Fire Fighters Manual may be amended by resolution of the Board of Commissioners from time to time as hereinafter provided.
C. 
Amendatory procedure. Any Commissioner seeking to amend the Fire Fighters Manual shall do so by circulating a draft copy of the proposed change to the City Clerk, City Solicitor and the other Commissioners at least five days in advance of the Commission meeting when the change resolution is to be considered.
D. 
Copies. A copy of the Fire Fighters Manual shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk, and copies shall be made available to each employee of the Fire Department.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to Ordinance No. 44-1996, the rules and regulations, written policies and standard operating procedures which are applicable to the Millville Fire Department are hereby amended to the extent that they are inconsistent with Art. V, Discipline, of Ch. 46, Personnel Policies of the Code of the City of Millville.
Employees of the Fire Department shall be subject to discipline including suspension or dismissal for violations of N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3(a), the rules and regulations, special emergency directives, directives issued by the Fire Chief, or lawful orders of the Fire Chief or superior officers. Volunteer members of the Fire Department shall be subject to discipline in accordance with the Constitution and bylaws of their organization.
The Fire Department of the City is composed of paid firefighters, regular volunteer firemen and trainee members.
A. 
Paid fire fighters. Paid fire fighters shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety from a list of candidates supplied by the Civil Service Commission. No person shall be appointed as a paid member or officer who is under 21 or over 35 years of age pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-12.
B. 
Regular volunteer fire fighters. Volunteer fire fighters shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety. New applicants for this position must submit an application to the City Clerk which satisfies the general qualifications required by New Jersey State statutes. No person shall be selected as a regular volunteer fire fighter who is under 18 or over 60 years of age.
[Amended 7-3-2007 by Ord. No. 21-2007; 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. 11-2021; 5-18-2021 by Ord. No. 14-2021]
C. 
Trainee members. The number of trainee members shall not exceed 15 members. New applicants for this position must be reviewed and approved by the Investigative Committee of the Millville Fire Department. Final approval must be made by the governing body of the City. The trainee member shall serve a probationary period of not less than one year and shall successfully fulfill all of the requirements set forth in the Constitution of the Millville Fire Department before being eligible for regular volunteer fireman. No person shall be selected as a trainee member who is under 18 years or over 55 years of age.
[Amended 7-3-2007 by Ord. No. 21-2007]
A. 
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety in accordance with the New Jersey State statutes and the rules and regulations of the Department of Personnel.
B. 
The Fire Chief shall have the authority to appoint three Deputy Chiefs, three Battalion Chiefs, three Captains, three Lieutenants and all apparatus drivers to hold office during his term.