[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of South Hackensack as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Length of Service Awards Program — See Ch. 30.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 40.
Personnel policies — See Ch. 46.
Salaries and compensation — See Ch. 67.
Alarm systems — See Ch. 74.
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 91.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 97.
Fees — See Ch. 108.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 110.
Hazardous substances — See Ch. 124.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 167.
[Adopted 11-7-1990]
A. 
This organization shall be known as the "South Hackensack Fire Department." Members of the Department shall have attained the age of 18 years, provided that no member of the Volunteer Fire Department who has not reached his or her twenty-first birthday shall drive any apparatus used by the Department.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
B. 
Qualifications for membership.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01; 7-13-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-11]
(1) 
No person shall be admitted to membership in the Department who is not a citizen of the United States. All residents of the Township of South Hackensack, employees of the Township, persons employed within businesses and industries located within the Township and all nonresidents whose physical residence is within two miles of the border of the central portion of South Hackensack shall be eligible for membership within the Department. The central portion of South Hackensack shall be defined as the geographic border of that portion of the Township in which its municipal complex is located and shall exclude for reasons of safety those portions of the Township commonly known as the Garfield Park and Moonachie sections.
(2) 
Every candidate for membership, before his or her application is acted upon, shall present to the Township Clerk a New Jersey State Firemen's Association application signed by a physician certifying that he or she is in good health and sound physical condition and able to perform the duties ordinarily required of firefighters, together with his or her application for membership. The Department shall investigate such application and report to the Township Committee its recommendation, simultaneously notifying the Fire Board of its recommendation. The Township Committee may then grant approval, and said approval shall constitute such applicant a member of the Fire Department of the Township of South Hackensack. Without the approval of the Township Committee, such applicant shall not be entitled to membership in the South Hackensack Fire Department.
C. 
No person shall become a member of the Department until after his or her election by the Department and approval by the Township Committee.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
D. 
There shall be a probationary period of 12 months with a review of the member's performance by the Fire Board at the end of six months and 12 months. Each applicant shall immediately upon acceptance apply to the first available Fire Fighting I Course and successfully complete the first available Fire Fighting I Course within the first six months of the applicant's acceptance to the fire school. If the applicant does not successfully complete the Fire Fighting I Course within said six-month period, the applicant shall be dismissed from the Fire Department. On completion of the Fire Fighting I Course, the applicant shall present a copy of the Fire Fighting I certificate to the Township for its records. During the time the applicant is completing the Fire Fighting I Course and up to the time the applicant receives the aforementioned Fire Fighting I certificate, the applicant shall not be permitted to perform fire-fighting activities.
[Amended 11-2-1995 by Ord. No. 95-14; 12-31-1995 by Ord. No. 95-19]
E. 
The Department shall be limited to 60 active members and as many retired members as shall be entitled to such retired membership of the Department as herein provided. If any member shall have served as an active member in the Department for not less than 25 years in good standing, he or she may, on application therefor, become and continue to be a retired member. One year of service to another municipality for each year in South Hackensack up to a maximum of 10 years may be credited towards retirement. Such retired member shall have all the rights and duties of an active member, except that he or she shall not perform firematic duties and shall not serve as or vote for any departmental officer or firematic officer. Retired members shall be entitled to receive the same compensation as they received during their last year of active service regardless of percentage.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
The South Hackensack Fire Department is hereby placed at all times under the control and supervision and subject to the orders of the Chief of the Fire Department, accepting those duties and obligations specifically delegated to the Fire Board or the Township Committee by this article or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder.
The Township Committee shall designate, from among its members, a Fire Department liaison official who shall report at each meeting of the Township Committee on activities of the Fire Department and who will make recommendations concerning its general efficiency and welfare. These reports and recommendations shall be based upon information received by him or her from the Chief of the Fire Department, who shall make monthly reports in writing to the Township Committee liaison official, and from information garnered by attending the regular meeting and special meetings of the Fire Department or Fire Board.
A. 
There is hereby established in and for the Township of South Hackensack a Fire Board, which shall consist of the following officers of the Fire Department: one Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Captain and two Lieutenants, The Township Committee liaison official shall be an ex officio member of this Board but shall have no power to vote.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
B. 
The Fire Board may make recommendations to the Township Committee as to rules and regulations for the conduct of the Fire Department only upon approval of a two-thirds majority of the Fire Department members in good standing.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Township Clerk to keep a complete roll of the active and exempt members of the Fire Department, designating the date of admission, age, occupation, residence, resignation (if any) and the respective companies to which each member is affiliated.
B. 
A duplicate original shall be maintained by the Equipment/Records Officer.
C. 
The Chief, Township Clerk and the Equipment/Records Officer shall promptly advise one another of any and all changes to the rolls.
Township exemption certificates will be granted to members of the South Hackensack Fire Department who shall have served as members and have performed the yearly fire duty as prescribed for state exempt membership by the New Jersey State Fire Fighter's Association. Certificates will be ordered by the Township Committee upon recommendation of the Fire Board and will be signed by the Chief and attested to by the Township Clerk. The time served and the average of attendance must be certified to the Township Committee by the Chief.
There shall be held annually one official inspection of the Fire Department by the Township Committee, which inspection shall be held on a date designated by the Township Committee. Each member shall be responsible to account for his or her complete gear at this inspection. If unable to attend said inspection, the member must still account for his or her complete gear, which must be inspected by a line officer. If the member knows in advance that he or she will be unable to attend, he or she may comply with this requirement up to two weeks prior to the date of said inspection. If the member is unable to attend, compliance must be accomplished no later than two weeks from the date of the annual inspection. Failure to comply shall result in the member being listed as inactive, thereby unable to perform any firematic duty pending compliance. All duty during the member's inactive status shall be counted as a missed call for percentage purposes.
A. 
It shall be the duty of each member to report immediately to his or her apparatus on an alarm of fire and assist in conveying the apparatus to and from the fire and, during the continuance of a fire or alarm, to obey all orders, and in no case to leave his or her duty without permission of the officer in charge. It shall also be the duty of each member to attend all drills and all meetings, both regular and special. Each member shall offer a written explanation if unable to satisfy any obligation of membership.
B. 
It shall be the duty of each and every member, on receiving notice of his or her appointment to active duty, to procure, within six months after successful completion of the Fire Fighting I class at the Bergen County Fire Academy, a full-dress uniform in accordance with that adopted by the Department. By the end of 12 months after successful completion of the above-mentioned course, the member must procure the parade uniform, as adopted by the Department. Uniforms must be maintained so as to be worn in a presentable manner.
C. 
Any member loaning the key to the Firehouse to a person not a member of the Department, except for the purpose of supplies or repairs, shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
D. 
Any member willfully breaking any furniture or apparatus of the Department shall be liable for all damages.
E. 
In order to share in such benefits as are or shall be declared by the New Jersey State Fire Fighter's Association, each active member must satisfy the requirements of that organization.
F. 
Any member to whom any equipment of the Department or Township is personally assigned shall be responsible for its reasonable safekeeping, maintenance and return when called upon to do so. Upon the retirement, resignation, disqualification, suspension or expulsion of any member, he or she shall surrender any and all such equipment immediately upon the direction of the Equipment Officer. Any member failing to do so shall forfeit any right or benefit he or she may have attained by virtue of former membership in the Department and shall be subject to prosecution for the unlawful possession of such equipment as well as any other legal relief available to the Township for its return.
[Added 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; amended 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01; 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 13-02]
Any requests for a leave of absence shall be governed by the following procedure:
A. 
Application for each a leave of absence shall be submitted to the Fire Board, in writing, specifying the reason for the leave.
B. 
If approved by the Fire Board, upon a finding of good cause, the Fire Board will notify in writing the Township Committee, the Township Clerk and the person requesting the leave that the same has been granted.
C. 
A leave shall not be granted for more than six months. If additional leave is desired beyond six months, the member must make another application and, if granted, it shall be for no longer than an additional six-month period.
D. 
If, during the term of any leave, evidence is presented to the Fire Board that the grounds for which the leave was granted no longer exist, the Fire Board, upon notice to the member, may conduct a hearing to consider such evidence and, if found credible, terminate the leave.
E. 
Any active member in good standing who enters active duty in the United States Armed Forces may request in writing and shall be granted military leave. Said leave shall not exceed a period of five years unless the federal government or service branch requests an extension. Said member shall not be entitled to service credit, LOSAP contribution, clothing or other allowances due to other members during the term of the leave of absence. Said member shall be immediately restored to the active roster of members upon written request so long as all other qualification for active membership, including but not limited to any required schooling or certifications are met. In the event that said member must take any action to meet the qualifications required under this article and state or federal law or regulation that member shall be given a period of one year from the date of request of reinstatement to satisfy those requirements unless otherwise extended for good cause by the Township Committee.
[Added 4-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-04]
[Amended 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 13-02]
A. 
A medical leave, either full or partial, shall be considered by the Fire Board upon completion of a medical leave application, in a form which has been authorized by the Fire Board and supported by credible written evidence of a medical expert.
B. 
If approved by the Fire Board, upon a finding of good cause, the Fire Board will notify in writing the Township Committee, the Township Clerk and the person requesting the leave that the same has been granted.
C. 
A leave shall not be granted for more than six months. If additional leave is desired beyond six months, the member must make another application and, if granted, it shall be for no longer than an additional six-month period.
D. 
If, during the term of any leave, evidence is presented to the Fire Board that the grounds for which the leave was granted no longer exist, the Fire Board, upon notice to the member, may conduct a hearing to consider such evidence and, if found credible, terminate the leave.
E. 
Before returning to active duty, any member excused for serious illness must present medical evidence that he or she is physically capable to do so.
A. 
Criteria for receiving clothing allowance.
(1) 
The active members of the Department shall receive an annual clothing allowance as set forth in the Salary Ordinance of the Township of South Hackensack,[1] which shall be payable to them only if and when they shall have performed at least 50% of full service provided for South Hackensack, including 50% attendance at any and all alarms and as further defined in the Rules and Regulations adopted hereunder and has satisfied all debts and liabilities to the Department, and further provided he or she shall have purchased and continues to purchase such uniform or uniforms as prescribed by the Department and as provided by the Rules and Regulations, except that a member who has served at least 24 years shall have the option in his or her twenty-fifth year of either purchasing a required uniform or perfecting his or her retirement at the end of the twenty-fifth year.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 67, Salaries and Compensation.
(2) 
Any active member in good standing upon achieving 25 years of service shall not be required to obtain the performance percentages set forth hereinabove in order to be entitled to receipt of the annual clothing allowance. Said member must, however, meet all other departmental requirements as set forth in this article, departmental rules and regulations or other applicable laws or regulations.
[Added 6-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]
B. 
Any member of the Fire Department who, in any year, has not been present with apparatus and performed full duty at 50% of the fires, fire alarms and official drills to which said Department was called shall not receive any clothing allowance.
C. 
All checks for clothing allowance shall be given out by the Chief of the Department or, in his or her absence or incapacity, by the next ranking officer in the chain of command stipulated in § 14-14 herein.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
A. 
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of the following: Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant.
B. 
Commencing November 2000, the officers shall be elected from among the membership of the Department. Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the election procedure adopted herein.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
A. 
No one shall be eligible for the office of Chief unless he or she shall have attained the rank of Deputy Chief in the Fire Department of South Hackensack, shall have served in such capacity for at least one year and shall have satisfied any other New Jersey state-mandated requirements.
B. 
No one shall be eligible for the office of Deputy Chief unless he or she shall have attained the rank of Captain in the Fire Department of South Hackensack, shall have served in such capacity for at least one year and shall have satisfied any other New Jersey state-mandated requirements.
C. 
No one shall be eligible for the office of Captain unless he or she shall have attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the South Hackensack Fire Department and shall have served in such capacity for at least one year and shall have satisfied any other New Jersey state-mandated requirements.
[Amended 4-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-04]
D. 
No one shall be eligible for the office of First Lieutenant unless he or she shall have attained the rank of Second Lieutenant of the South Hackensack Fire Department and shall have served in such capacity for at least one year and shall have satisfied any other New Jersey state-mandated requirements.
[Amended 4-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-04]
E. 
No one shall be eligible for the office of Second Lieutenant unless he or she shall have served as an active member of the South Hackensack Fire Department in good standing for a minimum of four years and shall have satisfied any other New Jersey state-mandated requirements. A member shall receive one year of service credit for time served with another New Jersey Fire Department for each year of service to the South Hackensack Fire Department up to a maximum of 10 years of service credit.
[Amended 4-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-04]
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
Firematic officers shall consist of the following in the order of rank and authority:
A. 
Chief.
B. 
Deputy Chief.
C. 
First Captain.
D. 
First Lieutenant.
E. 
Second Lieutenant.
The support personnel shall consist of the following:
A. 
Equipment/Records Officer.
B. 
Training Officer.
C. 
Department Chaplain.
D. 
LOSAP Officer, whose duty it shall be to calculate the credits of any member of this Department in accordance with Chapter 30 of the Code and to certify the same to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township when called upon to do the same.
[Added 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 17-01]
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
A. 
At the Department meetings in September, the Department shall select person or persons for each firematic position to be elected from the Department.
B. 
The person or persons selected for each position shall be placed on a ballot for election to be held at the November Department meeting.
C. 
The Department shall vote for each firematic officer at its November regular meeting, and the person receiving the majority of votes for each position is elected to that position.
D. 
In the event that one nominee does not receive the majority of the votes cast for the position, then at this time a new nominee is selected for the position. In the event that the second nominee does not receive a majority of votes, then the position stays vacant, with the exception of the position of Chief of the Department. If no second nominee is picked, the position stays vacant, with the exception of Chief of the Department. In the event that the nominee for Chief does not receive the majority of the votes cast, then nominations will be taken from the floor to fill this position, and a special Department election will be held within seven days from the Department meeting at which elections were held. If the second nominee for Chief does not receive majority votes, the one receiving the most affirmative votes will be Chief.
E. 
Any Department member who will not be available at a meeting at which elections will be held due to vacation away from South Hackensack, confining sickness or injury, attendance at Fire School or a work schedule conflict may cast a ballot by absentee ballot. A member wishing to cast an absentee ballot must attach a written statement signed by the member explaining the reason for the needing of an absentee ballot, which reasons must be one of the reasons set forth above. Absentee ballots must be received by the officer presiding over the elections prior to the voting by the members present at the meeting held for elections. Ballots and absentee ballots shall be in a form approved by the Fire Board.
All firematic officers elected at the regular November Department meeting are for terms of one year, commencing at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on January 1 and terminating at the end of the year, 12:00 p.m. on December 31.
All vacancies shall be filled at a regular meeting by nomination and election as set forth above, and the office shall be held for the unexpired term, except that elections shall be held at the next regular meeting, and companies shall select and nominate in accordance with that schedule
The Department Secretary will notify the Township Committee of the results of the election of officers in writing no later than five days after completion.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
The duties and powers of the officers of this Department shall be as follows:
A. 
Chief. The Chief shall have complete and full direction of the equipment and personnel of the Department at all alarms and for all matters relating to Department business. The most recent ex-Chief must take charge and remain in charge at a scene in the absence of a line officer.
B. 
Deputy Chief. It shall be the duty of the Deputy Chief to perform the duties of the Chief in his or her absence.
C. 
Captains. It shall be the Captain's duty to perform the duties of the Battalion Chief, the Deputy Chief and the Chief in their absences. The Captain shall assume the duties of Insurance Officer and Treasurer of the Department. As the Treasurer of the Department, he or she shall keep a correct account of all the money received and expended by him or her for the Department and render an audited account twice annually. He or she shall pay all bills only upon order by the Department. It shall be his or her duty to deposit all money in a financial institution designated by the Department and shall furnish a bond when required by the Department in such amount as shall be fixed by the members. He or she shall file all bills and deliver all funds and records in his or her possession to his or her successor in office 20 days after the expiration of his or her term in office.
D. 
Lieutenants. It shall be the Lieutenant's duty to perform the duties of the Captains, the Battalion Chief, the Deputy Chief and the Chief in their absences. The First Lieutenant shall assume the duties of the Secretary of the Fire Board. The Second Lieutenant shall assume the duties of the Secretary of the Department and shall determine the Department percentages as set forth elsewhere in this article. As the Secretary of the Department, he or she shall keep a thorough and correct record of all the proceedings of all meetings of the Department. He or she shall furnish each member with a current copy of this article and keep a copy available at all meetings. It shall be his or her duty to call the roll at all occasions, keep a correct account of all fires, notify all members of meetings receive and answer all communications as directed. He or she shall deliver all books and papers belonging to the Department in his or her possession to his or her successor in office, 20 days after the expiration of his or her term in office.
E. 
Equipment/Records Officer.
(1) 
The Department shall select from within its membership a person to serve as an Equipment/Records Officer in accordance with the election procedure for the officers of the Fire Department. He or she shall serve for a period of two years.
(2) 
All spare equipment is to be kept in a designated area which is accessible by both Equipment/Records Officers. There shall be access to this spare equipment by only the two Equipment/Records Officers and the Chief. Any equipment given out from this area must be signed out by both of the Equipment/Records Officers.
(3) 
The Township purchasing agent shall authorize purchase orders only to the Chief of the Department.
(4) 
He shall keep a written book of all the Department standard operating procedures (SOP's).
(5) 
A written report is to be given at each Department meeting of all activities, including purchases, equipment on hand and equipment given out for each period. In January of each year, a complete written list of all equipment is to be submitted annually to the Township Committee and the Fire Board.
(6) 
He shall surrender everything in his or her possession to his or her successor at the end of his or her term.
F. 
Training Officer.
(1) 
The Department shall select from within its membership a person to serve as Training Officer in accordance with the election procedure for the officers of the Fire Department. The Training Officer must have at some time attained the rank of Captain of the South Hackensack Fire Department.
(2) 
This officer is to be responsible for all Department training activities and is to conduct 12 Department drills per year, to be consistent with Departmental policies. The scope of each drill is to be reviewed with the Chief at least one week prior to the drill date.
G. 
Department Chaplain. The Department Chaplain shall be appointed by the Chief at the Department's regular meeting in January.
No officer may be removed except for neglect of duty, disobedience, conduct in performance of duties detrimental to the Department or a determination of guilty under § 14-37, Resignations and Expulsions, of this article. The removal of an officer may be accomplished only in accordance with the provisions contained herein under § 14-37.
Each officer of the Fire Department shall receive an annual salary as set forth in the Salary Ordinance of the Township of South Hackensack.
All members must attend 50% of all Department regular and special meetings to be in good standing. Any member wishing to be excused for any absence must present such request in writing before the meeting and note thereon the reason for such request.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
Regular meetings of the Department shall be held on the second Wednesday, or any other day within the second week if schedules of the Department conflict, in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December of each year and shall be convened at a time specified by the Chief.
Notice of all special meetings shall be given to all members. This notice shall specify the business to be transacted, and unless approved by 2/3 of the members present, no business other than that specified in the notice shall be transacted.
The order of business at all regular meetings shall be as follows:
A. 
Reading of minutes of all previous meetings.
B. 
Communications and bills.
C. 
Report of the Treasurer.
D. 
Reports of the Chiefs, Captain, Lieutenants, Fire Prevention Chief, Equipment/Records Officer, Delegates and the Fire Commissioner.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
E. 
Reports of Committees.
F. 
Elections when required.
G. 
Unfinished business.
H. 
New business.
I. 
Roll call.
J. 
Good and welfare.
Regular meetings of the Fire Board shall be held on the first Wednesday, or other day within the first week if the schedule of the Department conflicts, of each month at such time as determined by the Chief of the Fire Department or a majority of the members of the Fire Board.
All standing committees shall consist of any number of members as appointed by the Chief at the first meeting in January. The committees will have their members names posted on each Company's bulletin board as soon as they are appointed. All committees will serve for a one-year term from January to December or thereafter until its successors have been appointed.
A. 
Auditing shall make an audit of the books of the Treasurer and report thereon biannually at the regular Department meetings in May and January. The treasury books shall be closed at the end of each year no later than January 15.
B. 
Rules and Regulations shall draft in proper form all proposed amendments to this article, as proposed by the majority vote of the membership at a Department meeting and submit the same for adoption by the Department.
C. 
Fund Drive shall make provisions for an annually-sponsored drive and shall also set the date for such drive. This committee is to be chaired by the Deputy Chief and cochaired by the Captain.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
D. 
Entertainment shall carry out any entertainment program approved by the members at a meeting and shall make a monthly report of all receipts and disbursements.
E. 
Memorial shall arrange for and provide a suitable funeral service for any departed, active or retired fire fighter. They shall see that the Department quarters are suitably draped as a memorial to the departed. Deceased rolls are to include only active and retired members of the Department and Ladies Auxiliaries.
F. 
Sick shall visit any member, active or retired, who is reported to be sick and shall report all such visits made at the next regular meeting and shall also send a gift, not to exceed $50, to a member who is in the hospital, per illness, per three-day stay.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
G. 
Parade shall handle all requirements for Department parade participation.
H. 
Special. The Chief shall reserve the right to appoint any special committee that may be required for a specific need.
A. 
Disciplinary proceedings.
(1) 
Formal charges of the violations of this article proclaimed hereunder shall be preferred to the Fire Board. Such charges shall be heard by the Fire Board, which, after written notice to the officer or fire fighter against whom the charges have been preferred, shall afford such officer or fire fighter an opportunity to defend himself, and if the Fire Board shall determine that such officer or fire fighter is guilty of the said charges, the Fire Board may suspend, demote or remove from membership said officer or fire fighter. Pending the final disposition of any such charges, the Chief may suspend any officer or fire fighter against whom charges may have been preferred if, in his or her opinion, the circumstances warrant such suspension to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the residents of South Hackensack and/or the members of the Fire Department; such suspension shall terminate upon the final disposition of such charges by the Fire Board. The Fire Board shall conduct its hearing and render its decision within 30 days of the notice of violation.
(2) 
Any officer or fire fighter wishing to appeal a determination of the Fire Board must file a written notice of appeal to the Township Committee with the Township Clerk not later than 10 days after the decision of the Fire Board and notice of that decision to the affected member. The Township Committee shall hear the appeal at its next meeting pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12b(8).
B. 
Notice of termination of membership.
[Amended 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 14-02]
(1) 
The Fire Board shall give written notice to the Township Committee and the Township Clerk of any termination of membership and the basis upon which the membership was terminated.
C. 
Fire attendance. If any member does not use due diligence in attending fires, any officer shall prefer charges against him or her. All charges shall be preferred in writing to the Fire Board. The hearing shall be held by the Fire Board.
D. 
Hearings. Upon presentation of written charges against any officer or member, the Fire Board shall call a meeting. The charges shall be heard at such meeting, and the officer or member involved shall be permitted to answer the charges, cross-examination the member making the charge and provide members as witnesses on his or her behalf.
E. 
Post-suspension. A member in suspension may resign before his or her hearing but shall not be eligible for reenlistment.
F. 
Post-expulsion. No application for reenlistment within three years is to be accepted by any Company from any ex-member who may or has been expelled or dismissed from the Fire Department. If after three years the Company approves of the reenlistment, then they must seek final approval from the Fire Board.
G. 
Failing to answer alarms. Any member hearing or knowing of an alarm and willfully failing to answer the same for duty shall be brought up on charges before the Fire Board.
H. 
Leaving fires. Any member leaving the scene of a fire, fire practice or other duties without the consent of the officer in charge shall be brought up on charges before the Fire Board.
I. 
Dismissal of members for nonattendance. The Fire Board may terminate the membership of any member if it shall be shown, after a hearing afforded to such member, that he or she has failed for two years consecutively without good cause to make at least 40% of the required attendance.
[Amended 6-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]
A. 
True percentage will be based on the total number of alarms, consisting of fires, drills, Chief's calls or any other fire alarms called by the audible or electronic alarm systems. To find true percentage, add the total number of alarms attended by a member and divide by the total number of alarms less the alarms he or she was excused from.
B. 
Revised Percentage No. 1. Members receive additional percentage above true percentage as follows:
(1) 
Parade percentage, consisting of a total of 10%.
(a) 
Only three parades are considered part of a parade percentage. Attendance at any one parade has a value of 3%. Attendance at any two parades has a value of 7%. Attendance at all three parades has a value of 10%.
[1] 
New Jersey and New York Volunteer Fire Fighter's Parade.
[2] 
Chief's Parade (Chief will select parade of his or her choice).
[3] 
Northern New Jersey Volunteer Fire Fighter's Parade.
(b) 
All parades will also have one Chief's call added to the total number of alarms, and any member answering the Chief's call will get the credit for the alarm even though he or she may not attend the parade. Any parade, not including the three above, will be considered an alarm only.
(2) 
Wakes. Any member attending wakes but not answering the Chief's call for same will get credit for the Chief's call. No member will get double credit for both.
C. 
Revised Percentage No. 2. If a member does not make his or her necessary 50% after using the true percentage plus Revised Percentage  No. 1, the following formula will be used:
(1) 
A member's attendance will be broken down into day or night alarms. Day alarms will be considered to be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Night alarms will be considered to be from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday will be considered weekdays.
(2) 
Total alarm and member's attendance will be broken down by day or night alarms, and the percentage will be figured out for each, including the addition of added percentage for parades and wakes.
D. 
Total percentage. Any member not making his or her 50% will not receive his or her clothing allowance. Any member failing to make 40% for two consecutive years will be automatically brought up on charges by the Fire Board; such charges shall be heard by the Fire Board in accordance with § 14-37A(1) with the same rights to notice and hearing afforded to the member.
[Amended 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 14-02; 6-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]
[Amended 4-11-2002 by Ord. No. 4-02]
A. 
There is hereby created and established as part of the Fire Department a Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Prevention Bureau shall consist of a Fire Prevention Chief who shall serve for a term of three years commencing January 1, 2003, and as many Fire Inspectors as deemed necessary, each of whom shall serve for a term of one year, and all of whom shall be appointed by the Township Committee. The Fire Prevention Bureau shall be operated under the supervision of the Fire Prevention Chief, who receives his or her authority from the Chief of the Fire Department, except in respect to the enforcement of the Uniform Fire Safety Act pursuant to Chapter 110 of this Code; the Fire Inspectors shall perform and carry out the order and directions of the Fire Prevention Chief.
B. 
If any part of this section is inconsistent with any term or provision as set forth in the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.) of Chapter 110 of this Code, then that law or said Chapter 110 shall prevail.
In order for a member of the Department to be in good standing, he or she must satisfy all of the following:
A. 
Must be on active status (i.e., not on any type of leave) for at least seven months prior to the election.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
B. 
Have an attendance percentage of at least 40% true of all fire calls, drills and Chief's calls during the time period starting January 1 of the year and ending on October 31 of the same year.
C. 
Attend 50% of all Department regular and special meetings unless excused as prescribed under § 14-24, Meeting attendance.
The first driver to arrive at the scene of the incident shall become the officer in charge and shall designate another member to operate the apparatus. Said officer in charge will be in command until the arrival of a line officer who must take charge or the most recent ex-Chief who must take charge or until the termination of the incident.
A. 
The Fire Department will attend wakes for members (both active and retired), the member's spouse, the member's parents, the member's children, any active Township Committee member and members of the Ladies Auxiliary when requested by the Ladies Auxiliary at which time they will be in charge.
B. 
The firehouse and member badges are to be draped for the death of a member (both active and retired) only.
C. 
When attending a wake under the jurisdiction of another Fire Department, we will do as that Department requests.
D. 
Attendance shall be in full dress uniform only, unless the member has not been required to purchase a uniform as described elsewhere in this article.
[Amended 6-23-2000 by Ord. No. 7-00; 4-26-2001 by Ord. No. 8-01; 6-25-2001 by Ord. No. 13-01; 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 18-01]
Any member of the Department, after being a member at least six months and being 21 years of age or older, holding a valid New Jersey operating license and having successfully completed an approved driver training course and an approved course of training covering the operation of a pumper shall qualify as a driver. No person, unless he or she shall have passed as a qualified driver as aforesaid, shall drive or operate any apparatus.
Every accident, either to a person or property no matter how slight, shall be immediately reported to the Department officer in charge at the time, who shall make a complete and detailed report and forward one copy to the Township Clerk.
[Amended 7-13-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-11]
Any member changing his or her residence or employment such that said member does not meet the qualifications established in § 14-1 is expected to resign from the Department. If said member fails to submit his or her resignation within 30 days of becoming ineligible for membership, then the Chief of the Department shall report to the Fire Board and the Township Committee the recommendation that said member be deleted from the membership roll of the Department.
[Adopted 12-2-1976 as Ch. 25 of the 1976 Code]
In the case of the death of any active or inactive member of the Fire Department of South Hackensack who shall not be entitled to the death benefits of the New Jersey Fire Fighter's Relief Association, the widow or other next of kin of such deceased fire fighter shall be entitled to receive from the Township of South Hackensack such amount as would be equal to the benefits which would be paid if such deceased fire fighter were eligible for the death benefits of the said New Jersey Fire Fighter's Relief Association.