[Adopted 10-1-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-19]
[Amended 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-17]
The purpose of this article is to provide the
authority, procedures and requirements to seek collection and reimbursement
for the reasonable costs of responding to emergency incidents, either
directly or in coordination with the Dauphin County Emergency Management
Agency (EMA), the Township Emergency Management Coordinator EMC, West
Hanover Township Fire Company and/or any recognized fire company serving
West Hanover Township. Fire service calls, false alarms, nuisance
alarms, hazardous material incidents, environmental incidents, and
safety and rescue incidents coordinated via Dauphin County EMA and
911 responses, and those that use hazardous material abatement equipment
and materials, are also eligible for reimbursement.
[Amended 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-17]
The West Hanover Township Board of Supervisors by and through its authority and relationship with the West Hanover Township Fire Company and/or any recognized fire company as per Chapter
19, §
19-3, of the Township Code of Ordinances hereby authorizes the recovery of real and reasonable costs incurred by the volunteer emergency services organization involving any hazardous material incident, environmental incident or safety and rescue incident or operation, including, but not limited to, vehicular accidents and fires, that occur in West Hanover Township.
[Added 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-17]
A. False and/or
nuisance alarms are deemed to be a waste of time, manpower, and equipment
and create the potential for serious injury to Fire Company personnel
and other responding emergency personnel. "False alarm" means the
activation of any alarm system which results in a response by the
Fire Company and which is caused by the negligence or intentional
misuse of the alarm system by the owner, its employees, agents or
any other activation of an alarm system not caused by heat, smoke
or fire, exclusive of a nuisance alarm. "Nuisance alarm" means the
activation of any alarm system which results in a response by the
Fire Company, caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installation, lack of proper maintenance or any other response for
which the Fire Company is unable to determine the apparent cause of
the alarm activation. Alarm activations caused by earthquakes, severe
weather, or power outages are not considered false or nuisance alarms.
B. No fee shall
be assessed for the first three false alarms or nuisance alarms at
the same premises responded to by the Fire Company during any 12 consecutive
months. Thereafter, the owner shall pay the following fees for false
alarms or nuisance alarms responded to by the Fire Company at the
same premises during any 12 consecutive months:
|
Number of False/Nuisance Alarms
|
Service Fee per False/Nuisance Alarm
|
---|
|
First to third
|
$0
|
|
Fourth
|
$100
|
|
Fifth
|
$200
|
|
Sixth and above
|
Doubles each time
|
Nothing in this article shall be construed to
affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights
acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause of action acquired or
existing, under any act or ordinance hereby; nor shall any just or
legal right or remedy or any character be lost, impaired or affected
by this article.
This article repeals West Hanover Township Resolution
No. 1999-22, passed on December 20, 1999.
The Secretary of West Hanover Township shall
certify to the adoption of this article and cause the same to be published
as required by law; and this article shall take full force and effect
immediately upon final passage and approval.