[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
(now Council) of the Township of Galloway 1-18-1971 by Ord. No. 393
as Ch. 7 of the 1971 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
The Fire Department of Galloway Township shall
consist of such properly incorporated fire companies as now exist
or hereafter may exist and shall accept the conditions and provisions
of this chapter, which said acceptance shall be in writing, signed
by its President and Secretary with its official seal attached thereto,
and placed on file in the office of the Township Clerk; provided,
however, that no further increase in number of companies now composing
said Department shall be authorized or additional companies admitted
except by resolution of the Township Council. Each township fire company
shall maintain a written set of rules and regulations in the form
of a constitution and bylaws for the purpose of, but not limited to,
governing company proceedings, and membership requirements, responsibilities,
and conduct.
[Amended 3-19-1951 by Ord. No. 159; 4-2-1973 by Ord. No. 441; 2-19-1980 by Ord. No. 607; 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
A.
The object of these companies is the protection of
life and property. Active membership of each company shall not exceed
50 active firefighters. Persons wishing to join and/or maintain membership
as an active firefighter in a Township fire company must reside or
be employed within the Township or within a reasonable response distance
of the prospective fire company's primary response area. Each Township
fire company's constitution or bylaws shall stipulate the residency
or employment locale requirements for membership as well as what is
defined as a "reasonable response distance" for the purposes of that
particular company.
B.
Persons wishing to join a Township fire company as
an active firefighter shall also:
(1)
Submit to a medical evaluation the New Jersey State
Firemen's Association is currently using at the time of application
(excepting any reference to age therein) to determine and ensure his/her
medical fitness to perform the duties of an active firefighter.
(2)
Submit to a criminal background check performed by,
or under the strict direction of, the Township Police Chief to determine
and ensure that the membership candidate's eligible and does not pose
a physical or material threat during the performance of firefighting
duties to the citizens, or property thereof, who are protected by
the Township Fire Department.
[Amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
(3)
Possess, or agree to obtain, all training and/or certifications
required by state regulation to be an active firefighter within a
reasonable period of time, as stipulated in the individual company's
bylaws, after acceptance into a company and prior to engaging in any
interior firefighting operations.
(4)
Have reached a minimum age of 18 years old, but not
reached 57 years old, except as noted in the following subsections.
[Amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
(5)
There
is no fundamental right to membership in the Galloway Township Fire
Department.
[Added 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
C.
Have reached a minimum age of 18 years old, but not
reached 57 years old, except as noted in the following subsections.
Persons who are active firefighters in good standing in a Township
fire company shall be permitted to transfer to another Township fire
company, as the prospective company's rules and regulations permit,
regardless of age and without having to submit to a physical or criminal
background check.
[Amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
D.
Persons of age 57 or over shall be permitted to join
a Township fire company as an active firefighter, as the prospective
company's rules and regulations permit, provided that the candidate
for membership has served as an active firefighter in good standing
in another fire company at any time within the 36 months prior to
the date of application and is determined to be medically fit to perform
the duties of an active firefighter through medical evaluation. The
candidate's membership status in the previous fire company shall be
verified, in writing, by the Chief, President, or Secretary of such
company.
[Amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
Stated and special meetings of these companies
shall be held as the individual company bylaws may direct.
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
The township fire companies shall elect their
officers at their last or only regular meeting date in November unless
otherwise specified in this chapter. Nominations for such officers
shall be made at the two meetings preceding this election, unless
otherwise specified in this chapter.
[Amended 2-3-1969 by Ord. No. 360]
The officers of these companies shall consist
of, and the terms of office shall be, as follows:
A.
One Township Fire Chief elected for one year by five
delegates from each company, which delegates shall be nominated and
elected the same time as other company officers. Each company shall
nominate and elect an alternate for each delegate. Alternates are
to act only in the absence of the regular delegate. An Election Board
of one man picked from each company’s alternate delegates shall
conduct the election. Companies shall make their nominations for Township
Chief at a regular company meeting such that it allows notification,
via official company letter, to be received by the Township Administrative
Fire Office and the remaining township companies prior to the 11th
of August. No company shall send more than one nominee. The election
of Chief shall be held by the delegates of the various companies all
at one place by secret ballot. In the event of a tie vote, said vote
shall be discarded. Each delegate shall be privileged to vote again.
After five tie votes, any delegate that may have been instructed by
his company shall be released of his instruction, and balloting shall
continue until one candidate receives a higher number of votes. The
election of the Township Chief shall take place on the first Tuesday
of September between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The voting for 1932 shall
be at Oceanville No. 1, then rotating to Company No. 2, etc.
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478; 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. 1722]
B.
Each individual company shall elect to terms stipulated
by their bylaws, unless specifically stated herewith, the following
officers:
[Amended 12-7-1981 by Ord. No. 677; 3-12-1991 by Ord. No. 1035]
(1)
One Company Fire Chief, one Company Assistant Fire
Chief, four Captains and one Fire Police, who shall appoint two Deputies
whose terms of office shall be one year. Companies may also elect
four Lieutenants, but this shall be optional.
(2)
One President and one Vice President, Secretary, Financial
Secretary and Treasurer, three, six or nine Trustees, at the option
of each company, to be elected by each company, whose terms shall
be for three years beginning 1/3 for three years, 1/3 for two years,
and 1/3 for one year. One-third shall be elected annually thereafter.
One Death Benefit Trustee to the Atlantic County Fireman's Death Benefit
Fund shall also be elected by companies participating in same.
(3)
If the Chief is unable to serve, a Deputy Township
Fire Chief will be selected and will serve on a three-month rotating
position on a temporary assignment. Said name of Deputy Chief will
be submitted to the Township Manager's office, in writing, prior to
appointment. The Deputy will oversee all operations in the event that
the Township Fire Chief is out of town or unavailable to fulfill the
duties of the Township Chief. The Deputy will be either the Company
Chief or the Company Assistant Chief; discretion of position will
be left up to the companies' Chief to determine.
[Added 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. 1722; amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
Each company's financial assets and liabilities
are separate from any other township company's. It shall, however,
be subject to township supervision, and a report of the company's
standing shall be made annually in the month of March to the Township
Council of Galloway Township on forms prepared by the Township Council.
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
Dues and fines shall be stipulated by the individual
company bylaws.
A.
The Company Fire Chief, Company Assistant Fire Chief,
Captains and Lieutenants, in the order named, shall have full command
of all incidents, going to or returning from same. They shall also
have control of all apparatus and keep the same in serviceable order,
and shall have the right to call upon any member for assistance. They
shall also call a roll after each incident and note absentees. At
the direction of the incident commander, the Township Fire Chief may
assist in scene operations at an incident.
[Amended 3-12-1991 by Ord. No. 1035; 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
B.
Duties of the Fire Police and his deputies shall be
to enclose the scene of fire, keep same clear of the public, and they
shall have charge of all property saved.
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
C.
The duties of all other officers shall be defined
by the individual company's constitution and bylaws.
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
D.
Qualifications of the Township Fire Chief shall be,
but not limited to, the current requirements of the State of New Jersey.
To be eligible for the position of Township Fire Chief, the nominee
must have held the title of Company Chief or Assistant Company Chief
within one of the Galloway Township Fire Companies.
[Added 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. 1722; amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
[Amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
The duties of active members shall be to comply
with state laws regarding duties of active fire fighters.
The Township Chief shall make an inspection
of all companies annually and make a written report thereof to the
governing body at its annual meeting.
[Added 2-25-1992 by Ord. No. 1071; amended 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
The Galloway Township Volunteer Fire Companies
are permitted to have within their ranks junior fire fighters between
the ages of 16 and 18 years old. Membership and permitted activities
of junior fire fighters shall be as provided in any applicable federal
and state statutes and/or regulations, township ordinances, Fire Department
and/or volunteer fire company rules and regulations.
[Added 6-22-1999 by Ord. No. 1396]
A.
The township, by the enactment of the ordinance codified
in this section, hereby signifies its participation in the tuition
credit program established by the New Jersey Legislature pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 18A:71-78.1 et seq.
B.
This tuition credit program is available to any active
member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue
squad located in Galloway Township and to that member's spouse and
dependent children.
C.
In order to be eligible to receive tuition credit
at a county college, county vocational school, or county technical
institute, the volunteer must sign an agreement pledging a minimum
of four years' service with a recognized volunteer fire company, first
aid or rescue squad. Upon the making of such pledge, the township
shall issue a letter of eligibility to the volunteer which must be
presented at the applicable county college, county vocational school,
or county technical school which shall signify that the individual
is a member in good standing of the particular fire company, volunteer
first aid or rescue squad. The eligible volunteer, the volunteer's
spouse, or the volunteer's dependent child must then secure enrollment
at a county college, county vocational school, or county technical
school and shall provide verification to said institution of their
volunteer service or the volunteer service of their spouse or parent.
D.
Following each year of volunteer service the volunteer
or the spouse or dependent child of said volunteer shall receive a
tuition credit of up to $600, not to exceed a maximum of $2,400, for
the member, children, and spouse over a four-year service period.
E.
In order to continue eligibility in the program, the
volunteer or other eligible person shall be required at the end of
each semester to submit a transcript to the municipality which shall
be maintained by the municipality in a permanent record, and the eligible
person shall be required to maintain a C grade average in order to
continue in the tuition credit program.
F.
This tuition credit program is subject to the requirements
imposed by state statute, including but not limited to the county
college, county vocational school, or county technical institute having
available classroom space and said institution having enough tuition-paying
students to constitute the minimum required for a particular course.
The tuition credit program shall not preclude a county college, county
vocational school, or county technical institute from requiring the
payment of registration and lab fees for persons attending a course
under this tuition credit program.
[Added 7-11-2000 by Ord. No. 1429; amended 3-27-2007 by Ord. No. 1688; 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. 1721[1]]
A.
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith
created in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997[2] to reward members of the volunteer fire fighters for their
loyal, diligent, and devoted services to the residents of the Township
of Galloway.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et
seq.
B.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions
to a deferred-income account for each volunteer member who meets the
criteria set forth below; that such contributions shall be made in
accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Township of
Galloway pursuant to P.L. 1997, c. 388; and that such plan shall be
administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey,
the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and this section.
C.
Criteria of eligibility – see Schedule A.[3]
[Amended 7-10-2018 by Ord. No. 1992-2018]
(1)
Earning 100 points will award an eligible year of
service.
(2)
Member is vested after five qualifying years.
(3)
Annual contribution shall be determined based upon
CPI per eligible member.
[Amended 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2079-2022]
(4)
To
be eligible for LOSAP credit, a member must make a minimum of 10%
of total fire calls based on which platoon system is used for that
member.
[3]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is on file in the
Township offices.
D.
The LOSAP shall be made available to eligible members
who are considered to be active and in good standing members for each
individual year.
E.
The estimated cost of the program has been calculated
as for regular annual services as $125,000 per year.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was approved
by the voters at a referendum held 11-6-2007.
[Added 7-24-2001 by Ord. No. 1478]
Each township fire company shall be allowed
to maintain an auxiliary organization or organizations for the purpose
of aiding the company through, but not limited to, administrative
support, assistance with fund-raising efforts and social activities,
maintenance of company buildings and grounds, and providing refreshments
at company incidents and activities. These organizations must be formally
approved by and recognized within the bylaws, constitution, or charter
of the fire company for which they are to be affiliated. The auxiliary
organization(s) shall maintain a written set of rules and regulations
in the form of a constitution and bylaws for the purposes of, but
not limited to, governing organizational proceedings and membership
requirements, responsibilities, and conduct. Members of auxiliary
organizations shall have reached a minimum age of 14 years old. Auxiliary
members are strictly prohibited from participating in actual fire-fighting
actions, hands-on fire-fighting training, riding on apparatus responding
to emergencies, and all other activities which could be construed,
or pose similar risk of personal injury, as that of active fire fighting.
