[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Forks 8-1-1996 by Ord. No. 128; amended in its entirety 12-20-2007 by Ord. No.
308. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The title of this chapter shall be the "Forks Township Fire
Department Ordinance of 2007."
The Township of Forks shall recognize an official department
to be designated hereafter as the "Forks Township Fire Department."
The Community Fire Company of Forks Township, a firefighting organization
in the Township of Forks, per its Charter, will supply the volunteer
manpower to the Forks Township Fire Department during firefighting
operations and firematic functions.
The officers of the Forks Township Fire Department shall consist
of a Fire Chief and a Deputy Fire Chief, and such other officers as
may be determined by the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief and Deputy Fire
Chief shall be appointed annually, based upon the recommendation of
the Community Fire Company of Forks Township, by the Board of Supervisors
of Forks Township at the organizational meeting held in January. The
other officers of the Community Fire Company of Forks Township shall
be elected as may be determined by the Community Fire Company membership
in accordance with the Community Fire Company of Forks Township Bylaws.
A.
The
Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief of the Forks Township Fire Department
shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
A member in good standing of the Community Fire Company of Forks
Township;
(2)
Either a) five years of service as an active firefighter in the Forks
Township Fire Department, or b) four years of service as an active
firefighter in the Forks Township Fire Department, plus satisfaction
of prior service and experience criteria as are established from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors;
(3)
Three years of service as a line officer in the Forks Township Fire
Department;
(4)
Completion of Essentials of Firefighting, or Firefighter I, or equivalent
training in basic firefighting; and
(5)
Residence located in Forks Township or within 10 miles of the Township
boundary.
B.
In
the event that no candidate for these positions meets the above requirements,
then the Board of Supervisors, along with the Community Fire Company
of Forks Township, shall fill these positions based on the best qualified
candidate for the position.
If a vacancy in the office of Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief
should occur, then, after obtaining a recommendation from the Community
Fire Company of Forks Township, the Board of Supervisors may appoint
a person to hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief shall be subject to removal
for just cause by the Board of Supervisors following a hearing by
the Board of Supervisors on the matter.
A.
All
rules and regulations for the governing of the Forks Township Fire
Department shall be drafted initially by the Fire Chief and submitted
to the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Forks for approval
and adoption, no less than every three years.
B.
No
such rules and regulations shall be effective without the approval
and adoption by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Forks.
A.
The Forks Township Fire Department funding shall be a municipal budget
item known as the "Fire Protection Fund." Said budget shall be submitted
annually by the Fire Chief and is subject to approval by the Forks
Township Board of Supervisors.
B.
The Forks Township Fire Department shall consist of only members
who receive no compensation for their service, provided that the Fire
Chief and the Deputy Fire Chief shall be entitled to reimbursement
from the Township for reasonable expenses when their motor vehicles
are used for official Fire Department business, subject to review
and approval by the Township Manager and/or the Township Finance Manager.
The Board of Supervisors may set mileage and vehicle idle rates annually,
by way of resolution, at the organizational meeting held in January.
The Board of Supervisors will annually approve a budgetary line item
for reimbursable expenses for the positions of Fire Chief and Deputy
Fire Chief.
