There is established in the Borough a Fire Department,
to be known as the "Upper Saddle River Fire Department."
The members of the Upper Saddle River Fire Department,
a voluntary fire organization of the Borough, shall constitute the
membership of the Upper Saddle River Fire Department, subject to approval
of all new members by the Council with the following qualifications:
A.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Fire
Department or any unit thereof unless he or she is at least 18 years
of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the Borough
of Upper Saddle River for three months. Persons who are not residents
of the Borough of Upper Saddle River shall be eligible for membership,
subject to the bylaws of the Upper Saddle River Fire Department. He
or she shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a fire fighter,
evidenced by a certificate to that effect by a practicing physician
of the State of New Jersey, after physical examination, according
to the forms provided by the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
The provision relating to a three-month residence requirement may
be waived by the Borough Council where it appears that the prospective
member has been a member in good standing of another department immediately
prior to his or her residence in Upper Saddle River. A certificate
from a previous fire department company shall be sufficient evidence
of his compliance with this provision.
[Amended 4-12-1973; 8-10-1989 by Ord. No. 16-89; 11-10-1993 by Ord. No. 15-93]
B.
Every member of the Fire Department who is eligible
for State Relief Association death benefits shall perform at least
60% of duty in each and every year, such duty to be composed of actual
attendance and duty at fires and drills. A record shall be kept of
such attendance and duty by the Chief of the Fire Department and reported
to the municipal officers annually.
C.
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall
make application to the company or unit which he desires to join,
and upon his election to membership by vote of a majority of the unit
present and voting, he shall become a member in good standing of the
Fire Department after approval of his membership by the Chief and
confirmation by the municipal officers, and his name shall be entered
on a roll of firemen kept by the Borough Clerk.
D.
Exemption certificates may be issued to members of
the Fire Department who have served seven years in active duty, under
municipal control, as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-55 et seq.
[Amended 5-8-1986 by Ord. No. 8-86]
E.
Any member as provided in the opening statement of this section or any applicant in accordance with Subsection A who is over the age of 40 years, when admitted to membership of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association through the local Relief Association, when organized, shall not be entitled to benefits provided by the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
The Fire Department shall be governed by the
bylaws, rules and regulations now in force of the volunteer fire organizations
which are not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this article.
Such bylaws, rules and regulations may be changed, amended or repealed
by a majority of the members of the Fire Department at any regular
or special meeting called for that purpose, provided that no change,
amendment or alteration shall take effect until approved by the Council.
The officers of the Fire Department shall be
those who are now provided for by the bylaws, rules and regulations
in force of the volunteer fire organization and who shall be elected
by the members of the Upper Saddle River Fire Department, but who,
before acting as such officers, shall be approved by the Council.
A.
All fire equipment and apparatus owned by the volunteer
fire organization shall be under the control of the Council, provided
that the Fire Department shall have the right to replace with equivalent
equipment all or any part of the apparatus and equipment, and provided
further that any such sale shall first receive prior approval by the
Council.
B.
All fire equipment and apparatus purchased by the
Borough for use by the Fire department shall be the property of the
Borough. All fire equipment and apparatus purchased by the Fire Department
shall remain the property of the Fire Department but under control
of the Borough. All moneys contributed by the Council as set forth
in each annual budget shall be expended for equipment and apparatus
for the use of the Fire Department by the Fire Department, subject
to the approval of Council. All moneys raised by the Fire Department
through its own efforts shall be expended by it without control of
the Council.
A.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 43:12-28.1 et seq., the Borough
Council may provide for payment of a pension to the widow or, if there
is none, to the minor children of any volunteer fireman who has died
or shall die as a result of injuries sustained in the course of duty
as a member of the volunteer fire company.
B.
No pension so provided shall exceed the sum of $5,000
annually, and such pension shall be paid to the widow during her widowhood
or to the minor child or children of the fireman if he leaves no widow
surviving, or to such minor child or children after the death of the
widow.
C.
Sufficient moneys shall be appropriated annually for
the payment of the pension provided for in this section.
