[Adopted by Ord. No. O-78-16 (§§ 12-1 to 12-10 of the Revised General Ordinances), as amended through Ord. No. O-00-44]
[Amended 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. O-05-48]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383; N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Township of Freehold. See also N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq.
[Amended 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8]
The Freehold Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall be under the supervision of the Fire Official who shall be appointed by the governing body pursuant to Title 11A, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes. The Fire Official shall hold his/her position pursuant to Civil Service requirements. Such fire inspectors and other support staff as may be necessary for the Freehold Fire Prevention Bureau to properly carry out its responsibilities shall be appointed by the Township Administrator pursuant to Title 11A, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes. The Fire Official, fire inspectors and other support staff shall be removed from their offices and positions pursuant to the requirements of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes.
The Freehold Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it and all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of Freehold, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
The Freehold Township Fire Prevention Bureau established by § 162-5 shall carry out the periodic inspection of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
The Freehold Township Fire Prevention Bureau established by § 162-5 and pursuant to state regulations shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official who shall report to the Township Administrator.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208, respectively) any person aggrieved by any order of the Freehold Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Monmouth.
[Amended 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8]
The state permit fees as established in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(a) and (c) are as provided for in Chapter 150, Fees.
Subject to the requirements of the Uniform Fire Code, the Fire Official shall make or cause to be made inspections of all buildings and premises as often as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, endanger life from fire, or any violations of the provisions or intent of the code or of any other ordinance affecting the fire hazard. The Fire Official shall make a minimum of one fire inspection per calendar year unless more frequently required by the Uniform Fire Safety Act.
[Amended 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8]
The Fire Prevention Board shall consist of the Chiefs of the fire companies or his/her designees, the Chief of Police or his/her designee, the Construction Official or his/her designee, the Fire Official or his/her designee, and six members at large designated by the Township Committee. The terms of the six at large members shall be for four years. Appointment shall be by the Township Committee at its organizational meeting. If a member at large, during that member's four-year term, shall be elected or appointed as a Fire Chief, Police Chief, Construction Official or Fire Official, his or her at-large membership shall be deemed vacated in which event the Township Committee shall appoint a replacement at-large member to fill the unexpired term. The members of the Board shall, at its annual reorganization meeting held in January of each year, elect one of the members to serve as Chief of the Board and another of its members to serve as Deputy Chief of the Board.
In addition to the inspections and fees required for life hazard uses pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the regulations of the Department of Community Affairs, the inspections and fees required for non-life-hazard uses and shall be carried out by the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be as provided in Chapter 150, Fees.