[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oradell as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junior Firemen's Auxiliary — See Ch. 27.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 121.
[Adopted 3-20-1961 as Chapter 6 of the 1961 Revised Ordinances]
A Fire Department is hereby created and established for the Borough, composed as may from time to time be determined by resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 12-20-1998 by Ord. No. 837]
The Fire Department shall be organized and provided with officers as follows: one Chief of the Fire Department, one Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, one captain and three lieutenants, and such membership as shall hereafter be determined by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
The Fire Department may adopt bylaws and rules and regulations for its government, not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, but no such bylaws or rules and regulations shall go into effect until approved by the Mayor and Council of the Borough.
The Fire Department may choose its officers by ballot and determine the qualifications of its members, except that no officers or members shall be installed until after approval by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
Whenever any body of citizens shall organize a company for fire service, as provided in this article, and shall make application in writing to the Mayor and Council to be admitted to membership in the Fire Department created, as provided in § 25-1 and shall furnish satisfactory evidence of having the necessary apparatus and appliances for such service and shall deliver to the Borough Clerk a schedule of such apparatus and appliances and shall also file with the Borough Clerk a list giving the names of the officers and the members of such company, with the age, place of residence and date of admission of each, certified by the Captain of the company and attested by the Secretary thereof, the Mayor and Council may thereupon, by resolution, approve of such application and accept the services of such company as a part of the Fire Department.
When the Mayor and Council shall have, by resolution, approved a fire company's application for admission to membership in the Fire Department and accepted the services of such company, as provided in § 25-5, the officers and members of such company shall become members of the Fire Department of the Borough, have their names entered upon the register provided for in § 25-7 and be subject to the rules and regulations adopted for its government, and be entitled to all the privileges and benefits which the law confers.
Upon the election of members by the Fire Department, as provided in this article, the Secretary shall present to the Mayor and Council, at their first meeting thereafter, the names of each member so elected, which, if approved by the Council, shall be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose and to be known as "Register of the Fire Department of the Borough of Oradell." Such book shall contain the name of the member, his age, date of his admission and the name of the street whereon he resides. Upon such approval, a certificate shall be issued to the person whose membership has been approved, signed by the Mayor and attested by the Borough Clerk, that the person therein named is a duly qualified fireman of the Fire Department of the Borough.
The Chief of the Fire Department and the Assistant Chief of the Fire Department shall be chosen by the majority votes, by ballots, of the members of the Fire Department and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are chosen. All officers of the Fire Department shall receive a commission, signed by the Mayor and attested by the Borough Clerk.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department or the officer highest in rank in the Fire Department to keep himself informed as to the fire conditions of the Borough and the condition of the apparatus and personnel and to report concerning such matters, in writing, to the Mayor and Council at their regular meeting each month.
[Amended 12-20-1998 by Ord. No. 837]
Except as otherwise provided, the Chief of the Fire Department shall, at fires and at all times on duty, have sole and absolute command of the officers and men of the Fire Department present and be responsible for their discipline and efficiency.
[Amended 12-20-1998 by Ord. No. 837]
Except as otherwise provided, it shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief of the Fire Department to render such service and perform such duties as the Chief of the Fire Department may at any time require and, in the absence of the Chief of the Fire Department, to assume his obligations, exercise his powers and perform his duties.
[Amended 12-20-1998 by Ord. No. 837]
The question of authority of the officers of the Fire Department while on duty shall be determined by their grade. All officers and men of the Fire Department shall be subordinate to the Chief of the Fire Department. The first officer on duty at a fire shall exercise command until his superior arrives. Where two officers of the same grade meet on duty, the one longest in command shall take command. A company arriving at a fire without an officer shall be commanded by a former chief or the senior member.
Apparatus and appliances to be used in the Fire Department for the extinguishment of fires and for the protection of property exposed to fire or water used thereon shall be such as the Mayor and Council shall, from time to time, direct and shall be purchased and owned by the Borough. The Mayor and Council may consider the recommendations of the Chief of the Fire Department and at any time provide the Fire Department with apparatus and appliances, which apparatus and appliances shall remain the property of the Borough but shall be maintained and used by the Fire Department. The Mayor and Council may, from time to time, appropriate sufficient funds for the proper maintenance and repair of the equipment and apparatus of the Fire Department and of the maintenance of the firehouse.
[Amended 12-20-1998 by Ord. No. 837]
No part of the Fire Department shall attend parades or other functions or take fire apparatus outside of the Borough, except with the consent of the Mayor or, in his absence, by the consent of a majority of the members of the Borough Council. In the absence of both the Mayor and of a majority of the members of the Borough Council, such permission may be granted by the Chairman of the Fire Committee. When such permission is granted, it shall be with the express understanding that the Fire Department officers shall provide a special detail of its members, which special detail shall hold itself in readiness to render fire duty should the necessity occur while the remainder of the Fire Department is away from the Borough; provided, however, that this section shall not apply in the case of an appeal for help at a fire coming from a neighboring Borough.
The Chairman of the Fire Committee, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council, shall be entitled to attend the regular monthly meeting of the Fire Department and may, at the direction of the Mayor and Council as their deputy, also at the request of the Fire Department, act as representative of the Council at the regular meetings of the Fire Department.
[Adopted 8-24-2000 by Ord. No. 1116]
A Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) is herewith created, effective January 1, 2001, in accordance with Chapter 388 of the Laws of 1997,[1] to reward members of the Oradell Volunteer Fire Department for their loyal, diligent, and devoted service to the residents of the Borough of Oradell.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq.
The LOSAP shall provide for fixed annual contributions to a deferred income account for each volunteer member that meets the criteria set forth below; that such contributions shall be made in accordance with a plan that shall be established by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oradell 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 United States Internal Revenue Code, and this article.
The LOSAP shall provide for annual contributions as follows to each eligible member who attains 100 points per calendar year in accordance with the LOSAP point system set forth below:
A. 
Annual benefit for the years 2001 and 2002: $650.
B. 
Annual benefit for the years 2003 and 2004: $850.
C. 
Annual benefit commencing 2005: $1,150.
The estimated annual cost of the program based upon a membership of 50 volunteer fire fighters has been calculated as follows:
A. 
For 2001 and 2002: $32,500.
B. 
For 2003 and 2004: $42,500.
C. 
For 2005 and thereafter: $57,500.
Each active volunteer member shall be credited with points for volunteer services provided to the Oradell Volunteer Fire Department in accordance with the following schedule:
TRAINING COURSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Type
Points
Monthly Department drill and mutual drills
2
Monthly meetings
2
Fire Fighter I State Certification
5
Fire Fighter II Certification
10
Fire Fighter III Certification
15
Officers' Training Level I
10
Officers' Training Level II
10
SCBA Instructor State Certified
5
Smokehouse State Certified
5
Live Burn Instructor State Certified
5
Qualified Driver
5
Fire Official State Certified
10
Fire Inspector State Certified
5
Certified SCUBA Diver
5
Certified EMT
5
Certified First Responder
3
Jt/Aux. Coordinator/Instructor
5
Cadets Coordinator/Instructor
5
Successful completion of each course given by the Bergen County Fire Academy not listed above
3
Fire fighters receiving state certifications must maintain all state requirements (i.e., continuing education units) to be credited with points
EMERGENCY RESPONSE RECORD
Record
Points
Response to less than 15% of all calls
0
Response to at least 15%, but less than 20% of all calls
10
Response to more than 20%, but less than 30%, of all calls
20
Response to more than 30%, but less than 40%, of all calls
30
Response to more than 40%, but less than 50%, of all calls
40
Response to more than 50%, but less than 60%, of all calls
50
Response to 60%, or more of all calls
60
PRIOR SERVICE WITH ORADELL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Years of Service
Points
5
5
10
10
15
15
20
20
25
25
30
30
35 or more
35
ELECTED OR APPOINTED POSITIONS (LEADERSHIP)
Position
Points
Chief of the Department
30
Assistant Chief
20
Captain
20
Lieutenants
20
President of the Department
15
Vice President
10
Secretary
15
Vice President
10
Secretary
15
Financial Secretary
10
Treasurer
15
Active Ex-Chief
10
Active Ex-Officer
5
Department Engineer
5
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Type
Points
Approved presentations and lectures
3
Fire prevention school drill and lectures (per day)
3
Firesafety open house (each)
3
High school Op Prom.
3
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
Activity
Points
Chiefs' funeral call
1
Fire watch
1
Standby to another department
1
Department parades
1
Extra-duty cleanings
1
This article shall not take effect unless it is approved by voters as a public question at the next general election to be held on November 7, 2000.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 1116 was approved at said general election.