[Adopted 9-7-1949 as part of Ord. No. 79[1]]
[Amended 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 547]
The Fire Department and Ambulance Squad of Carneys
Point Township shall be known as the "Carneys Point Fire Department
and Rescue Squad, Inc.," hereinafter known as the "Department."
[Added 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 547]
A.
Fire. The Department is to attempt to prevent the
outbreak of fires in the Township and to limit the danger to persons
and the damage to property caused by those fires that do occur.
B.
Rescue and emergency medical services. The Department
will attempt to perform rescue work and provide emergency care and
transportation for those injured or sick in the Township.
C.
Hazardous materials. The Department will attempt to
limit risks and safely manage hazardous material emergencies in Carneys
Point Township, subject to the restrictions and requirements of law.
D.
Disasters. The Department will assist in and cooperate
with the Emergency Management Coordinator in anticipation of large-scale
emergencies which may occur in the Township.
E.
Other. The Department will aid in emergencies when
called upon in the Township.
[Amended 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500; 3-24-1993 by Ord. No.
547]
A.
The Department shall elect persons to fill such offices
as shall be created under the Constitution and Bylaws of the Department
or other rules and regulations adopted by the Department not inconsistent
with other articles. The election of officers shall be held at the
November meeting of the Department, with the terms of said officers
to commence on January 1 next following their election. The officers
to be elected shall include, but shall not be limited to, a Chief
of the Department, an Assistant Fire Chief of the Department, a Captain
of the Department and a President of the Department. Every member
in good standing of the Department shall be eligible to vote for said
officers. The Secretary of the Department shall, at least one week
prior to said annual election, file with the Township Clerk, as a
matter of public record, a list of all members in good standing who
are entitled to vote at said election. The Secretary of the Department
shall, at the same time, notify all such members of the time and place
of said election.
B.
A statement of the result of said election shall be
signed by the President and Secretary of the Department and filed
with the Township Clerk for submission to the Township Committee at
its meeting next following the election of officers. Upon confirmation
of said election by the Township Committee, the Chief, the Captain
and President so elected shall hold office for a three-year term,
and the Assistant Fire Chief shall hold office for a two-year term.
C.
Each newly elected officer shall, before entering
upon his duties, qualify by taking and subscribing an oath that he
will justly, impartially and faithfully discharge the duties of his
office according to the best of his ability and understanding. Said
oath shall be administered by the Township Clerk and subscribed to
in duplicate. The original copy of said oath shall be filed with the
Township Clerk and a copy thereof filed with the Secretary of the
Department.
[Amended 10-10-1950 by Ord. No. 81; 2-13-1967 by Ord. No.
191; 4-9-1975 by Ord. No. 258; 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500; 9-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
Membership in the Department shall be open to
all persons who are able to perform the duties of the Department,
without discrimination on the basis of an applicant's race, creed,
color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status or physical
handicap.
A.
Application shall be upon forms furnished by the New
Jersey State Firemen's Association and on file with the Clerk of the
Township of Carneys Point. The form may be filed either in person
with the Department Secretary or by mail to the Department.
B.
The Secretary shall number, date and time the application
and notify the applicant of receipt of the same by mail. The Secretary
will give the application to the Membership Committee within three
days of receipt.
C.
The Department Membership Committee shall evaluate
and rule upon the application for membership. It shall, within 60
days of the receipt of the application by the Department, make a report
to the Department as to whether or not the applicant qualifies for
membership. Its decision shall be binding on the Department, and no
vote of membership shall be conducted on the issue.
D.
If the Membership Committee determines that an applicant
does not meet the minimum requirements for membership, the Department
Secretary shall promptly advise the applicant, in writing, of the
rejection and the qualifications, described with particularity, which
the applicant has not substantially met.
E.
Minimum requirements shall include:
(1)
Being between the ages of 18 years and 40 years of
age, inclusive, except between the ages of 41 and 55 when transferring
from another fire department or first aid squad.
(2)
Passing a physical examination given by a registered
medical doctor, as specified by the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
(3)
Being able to read, write and speak the English language.
(4)
Being approved as a member by the Township Committee
of Carneys Point Township.
F.
Such member shall, before entering upon his duties,
qualify by taking and subscribing an oath that he will justly, impartially
and faithfully discharge his duties according to the best of his ability
and understanding. Said oath shall be administered by the Township
Clerk and subscribed to in duplicate. The original copy of said oath
shall be filed with the Township Clerk and a copy thereof filed with
the Secretary of the Department.
[Added 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 547]
[Amended 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
All new members of the Department shall be placed
on the probationary roll for a period of time not to exceed one year
from the date of membership. During this period, the member will not
drive any apparatus unless ordered to do so by an officer. The probationary
member will attend drills and schooling to gain sufficient knowledge
of the apparatus and equipment of the Department. At any time during
the probationary period, the line officers may evaluate each probationary
member and determine if the member will be elevated to full active
member status. If the probationary member is not admitted to the active
membership of the Department, the line officers will notify the person,
in writing, of the rejection, giving particular reasons thereof. No
vote of the membership shall be conducted on this issue.
[Amended 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 547]
The active membership of the Department, as
defined by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Department, shall be
limited to not more than 100 members.
Every member of the Fire Department shall, in
each and every year, perform at least 60% of fire duty as provided
by law, which duty presently means actual recorded attendance and
rendering of fire service at not less than 60% of regular alarms of
fire answered by the Fire Company during any calendar year; but the
total number of alarms used in computing said percentage may include
not more than 20 drills called in the direction of the Fire Chief.
The records as to attendance at fires and drills
shall be kept by the Chief of the Fire Department, who shall annually
file with the Township Clerk a duly verified list and report under
oath of all active members of the Department not holding exempt fireman
certificates, which shall set forth the name and residence of all
such firemen, whether a citizen of the United States, whether of good
moral character, the date of becoming a fireman, age at that time
and percentage of fire duty performed during that year by each such
fireman.
[Added 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
Any Department member who holds a Township-issued
exempt certificate or a qualifying certificate issued by the New Jersey
State Firemen's Association shall be entitled to be an exempt member
of the Carneys Point Township Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc.
Exempt members shall have all of the rights and privileges of active
members.
[Added 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
The Department membership, by a two-thirds vote, may grant honorary membership to any member of the Department who is an exempt member and who holds a qualifying certificate or who has been a member of the Department for 20 years or more. Honorary members shall not be required to comply with the provisions of § 12-6 of this chapter.
[Added 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
The Department membership, by a two-thirds vote,
may grant an associate membership to any person who has performed
outstanding service or provided an unusual contribution to the Department.
Any active member shall have the right to nominate a person to be
an associate member.
[Added 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
The Department membership, by a two-thirds vote,
may grant a social membership to any person who is a resident of Carneys
Point Township and who is approved by the Membership Committee. A
social member shall be required to pay such initiation fee and annual
dues as may be established by the Department membership. In addition,
a social member shall abide by all the rules and regulations of the
Department. Any active member shall have the right to recommend a
person for social membership. Such recommendation shall be in writing
and shall state the specific reasons for the nomination. Social members
shall be entitled to attend all social events of the Department and
to participate in annual dinners, fund-raisers sponsored by the Department
and the annual drive.
[Added 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500]
Any member who shall not comply with the provisions of § 12-6 of this chapter for two consecutive years shall become an inactive member. An inactive member may not hold office, vote or have any say in the business of the Department. An inactive member may be reinstated to active membership in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Constitution and bylaws of the Department.
A.
Every member of the Fire Department shall be entitled
to receive an exempt fireman certificate when, from the records of
said Department filed with the Township Clerk, it appears that at
the time said fireman was appointed, elected or confirmed as a fireman
by the Township Committee of the Township he was a resident of the
Township, a citizen of the United States and of good moral character.
B.
Such an exempt fireman certificate shall be issued
to any member of the Fire Department of the Township of Carneys Point
who shall have performed such fire duty as may now or hereafter be
required therefor under the statutes in such case made and provided.
Such certificates shall have the Township seal affixed thereto and
shall be signed by the Chairman of the Township Committee and the
Chief of the Fire Department and be attested by the Township Clerk.
When an active member of the Department fails
to attend 60% of fire duty within two consecutive calendar years,
he shall automatically be transferred from active membership to such
other membership as the Company may determine, and a report of such
transfer shall be made by the Secretary, and a record of the date
on which his active membership terminates shall be made and entered
upon the Township Clerk's roll.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 12-10, Change
of residence, as amended 10-10-1950 by Ord. No. 81, was repealed 9-10-1997
by Ord. No. 616.
The Carneys Point Township Fire Company shall
have power to provide for the election of its officers and members
and the management of its own affairs under its Constitution and bylaws,
or such other rules and regulations as it may adopt, subject, nevertheless,
to the approval of the Township Committee thereon.
A.
Chief.
(1)
Supervision. The Chief of the Department shall have
general supervision of the Department at all times, including but
not limited to when the Department is actually engaged at an alarm,
when the Department is at a drill and at such other times when the
Department is assembled. The Chief shall, in all cases of an alarm,
take prompt and efficient measures and use the means of the Department
to control the scene, and he shall have full power and absolute control
and command over all apparatus and members of the Department and all
fire, rescue and/or ambulance departments aiding or assisting the
Department. In the absence of the Chief, the command shall devolve
as per the Constitution and Bylaws of the Department.
(2)
Records of attendance. The Chief of the Department
shall keep the records as to attendance at all alarms and drills for
each member.
(3)
Records of training. The Chief of the Department shall
keep training records of each member of the Department.
(4)
Other laws. The Chief shall conform to all County,
state and federal statutes.
(5)
Records of alarm. The Chief of the Department shall
devise forms of keeping records and shall see that the records are
kept of all alarms of the Department which may happen within the Township,
with all pertinent information as nearly as the same can be ascertained
on careful and diligent inquiry.
(6)
Reports of alarms. The Chief of the Department shall,
during the month of December in each year, report to the Township
Committee upon the alarms which have occurred in the Township during
the previous year, giving a statement thereon which shall include
such information as his records shall contain, as the Township Committee
shall require.
(7)
Reports of grounds, buildings, apparatus and equipment.
The Chief of the Department shall make monthly examinations or inspections
of the grounds, buildings, apparatus and other equipment, and he shall
annually and at such other times as the Township Committee shall require,
or when, in his judgment, the interests of the Department demand,
report to the Township Committee the condition of the Department and
all matters pertaining thereto as are of public interest, together
with such recommendations as he may deem necessary and proper. Said
annual report shall also include an inventory of apparatus and equipment
on hand, specifying their condition.
(8)
Standard operating procedures (SOPs). The Chief of
the Department shall adopt and enforce standard operating procedures
(SOPs) for the Department on training, accidents, injuries and procedures
when the Department is on alarms and drills.
(9)
Additional duties. The Chief of the Department shall
perform duties as described in this article and the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Department.
B.
Assistant Fire Chief.
(1)
Supervision. The Assistant Fire Chief of the Department
is directly responsible to the Chief of the Department and shall have
general supervision at all fire alarms, hazardous material emergencies
and fire drills in the absence of the Chief. In the absence of the
Assistant Fire Chief, the command shall devolve as per the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Department.
C.
Captain.
(1)
Supervision. The Captain of the Department shall be
directly responsible to the Chief of the Department and shall have
general supervision at all rescue alarms, ambulance alarms and rescue
drills. In the absence of the Captain, the command shall devolve as
per the Constitution and Bylaws of the Department.
(2)
Reports of alarms. The Captain of the Department shall
provide the Chief of the Department with full reports on all rescue
alarms and ambulance alarms.
(3)
Budget reports. The Captain of the Department shall
provide the Chief of the Department with all budget reports for rescue
and ambulance operations.
(4)
Additional duties. The Captain of the Department shall
perform duties as described in this article and the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Department.
D.
President.
(1)
Supervision. The President of the Department shall
have general supervision at all meetings and social events of the
Department.
(2)
Budget reports. The President of the Department shall
provide the Chief of the Department with all budget reports.
(3)
Additional duties. The President of the Department
shall perform duties as described in this article, the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Department and the New Jersey State corporate laws.
[Amended 12-12-1990 by Ord. No. 500; 3-24-1993 by Ord. No.
547]
A.
Any member or officer of the Department who shall
refuse or neglect to obey or execute any order from the officer in
charge at any alarm; or who shall violate or willfully neglect or
refuse to be controlled, governed or managed by any of the rules and
regulations established under this article; the standard operating
procedures of the Department or this article shall be subject to disciplinary
action. Disciplinary action may consist of a letter of reprimand,
suspension of privileges, suspension from duties or expulsion from
the Department.
B.
The Chief, Captain, President or the officer in charge shall have the power to suspend any member or officer of the Department for violation of any of the requirements set forth in Subsection A of this section. Such suspension shall continue for not more than 72 hours. Within the aforementioned 72 hours, the charging officer shall prepare and serve on the member or other officer a written complaint setting forth the charge or charges against such member or officer. A hearing on said charge or charges shall be convened within the aforementioned 72 hours, with the charge or charges to be adjudicated by the Chief, the Captain and the President or their designees. The charging party shall not be permitted to participate in the adjudication of the charge or charges.
C.
In the event that the Chief, the Captain and the President
or their designees determine that the charge or charges are truthful
and discipline the member or other officer, the disciplined member
or officer shall have the right of appeal from such decision. Any
appeal shall be made to the Advisory Board of the Department. Such
appeal shall be filed, in writing, within 10 days of the date that
the decision is rendered by the officers. Notice of the decision of
the officers shall be provided to the Township Clerk within 24 hours
of the date that such disciplinary action is imposed.
D.
In the event of an appeal, the Advisory Board shall
conduct a hearing on the charges within 60 days of the date of receipt
of the charge. The accused member or officer shall have a right to
be heard and present such evidence as the accused deems appropriate.
Upon completion of the hearing, the Advisory Board shall prepare written
findings of fact and, when appropriate, determine the disciplinary
action to be taken. Notice of the findings and action of the Advisory
Board shall be provided to the member or officer, the charging party
and the Township Committee within 24 hours of the date of the decision
of the Advisory Board.
E.
The person who initially filed the charges and the
accused member or officer shall have a right of appeal from any decision
of the Advisory Board of the Department. Such appeal shall be made
to the Carneys Point Township Committee. Any appeal filed under this
subsection shall be filed, in writing, within 10 days of the date
the decision is rendered. The Township Committee, on appeal, shall
have the right to affirm, reverse or modify the decision. The decision
of the Township Committee shall be based on the record of the proceedings
before the Advisory Board, if such a record exists, or the Township
Committee, at its direction, may supplement said record or conduct
a hearing de novo.
No fire apparatus used by the Department shall
be let out for hire nor shall any such apparatus be used for any mere
trial of skill or power except by permission of the Chief of the Fire
Department or the Chairman of the Township Committee. No fire apparatus
shall leave the territorial limits of the Township without the consent
of the Township Committee, except when assisting at a fire outside
of the Township.
[Amended 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 547]
A.
In case of an alarm in a mutual aid municipality,
the apparatus may be taken to such other municipality for the purpose
of bringing the alarm under control.
B.
Should an alarm develop in Carneys Point Township
requiring the assistance from one or more fire, rescue and/or ambulance
departments outside of the Township, the officer in charge is hereby
vested with the power to call for such assistance from a mutual aid
municipality as he shall deem necessary to aid in bringing the alarm
under control.
Every person, not a member of the Township Fire
Department who shall be present at a fire shall be subject and obedient
to the orders of the Chief or his assistant or, in their absence,
of any member of the Fire Department acting under their direction
in extinguishing a fire, preserving order and removing and protecting
property.
