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Township of Lower Pottsgrove, PA
Montgomery County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (1) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Pottsgrove as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-6-1994 by Ord. No. 189 (Ch. 1, Part 9B, of the 1995 Code)]
There shall be recognized in Lower Pottsgrove Township a fire-fighting force for the purposes as described herein. The Ringing Hill Fire Company, 815 White Pine Lane, and the Sanatoga Fire Company, 2222 East High Street, are hereby recognized as member fire companies in the Lower Pottsgrove fire-fighting force.
A. 
From time to time the Board of Commissioners shall designate a Commissioner to serve as a Fire Coordinator in regard to the fire-fighting force. An individual who is not a Commissioner may serve as a Fire Coordinator if that individual is acceptable to the Fire Chiefs of each company.
B. 
Duties of the Fire Coordinator shall include the following:
(1) 
Meet on a frequent basis with the fire companies to discuss fire-related issues.
(2) 
Provide for coordination between the fire companies and the Township.
(3) 
Review and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners in regard to requests from the fire companies for funding and other assistance.
(4) 
Receive budgets and annual financial statements from the fire companies and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners in regard to financial requests.
(5) 
Receive and review rosters from the fire companies for compliance with this article and other applicable laws.
(6) 
Such other administrative and coordinative duties as designated by the Board of Commissioners. This shall be an administrative and coordinative position, and the Fire Coordinator shall not be considered a supervisor for fire operations.
A. 
The fire companies recognized by the Township are hereby authorized to provide such services to the Township as may be necessary for the protection of property and persons situate therein, which include, by way of example and not of limitation, the extinguishment and prevention of loss of life and property from fire, automobile accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents (as per § 19-6 and other Township ordinances and regulations), and other dangerous situations.
B. 
The fire companies may also provide nonemergency and public service functions, such as, again by way of example and not of limitation, removing water from property after storms and assisting in the removal, abatement and prevention of damage or injury to persons or property whether through natural causes or man-made situations.
C. 
The fire companies may also conduct and participate in such training activities and drills, either within or outside of the Township, as may be deemed necessary by the officers of the fire company to maintain proficiency in providing service.
D. 
The fire companies may also respond to calls and provide services to municipalities outside of the Township.
E. 
In addition to actually participating in the activities of the fire companies as authorized above or in going to or returning from any activity, the members of the fire companies recognized by the Township are also authorized to do the following things:
(1) 
Engage in any type of drill, training, ceremony, practice, test or parade when duly called for or authorized by an officer or officers of the fire company.
(2) 
Engage in fund-raising activities for the fire company when authorized by an officer or officers of the fire company.
(3) 
Engage in the performance of any other duty or activity authorized by any officer of the recognized fire companies.
(4) 
Engage in the maintenance of equipment and real property related to fire-fighting activities.
A. 
The Board of Commissioners shall require that each fire company which is a part of the fire-fighting force to submit an up-to-date roster on at least an annual basis. The roster will include such information about firefighters as is deemed necessary by the Board of Commissioners, including name, address and training status for each firefighter.
B. 
On an annual basis, the fire companies will submit an annual budget for revenues and expenditures for the fire company. Each fire company will also submit an annual financial summary of the previous year's revenues and expenditures. The Board of Commissioners may approve, as part of the annual Township budget process, funds for payment to the fire companies in regard to the provision of training, acquisition of equipment and other operational expenses.
C. 
Each fire company shall prepare and adopt written operating procedures in regard to its duties.
D. 
The Fire Coordinator will receive the annual rosters, budgets and financial statements, written procedures and make such recommendations as necessary to the Board of Commissioners and fire companies.
A. 
Fire companies will provide for adequate training for all firefighters and shall certify to the Township that all firefighters responding to an incident will have received the appropriate training for duties undertaken by the firefighter.
B. 
The Fire Company Chief or officer in charge at a specific incident shall ensure that all respondents are properly trained for that type of incident.
A. 
All fire personnel who may respond to a potential hazardous materials incident shall be certified at "first responder-awareness" level of training.
B. 
All fire personnel who respond to hazardous materials incidents and engage in defensive action to contain or direct a leak or spill shall be certified at the "first responder-operations" level of training.
C. 
Upon receipt and review of written documentation of certification by the appropriate training authorities, the Township will affirm certification of individual fire personnel for the above levels of training.
D. 
The Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners may prepare and adopt specific guidelines and/or plans for response to hazardous materials incidents. Once adopted by the Township, said plans or policies shall be applicable to hazardous materials activities by fire personnel.
E. 
It is the intent of this article to set minimum training levels of fire personnel who may become involved in a hazardous materials incident. Fire personnel are not to undertake levels of response to hazardous materials incidents which are inconsistent with the guidelines set by this article or subsequent Township-adopted procedures.
[Adopted 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192 (Ch. 1, Part 9A, of the 1995 Code)]
A. 
The following associations are hereby recognized as actively engaged in providing fire protection and/or emergency services in the Township:
(1) 
Ringing Hill Fire Company.
(2) 
Sanatoga Fire Company.
B. 
The above-named associations have been formed for the benefit of their members and their families in case of death, sickness, temporary or permanent disability or accident suffered in the line of duty.
C. 
The above-named associations of the Township are designated the proper association(s) to receive such funds as are due and payable to the Township Treasurer by the Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania from the tax on premiums from foreign fire insurance companies.
The Board of Commissioners shall annually certify to the Auditor General of the Commonwealth the name(s) of the active associations and the percentage of service they contribute to the protection of the Township. Such certification shall be on forms prescribed by the Auditor General.
There is annually appropriated from the Township Treasury all such sums of money that may hereafter be paid into the Township Treasury by the Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania on account of taxes paid on premiums of foreign fire insurance companies in pursuance of the Act of December 18, 1984, No. 205, § 701 et seq., as hereinafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. Such monies received by the Township Treasurer from the State Treasurer shall be distributed to the duly recognized association(s) within 60 days of receipt. The funds shall be distributed on the basis of the percentage of service established in the certification to the Auditor General and with other provisions of the Act.