[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Medford Lakes 5-28-1975 by Ord. No. 120; amended
in its entirety 1-25-2012 by Ord. No. 594. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established in and for the Borough of Medford
Lakes a Municipal Fire Department to be known as the "Medford Lakes
Fire Department." No other fire-fighting organization is to be formed
within the Borough without the consent of the Borough Council. The
Fire Department hereby created must comply with all the requirements
of this chapter and any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder.
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of a Chief,
such Assistant Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, and other line officers
and members as shall be appointed by the Borough Manager as provided
by law.
It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of the Fire Department
to make all reports to Borough Council as hereafter required by this
chapter.
The Borough of Medford Lakes shall retain ownership and control
over quarters entrusted to the Fire Department.
All expenses for the operation and maintenance of the Department
shall be paid by the Borough Council in accordance with applicable
state statutes.
The Borough of Medford Lakes shall retain title to all equipment
purchased with funds supplied by Borough Council for the purpose of
purchasing such equipment. However, nothing shall preclude donations
of equipment or property to the Fire Department with approval of acceptance
of the donated item from the Borough Council.
A.
The Chief shall be in full command and complete control at all fires
and during the period of all alarms and shall be held accountable
for his/her actions to the Borough Manager and Council and shall make
written and verbal reports as the Council may require. All other line
officers shall be accountable to the Chief except when any of said
officers are acting as Chief in his/her absence.
B.
The Chief shall formulate rules and regulations to govern the operation
of the Fire Department, such rules and regulations being subject to
review and approval by the Borough Council, and shall be responsible
to the Borough Manager and Council for the morale and general efficiency
of the Fire Department.
C.
The Chief or line officer designated by him/her shall, at least once
a month, conduct suitable drills or instructions in the operation
of fire-fighting apparatus and equipment, first aid and rescue work,
salvage, a study of buildings presenting unusual fire problems, water
supply and other matters generally considered essential to good firefighting
and safety of life and property from fire.
D.
The Chief or any line officer designated by him/her is hereby required
to report to the Borough Manager any suspected crime of arson and
shall render all possible assistance to the Borough Manager and the
Chief of Police in investigating the cause, origin, and circumstances
of all fires of questionable origin.
E.
The Chief shall cause to be kept complete records of all fires, apparatus
and minor equipment, personnel and other information about the work
of the Fire Department.
F.
The Chief shall report monthly to the Borough Manager the number
and type of fires during the month, the number and purpose of all
other runs made, the number of members and man hours involved in responding
to each fire or other run, and the estimated loss involved in all
building fires.
G.
The Chief shall make a complete annual report to the Borough Manager, such report to include information as specified in Subsection F of this section, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Fire Department.
H.
The Chief shall be responsible to transmit to the Borough Manager,
on or before October 31 of each year, a proposed annual budget.
The recognized standards and practices for the prevention of
fire shall be held to mean the standard practices and requirements
as set forth in the Fire Prevention Code currently in effect in the
Borough.
A.
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall make application
to the Fire Department in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the Fire Department. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
and must pass a physical examination by a practicing physician in
the State of New Jersey. All applicants must submit to a background
check. All appointments are subject to the approval of the Borough
Manager. Members of the Fire Department are subject to the Borough
of Medford Lakes Personnel Policies and Procedures.
B.
It shall be the duty of the active members to participate in drills
and instructions and to aid the Chief and the other line officers
to the best of their ability in the prevention and control of fire
and the protection of life and property within the Borough of Medford
Lakes and wherever the Fire Department may have cause to conduct operations.
C.
All members of the Fire Department shall serve without compensation.
D.
An exempt firemen's certificate shall be issued by the Borough
Council, in the form and manner provided by law, to all members of
the Fire Department lawfully entitled to receive the same.
A.
Recommendations for the purchase of apparatus and equipment needed
to maintain the effectiveness of the Fire Department and properly
protect life and property from fire shall be made by the Chief to
the Borough Manager.
B.
All Borough equipment of the Fire Department shall be safely and
conveniently housed by the Fire Department.
C.
Suitable arrangements shall be provided for citizens to turn in an
alarm, and for notifying members of the Fire Department so that they
may promptly respond. It shall be the duty of the Chief to notify
the Borough Manager of any condition that would interfere with the
proper functioning of the fire alarm system. He shall cause the arrangement
to be tested as required to obtain a dependable alarm service.
D.
Except as may be authorized by the Borough Manager, no person shall
use any fire apparatus or equipment of the Borough for any private
purpose. No person shall willfully and without authority take away
or conceal any article used in any way by the Fire Department.
E.
No person except authorized employees of the Borough of Medford Lakes
shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any
equipment belonging to the Borough unless accompanied by or having
the special permission of an officer or authorized member of the Fire
Department.
F.
The Chief of the Fire Department is hereby authorized to extend aid
to neighboring communities upon request for fire protection or to
establish a mutual aid system.
G.
No apparatus of the Borough shall be hired out or permitted to leave the Borough of Medford Lakes without consent of the Borough Manager, except in response to a call for aid in a neighboring community or on official business. No apparatus is to leave the Borough on official business without the consent of the Chief or highest ranking line officer available. The line officer in charge of the Fire Department shall have power to assign equipment for response to calls for outside aid in accordance with Subsection F of this section, and in other cases, only when the absence of such equipment in his/her judgment will not jeopardize fire protection in the Borough of Medford Lakes.
