As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The right to issue orders, give commands, enforce obedience,
initiate action, and make necessary decisions commensurate with rank
or assignment as provided for in the FLA rules, policies and procedures.
Authority may be delegated by those so designated. Acts performed
without proper authority or authorization shall be considered to be
in violation of the rules of the FLA.
Vertical lines of communication, authority, and responsibility
within the organizational structure of the FLA.
A document detailing the performance of a specific activity
or method or operation. "Directive" includes:
GENERAL ORDERA broadly based directive dealing with policy and procedure and affecting one or more organizational subdivisions.
PERSONNEL ORDERA directive initiating and announcing a change in the assignment, rank, or status of personnel.
SPECIAL ORDERA directive dealing with a specific circumstance or event that is usually self-canceling.
Any services, including transportation, provided by the FLA
to a potentially or actually ill or injured person in response to
a call for service.
A person who performs in the capacity of an emergency medical
responder for the FLA.
The action indicated is permitted.
Any written or oral directive issued by a supervisor to any
subordinate or group of subordinates in the course of duty.
Any person who receives emergency medical services from the
FLA.
A statement of FLA principles that provides the basis for
the development of procedures and directives.
A written statement providing specific direction for performing
FLA activities. Procedures are implemented through policies and directives.
The action required is mandatory.
An employee assigned to a position requiring the exercise
of immediate supervision over the activities of other employees.
A business entity engaged by the Borough of Fort Lee for
the purpose of effecting the billing of patients and collecting payments
therefrom, which payments shall be remitted to the Borough of Fort
Lee.
The FLA shall consist of members as are or may
be appointed and approved by the Mayor and Council.
All FLA vehicles, equipment, and materials are
the property of the Borough of Fort Lee, and ownership shall remain
with the Borough of Fort Lee; and all expenses and costs shall be
incurred by the Borough of Fort Lee for the proper maintenance and
operation of the FLA.
No person shall be eligible to become a member
of the FLA unless such person shall posses and provide proof of the
following qualifications:
A.
Be not less than 18 years of age.
B.
Be physically fit to perform the duties of an emergency
medical technician.
C.
Be subject to a civil, criminal and motor vehicle
record check.
D.
Be subject to satisfactory pre-employment and random
drug/alcohol testing.
E.
Be a certified emergency medical technician of the
State of New Jersey.
F.
Possess a valid driver's license if the position will
require the member to drive.
G.
Possess a valid American Heart Association CPR for
the Healthcare Provider or equivalent CPR certification card.
A.
The FLA shall be permitted to maintain a volunteer
youth squad. Members of the youth squad shall serve as community volunteers
and will not receive compensation of any kind.
B.
No person shall be eligible to become a member of
the youth squad unless such person shall possess the following qualifications:
(1)
Be not less than 16 years of age nor more than 17
years of age.
(2)
Be a legal resident of the Borough for not less than
one year.
(3)
Be physically fit to perform the duties of an emergency
medical technician. The applicant shall submit proof of a medical
evaluation performed by a licensed physician.
(4)
Be a certified emergency medical technician of the
State of New Jersey.
(5)
Obtain parental consent to allow for and be subject
to satisfactory preservice and random drug/alcohol testing.
C.
Youth squad members shall apply for membership and,
upon acceptance, shall be placed on probation for a period of not
less than six months.
D.
Youth squad members shall not be permitted to operate
any Borough vehicles.
The name of the applicant shall be provided to the EMS Program Coordinator (See § 132-15), who will ensure that the application process is followed as established in Borough-wide standard operating procedure (SOP).
A.
The names of the members shall be written upon the
membership roll maintained by the Borough Clerk.
B.
A member shall be issued a photo identification card
as evidence of membership, which ID card shall at all times be and
remain the property of the Borough of Fort Lee. This photo identification
card shall be immediately surrendered to the Borough Administrator
when demanded or whenever a member has been formally suspended from
the FLA or when the member shall cease to be a member of the FLA.
Members shall be defined as follows:
A.
Active member: any employee who is physically able
to perform all duties, including on-call duty time and training and
other fixed duties. Active members shall be divided into two classifications.
(1)
Per-diem member: any member who is compensated at
an hourly rate for his/her service in the FLA. Per-diem members may
not be regularly employed in excess of 19.5 hours per week. Per-diem
members are not eligible for New Jersey Department of Personnel benefits
or protections under Titles 11 and 11A of the New Jersey statutes.
(2)
Volunteer member: any qualified person who meets the criteria of an active member but who does not receive compensation for his or her time or expenses, exclusive of volunteer stipends provided under § 6-1 et seq. of the Fort Lee Municipal Code. A member of the Fort Lee Volunteer Ambulance Corps may also serve as a member of the FLA.
A.
Per-diem members may work a maximum of 19.5 hours
per week. This may be exceeded only when a life-threatening incident
requires a recall of personnel or during a declared state of local
emergency.
B.
Per-diem members shall be compensated at a rate established
by the Mayor and Council.
C.
Members shall not be eligible to become certified
as regular full- or part-time employees of the Borough.
D.
Members shall not be eligible to receive pension benefit(s);
any health insurance, including medical, dental, or vision; vacation
or other leave or compensatory time; or any benefit of employment
not specifically set forth in this chapter.
E.
Members shall be covered by workers' compensation
insurance and the Borough group life insurance and shall benefit from
such insurance liability and defense policies as the Borough may,
from time to time, declare, carry, amend or discontinue, in the Borough's
sole discretion. In the event of a line-of-duty death, the Borough
shall ensure that all applications are processed and procedures followed
for any eligible state or federal benefits.
The active roster of the FLA shall be comprised
of the number of EMTs necessary to maintain the operations of the
FLA.
The FLA may be disbanded in the following manner:
A.
In its sole discretion, should the Mayor and Council
consider at any time that the interests of the Borough will be best
served by the disbandment of the FLA for any cause, or in the interest
of economy and efficiency, it may do so at any regular meeting by
a majority vote of the Council, 30 days' notice being previously given
to the EMS Program Coordinator and the members of the Council.
The Borough Administrator shall be the Director
of the FLA. The Director shall be the administrative officer in charge
of the FLA and shall be directly responsible for the efficiency and
day-to-day operations of the FLA, subject to the overall authority
of the Mayor and Council. The Director shall:
A.
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of
the Ambulance FLA and any special emergency directives for the disposition
and discipline of the FLA and its members.
B.
Organize, control and maintain all property and resources
of the FLA.
C.
Develop and implement policies and procedures necessary
to govern and direct the day-to-day operations of the FLA.
D.
Provide for the proper training of all members.
E.
Maintain the overall discipline of the FLA.
F.
Delegate such authority as may be deemed necessary
for the efficient operation of the FLA, to be exercised under the
direction and control of the Director.
G.
Maintain a constructive relationship with the public,
community organizations, the media and other agencies.
H.
Prepare and submit the annual budget and proposed
expenditure programs to the appropriate authority or other designated
officials.
I.
Allocate funds within the budget which are appropriated
by the governing body.
J.
In cases of necessity, temporarily employ per-diem
members when circumstances of an unusual or emergent nature arise
and prevent the Mayor and Council from pre-approving such hiring.
Temporary hires shall be submitted for Mayor and Council approval
at the earliest opportunity.
A.
The Director is hereby authorized, empowered and required,
when necessary, to adopt rules and regulations for the control, management,
and government of the FLA. These rules and regulations, after adoption
by the Director, shall not become effective and operative until presented
to and approved by the Mayor and Council, except as emergent circumstances
may otherwise require.
B.
Application. These rules are applicable to all members
of the FLA.
C.
Distribution. One copy of these rules shall be distributed
to each member of the FLA. Each member will be required to sign to
confirm receipt of the document.
D.
Responsibility for maintenance. It is the continuing
responsibility of each member to maintain a current copy of the rules,
including additions, revisions, and amendments, as issued.
E.
Familiarization. Members shall thoroughly familiarize
themselves with the provisions of the rules. Ignorance of any provision
of these rules will not be a defense to a charge of a violation of
these rules. It is the continuing responsibility of each member to
seek clarification through the chain of command for any rule that
is not fully understood.
The Borough may appoint an EMS Program Coordinator.
He/she shall work a maximum of 40 hours a week without prior approval
of the Director and will be a regular, full time employee of the Borough
of Fort Lee and shall report to and be supervised by the Director.
A.
Minimum qualifications (subject to additional qualifications
as may be required by the New Jersey Department of Personnel):
(1)
Be not less than 18 years of age.
(2)
Be able to fluently read, write and speak English
and demonstrate mathematical and other duties as the work to be performed
requires.
(3)
Be subject to a civil, criminal and motor vehicle
check.
(4)
Possess a valid driver's license.
(5)
Possess knowledge of emergency medical care and its
processes and procedures of the FLA.
(6)
Possess knowledge in computers and common programs,
including Microsoft Word and Excel.
(7)
Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien
with appropriate work visa.
(8)
Be able and available to manage absences and other
problems involving shift schedules, staff suspensions, logistics and
general supervisory duties.
(9)
The applicant is not required to be a member of the
FLA.
(10)
If the applicant is a member of the Fort Lee
Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the combination of hours as the EMS Program
Coordinator and the on-duty hours cannot exceed 40 hours a week without
prior approval of the Director.
(11)
Be a certified emergency medical technician
of the State of New Jersey.
(12)
Possess a valid American Heart Association CPR
for the Healthcare Provider or equivalent CPR certification card.
B.
Responsibilities:
(1)
Maintain the staffing schedule of the FLA, ensuring
that all shifts are fully staffed, without exception.
(2)
Maintain a roster of all members with their availability
to cover regular shifts and shifts that must be staffed due to sickness,
vacations, and other absences.
(3)
Maintain a call-out roster of those members available
to respond to general calls.
(4)
Collect, review, and forward all run sheets and forward
them to the authorized agency.
(5)
Collect and forward to appropriate official all personnel
and training records as prescribed in the rules and regulations.
(6)
Collect, review, and forward all time sheets.
(7)
Any and all other functions necessary to ensure that
shifts are staffed and information is provided to the billing agent.
(8)
The EMS Program Coordinator will be an employee, subject
to all requirements, allowances, and regulations of such employee
set forth in this chapter.
(9)
General supervisory duties, logistics, ensure vehicle
and equipment maintenance is performed, and maintain a safe working
environment in accordance with applicable state law.
(10)
The EMS Program Coordinator will submit a monthly
activity report to the Director.
(11)
Interface with hospital staff and third-party
payment contractors to maximize efficient billing and collection procedures
and practices.
(12)
Keep track of and ensure that all member certifications
and training requirements are kept current.
(13)
Be prepared to perform backup emergency medical
technician duties.
C.
Compensation. The EMS Program Coordinator will be
compensated at a rate of pay established by the Mayor and Council.
An Assistant EMS Program Coordinator may be
appointed from among the qualified members of the FLA to perform all
of the duties of the EMS Program Coordinator when he/she is on vacation.
The Assistant EMS Program Coordinator will be subject to all of the
requirements set forth in this chapter and will be compensated at
a per-diem rate (without other benefits) for the period of time served
in this capacity, or upon other such terms and conditions as the Mayor
and Council shall provide.
The EMS Program Coordinator, under the direction
of the Director of the FLA, shall see that timely and accurate records
are kept of all responses to calls for service, training, attendance,
certifications, and any other records required by the state, Borough,
or other authorized agency.
