[Ord. 5/13/1963, § 1]
There is hereby abolished the office of Chief Engineer and there
is hereby created the office of Fire Chief.
[Ord. 5/13/1963, § 2; as amended by Ord. 1735,
4/12/1993; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
The administration of the fire laws of the Borough of Pottstown
shall be enforced by the Fire Chief, who shall have the powers prescribed
by law for Fire Chiefs in the boroughs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Said Fire Chief shall have the power and it shall be his duty to enforce
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to make and enforce
such additional rules and regulations as permitted him by law, as
well as any and all rules and regulations now or hereafter adopted
by and enacted and ordained by the Borough Council. Should any fire
company or its personnel refuse to recognize the authority or obey
the orders of the Fire Chief or any subordinate Fire Department officers,
such actions shall be reported to the Borough Council for review and
possible action.
[Ord. 5/13/1963, § 3; as amended by Ord. 1830,
9/9/1996, § 1]
The office of Fire Chief shall be in the department of the Borough
Manager and shall further be under the direction of the Borough Manager.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964; as amended by Ord. No. 2227, 7/10/2023]
The Fire Department of the Borough of Pottstown shall be composed
of the following volunteer fire companies: the Goodwill Fire Company
No. 1; the North End Fire Company No 1; and the Philadelphia Steam
Fire Engine Company No. 1.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 2; as amended by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 1]
1.
The personnel of the Fire Department shall consist of the Fire Chief
and a Fire Marshal. They shall be appointed in accordance with regulations
and procedures of the Borough governing the appointment of all Borough
personnel.
2.
In appointing the personnel of the Fire Department, consideration
may be given as to the recommendation of the Borough Fire Committee
as to qualified applicants.
[Amended by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 3; as amended by Ord.
1720, 12/29/1992, § 1; by Ord. 2103, 12/10/2012; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1.
No person shall be eligible to the office of Borough Fire Chief,
hereinafter referred to as the "Fire Chief," who shall not have attained
the age of 25 years, nor shall any person be eligible for such office
unless he/she shall be and/or satisfy the following:
A.
A citizen of the United States.
B.
Shall reside within 10 miles of the Borough limits within one year
of his/her date of hire.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2175, 5/14/2018]
C.
An active, experienced firefighter.
D.
A member of a Fire Department for at least seven years.
E.
Possess the requirements of the job description prepared by the Borough
Manager and approved by the Borough Council from time to time.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 4; as amended by Ord.
1720, 12/29/1992, § 2; as repealed by Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996,
§ 2]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 5; as amended by Ord.
1585, 3/19/1988, § 1; by Ord. 1735, 4/12/1993; by Ord. 1830,
9/9/1996, § 1; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 1]
As the Borough Fire Chief is not required to and does not attend
all fires and other emergencies, it is necessary to provide for a
command hierarchy for the orderly implementation of the policies of
the Fire Department relating to firefighting responsibilities. Therefore,
each of the Fire Chiefs of the volunteer fire companies, as elected
by their respective membership, shall be deemed a Fire Officer of
the Borough solely for the purpose of coordinating firefighting efforts
at the fire scene. Such Fire Officers shall hold the rank of Deputy
Chief of Fire Operations, Deputy Chief of Rescue Operations, First
and Second Assistant Fire Chief as designated by the Fire Chief.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 6; as amended by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 1; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, §
2]
At anytime, Borough Council, by a vote of a majority of all
members thereof, may remove the Fire Chief for incompetence, neglect
of duty or any other cause touching upon the powers and duties of
such officer, on charges preferred and sustained, and after a public
hearing before Council. Vacancies occurring in the office of Fire
Chief in this or any other manner shall be temporarily filled by advancement
of the Deputy Chief of Fire Operations to the Office of Fire Chief,
and to serve as such until the vacancy is filled by the appointment
of a Fire Chief by the Borough Council.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 7; as amended by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 1]
The Fire Chief shall receive such compensation as the Borough
Council shall from time to time determine, to be paid periodically
from the Borough Treasury.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 8; as repealed by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 2]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 9; as amended by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, §§ 1, 2; by Ord. 2052, 6/9/2008; and
by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1.
The Fire Chief shall have full control over the Fire Department as
it relates to firefighting and emergencies and related duties when
occasions arise and shall dismiss each fire company when its services
are no longer required. He shall make an effort to attend Fire Department
emergency responses in the Borough; and in case of fires and emergencies,
he shall have full control over all fire apparatus and Department
personnel, and shall give instructions as to how, when and where such
apparatus and personnel are to be used, and where the hose shall be
attached, shall direct the streams and shall have general control
over such matters. When he shall deem the same to be necessary, the
Fire Chief shall cause the scene of a fire or emergency to be cordoned
off, with no person to be admitted within the enclosure except emergency
personnel and those authorized by the Fire Chief. He shall have the
authority, in any extreme emergency, to cause any building or structure
or portion thereof within the Borough to be demolished to prevent
spread of fire, injury to the public or further damage to property.
2.
The Fire Chief shall have the power and authority to establish suitable
measures to put into effect emergency practices and procedures necessary
for the efficient operations of the Fire Department.
3.
The Fire Chief shall investigate all fires and keep a correct record
thereof. He shall make monthly reports to the Borough Manager of all
fires and of any other matters pertaining to the Fire Department and
the activities and needs thereof and shall annually, in the month
of January, submit a detailed report to the Borough Council.
4.
The Fire Chief shall visit each fire company at least once a month,
at which time he shall inspect the apparatus and equipment to assure
it is in serviceable condition. He shall have free access at all times
to the firehouses of the various fire companies comprising the Fire
Department.
5.
The Fire Chief shall have the authority to discipline any volunteer
member of the Fire Department for insubordination or who may violate
any of the rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Fire
Department while operating during any fire or emergency response or
training activity of the Fire Department. Said discipline may include
but shall not be limited to verbal or written reprimand and/or suspension
or permanent removal from responding to fires and emergencies with
the Fire Department.
6.
The Fire Chief shall have full authority to assign any apparatus,
equipment or personnel to details, responses or activities within
the Borough.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 10; as amended by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 1; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 3]
Consistent with the provisions of §§ 258 and
259, the Deputy Chief of Fire Operations shall be acting Chief in
the absence of the Fire Chief, and the chain of authority shall move
in a descending order as indicated by the approved Fire Department
Organizational Chart, from Fire Chief to Deputy Chiefs, Assistant
Fire Chiefs, Battalion Chiefs, and Captains, and when no Fire Officers
are present the driver of the first apparatus to arrive on the fire
or emergency scene shall be in charge. At all times the highest-ranking
Fire Officer on scene shall be in charge of the scene. Any person
acting as the Fire Chief shall have and may exercise all authority
vested by this Part in the Fire Chief.
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 11; as repealed by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 2]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 12; as repealed by Ord.
1830, 9/9/1996, § 2]
[Ord. 1044, 5/19/1964, § 13; as amended by Ord.
2156, 10/11/2016]
No apparatus of the Fire Department belonging to the Borough
shall at any time be taken beyond the limits of the Borough for other
than mutual aid responses, unless the consent of the Fire Chief or
officer acting as Fire Chief at the time shall be first had and obtained.
[Ord. 1711, 11/9/1992, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1735, 4/12/1993]
A fee, as established from time to time by resolution of Borough
Council, shall be charged for a copy of a fire report.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052,
6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 4; Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1.
The Borough Fire Committee shall consist of the three elected or
appointed fire company officers of each volunteer fire company. The
fire companies shall recommend action or policies to the Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief shall facilitate Fire Committee meetings. The fire
company shall recommend action or policies to the Fire Chief.
2.
The Borough Fire Committee, which shall meet on at least a quarterly
basis, shall recommend Department policy and operating procedures
in such matters as Fire Department administration, training, firefighting
methods, developing specifications for and ordering of new equipment,
fire-suppression operations, fire apparatus response and other matters
pertaining to the management of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief
shall have the final approval, authorization of all recommendations
of the Fire Committee for implementation.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052,
6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1.
Each volunteer fire company shall operate under its own bylaws, which
shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards for similar
organizations and with generally accepted accounting principles for
similar organizations. Nothing in this subpart is intended to have
any effect or control over the internal organization of the volunteer
fire companies.
2.
The volunteer fire companies shall, under the oversight of the Borough
Fire Chief, train the members of their companies. All companies shall
adhere to Fire Department procedures and policies as approved by the
Fire Chief.
3.
The Fire Chiefs and their subordinate officers at each volunteer
fire company shall continue to be responsible for maintenance, efficiency
and conduct of their respective companies.
[Ord. 1830, 9/9/1996, § 3; as amended by Ord. 2052,
6/9/2008; and by Ord. 2072, 3/8/2010, § 5; and by Ord. 2156, 10/11/2016]
1.
Annual appropriations shall be made by the Borough to each volunteer
fire company in the Borough which is a member of the Fire Department,
subject to such reasonable conditions as the Borough Council may from
time to time impose. In determining the amount of the appropriation
to a particular volunteer company, the Borough will give consideration
to the needs and requirements of each company.
2.
Each volunteer fire company shall submit its needs and requirements
to the Borough Council on or before September 30 of the ensuing year.
