Pursuant to Section II of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L.
1983, c.383) the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall
be locally enforced in the Township of Vernon.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Vernon Township Department
of Fire Prevention.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire
Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings,
structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township
of Vernon, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings,
used exclusively for dwelling purposes and building structures, and
premises owned by the federal government, interstate agencies or the
state, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform
Fire Safety Act and the International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition.
The local enforcing agency established by Section 263-2 shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcing agency established by Section 263-2 shall be under the direct supervision of the Fire Marshal, who shall report to the Township Mayor/Business Administrator.
A.
Appointment and qualifications of the Fire Marshal. The local enforcing
agency shall be under the direct supervision of a Fire Marshal.
(1)
Certified Fire Official/Fire Inspector with the State of New Jersey,
Division of Fire Safety.
(2)
Current Fire Fighter 2, ICS Level 3, NIMS Certifications with the
State of New Jersey, Division of Fire Safety.
(3)
Minimum of 5 years experience as a certified Fire Inspector/Fire
Official, further education may substitute for years of experience
in this paragraph.
B.
Term of office. The Fire Marshal shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the Council and serve for the term
of the Mayor. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
C.
Inspectors and employees. Fire inspectors and other employees as
may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed
by the Mayor. Inspectors shall be appointed for a period of one year.
All life hazard use inspectors will be certified by the state.
D.
Removal from office. The Fire Marshal, fire inspectors and other
employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the
Mayor; pursuant to State of New Jersey Statutes.
E.
Appointment of legal counsel. The governing body shall be responsible
for legal counsel to assist the agency in enforcing the Uniform Fire
Code.
Pursuant to Section 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,
any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency
shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals
of Sussex County.
A.
The New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be enforced by the Department
of Fire Prevention which shall be operated under the supervision of
the Fire Marshal.
B.
The Department of Fire Prevention shall consist of the following:
(1)
The Fire Marshal who shall be in charge of Department of Fire Prevention.
(2)
A maximum of 5 fire inspectors.
(3)
One part-time clerical staff.
The above officials shall be appointed by the Mayor with the
advice and consent of the Council, as per their appropriate terms.
Any vacancy in the above positions shall be filled for the unexpired
term.
C.
The duties of the Department of Fire Prevention shall consist of:
(1)
Enforcing the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition.
(2)
Making any and all inspections as required by law or deemed necessary.
(3)
Making accurate reports of any and all inspections and activities
of the Department of Fire Prevention.
(4)
Making recommendations to the appropriate Township officials in furtherance
of enforcing or amending the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
(5)
Performing any additional duty which the Mayor and Common Council
may assign.
(6)
Conduct the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by
the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the New Jersey
Department of Community Affairs.
(7)
Make a quarterly report of the Department of Fire Prevention and
transmit to the Mayor.
(8)
Investigate any/all calls of alarm or fire within the Township of
Vernon.
(9)
Make an annual report of the Department of Fire Prevention and transmit
to the Mayor. It shall contain all proceedings under the New Jersey
Uniform Fire Code, with such statistics as the Department may wish
to include therein. The report is to be transmitted no later than
the fourth Monday of January in the next succeeding years following
the year for which the report is made.
A.
The duties of the Fire Marshal of the Department of Fire Prevention
shall consist of the following:
(1)
Designating regularly scheduled hours for routine fire inspections.
(2)
Convening and presiding over meetings of the Department of Fire Prevention.
(3)
Promulgating and administering a budget for the Department of Fire
Prevention.
(4)
Formulating and implementing a schedule of routine inspections and
reinspections as shall be required.
(5)
Maintaining accurate records of the inspection reports and activities
of the Department of Fire Prevention.
(6)
Performing any additional duty which the Mayor may assign pursuant
to this chapter.
(7)
Formulating and implementing a schedule of inspection and implementing
a system that will effectively enforce the provisions of the New Jersey
Uniform Fire Code.
(8)
Perform fire prevention education within the Township of Vernon Community.
(9)
Respond to calls of alarm within the Township of Vernon and assist
the chief officers with incident command and/or interior fire attacks/investigations.
(10)
Coordination of fire pre-plans with the Vernon Township Fire
Chiefs.
(11)
Perform all the duties of Fire Marshal as set forth in N.J.S.A.
5:70-3.3.
Before a certificate is issued, the Fire Marshal or the Fire
Marshal's designated representative, shall make or cause to be
made an inspection to assure that the buildings, premises, structures,
or uses comply with the provisions of the Fire Code. These shall be
a two-year inspection cycle.
Before a certificate is issued, the Fire Marshal or the Fire
Marshal's designated representative, shall make or cause to be
made an inspection to assure that the buildings, premises, structures,
or uses comply with the provisions of the Fire Code.
A permit shall constitute permission to occupy and use such
buildings, premises, structures or, uses. Such permission shall not
be construed as authority to violate, cancel, or set aside any of
the provisions of the Fire Code. Said permit shall remain in effect
until revoked or one year, unless otherwise specified. Permits are
not transferable and any change in use, operation or tenancy shall
require a new permit.
The Fire Marshal may revoke the permit issued hereunder if upon
inspection any violation of the Fire Code exists or conditions of
a permit have been violated.
A certificate or permit shall not be issued until the designated
fees have been paid. The owners and/or occupiers of all properties
and businesses subject to this article shall be responsible for the
payment of the certificate/permit fees.
B.
All life hazard use, permits, non-life hazard use, and smoke and
CO inspection fees collected as per N.J.A.C 5:71-2.6(d) shall be appropriated
to the local enforcing agency for the enforcement of the Code and
yearly operations of the Department of Fire Prevention.
C.
Fire lane fees.
(2)
Be it further ordained that this chapter shall take effect after
adoption and publication according to law.
(3)
All fines shall be made payable to: Vernon Township Department of
Fire Prevention or designated agency writing said summons.
The fee for permits and inspections of life hazard uses shall
be as set forth in Uniform Safety Act.
Application for a permit required by this chapter shall be made
in such form and detail as the Fire Marshal shall require. Fee schedule
shall be given to the applicant at time of application depending on
type of permit required. The fee schedule shall be as follows:
Type 1 Permit: $ 42.00
Type 2 Permit: $166.00
Type 3 Permit: $ 331.00
Type 4 Permit: $ 497.00
It shall be unlawful to fail to obtain the permit or pay the
inspection fees required by this chapter. This shall also and/or constitute
the issuance of penalties set forth by the Fire Marshal.
The violation of any provision of Sections 263-10 through 263-17 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day any violation of this ordinance shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense and be punishable as such.
