[Adopted 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2284]
The purpose of this article is to establish an incentive program
to increase enrollment in the South Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department
and to reward such volunteers for their tireless efforts and many
hours spent to preserve and protect the health, safety, property and
welfare of the residents of the Borough of South Plainfield, 24 hours
per day, 365 days per year, without compensation.
As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall
have the following meanings:
Any person who has been certified in writing by the Fire
Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department within the Borough of South
Plainfield to have served at least one year's continuous volunteer
service in the Department and to possess the necessary certification(s),
license(s) and/or training required by the Department.
Any individual contributing services to the Volunteer Fire
Department without remuneration or without a formal agreement or contract
for hire.
The required percentage of activity or participation to qualify
as a bona fide member of the Volunteer Fire Department as established
by the Fire Chief.
A.
The provisions of this article shall be limited solely to the residents
of the Borough of South Plainfield who are current and active volunteers
of the Volunteer Fire Department within the Borough of South Plainfield
and who are certified by the Fire Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department
as "members in good standing" of said organization.
B.
Such certification shall be filed annually by the Fire Chief, not
later than January 15, with the Borough Clerk. A new certification
must be filed each year and the certification from the preceding year
shall be null and void.
Every member in good standing of a Volunteer Fire Department
shall be entitled to the following benefits from the Borough:
A.
Exemption from payment of any Borough of South Plainfield fees for
Borough licenses or permits, to a maximum of $300 per year, provided
the fee is for a license or permit for the personal benefit of such
member in good standing. Such exemption may not be utilized by any
individual, including family members, of such member in good standing.
This section shall not, however, be construed to apply to fees associated
with the South Plainfield Community Pool or South Plainfield Recreation
Department. Where fees include monies payable to the state or county,
only the municipal portion of said fees may be exempted.
A.
Coupon books. Within 20 days after January 15, the Borough Clerk
shall provide a book of coupons to the member in good standing which
shall be imprinted with a serial number. The coupons may be presented,
alone or in combination, by the member in good standing in order to
exempt he member from any of the fees specified in this article in
the following manner:
(1)
At the time that the member seeks the exemption from fees, he or
she shall present the coupon book to the appropriate authorized Borough
official or representative, who shall remove the requested coupon(s);
(2)
The Borough official or representative shall provide a receipt to
the member for the amount of the exemption and thereafter forward
the used coupon(s) to the Clerk's office for filing with a notation
as to the date of use and exemption provided;
(3)
Coupon books are not transferable and coupons may not be removed
from the book by anyone other than an authorized Borough official
or representative. Coupons otherwise removed from the book shall be
deemed null and void;
(4)
Coupon books shall expire on December 31 of the year of issuance,
and any coupons not used as of that date shall be deemed null and
void.
