[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Sandyston 3-3-1992 as Ord. No. 3-92. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department
is hereby created and established with jurisdictional boundaries coextensive
with the boundaries of the Township.
The Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department
shall be composed of the Company and such additional Companies as
the Sandyston Township Committee may authorize and approve.
No person shall hereafter become a member of
the Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department or any unit thereof
unless that person is:
A.
A citizen of the United States between the ages of
18 and 40.
B.
Physically fit to perform the duties of a fireman
evidenced by a certificate to that effect from a practicing physician
of the State of New Jersey after a physical examination for that purpose.
C.
A resident of the State of New Jersey.
D.
Of good moral character.
Every member of the Fire Department shall, in
each and every year, perform at least 60% of duty to be composed of
actual attendance and duty at fires and drills; and a record shall
be kept of such attendance and duty by the Chief of the Fire Department
and shall be reported to the Township Committee annually.
Every member of the Fire Department shall be
entitled to an exempt fireman's certificate when it appears that at
the time of his appointment he met the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-56
and that he performed, during a period of seven years, 60% of fire
duty in each year respectively.
Every person hereafter seeking to join the Fire
Department shall make application to the Fire Company which he desires
to join, and upon his election to membership in accordance with the
bylaws of the Company, he shall become a member in good standing of
the Fire Department after approval of his membership by the Chief
of the Fire Department and confirmation by the Township Committee.
The election of members of a Fire Company shall be immediately reported
to the Township Clerk, who shall keep an accurate and up-to-date record
of all members of the Department, together with information as to
the Fire Company to which each member belongs. The members of the
Department shall be deemed to be exercising a governmental function,
and the adoption of this chapter shall be deemed to constitute a contract
as contemplated by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-68. The members of the Department
shall be under the supervision and control of the Township of Sandyston;
however, the appointment or election of the Chief of the Volunteer
Fire Department shall remain the prerogative of the members of the
Fire Department, as set forth in the certificate of incorporation
or bylaws of the Department.
There shall be a Chief of the Department, who
shall be elected by the members of the Department. The Department
shall also elect any other officers, as provided for in the bylaws
of the Department. All officers elected by the Department shall, upon
the approval of the Township Committee, be sworn in at the annual
reorganizational meeting of the Township Committee.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be in
command of the Department and all fires and fire-related incidents
within the Township of Sandyston. The Chief shall be responsible for
all decisions involving the use of fire apparatus within or without
the Township. He shall be responsible for the actions and direction
of the Department when officially summoned for duty and for other
matters pertaining to the overall efficiency of fire fighting within
the Township. The Chief shall render monthly and annual reports to
the Township Committee covering such firematic activities as fires,
drills, etc., but may delegate a subordinate to keep such records.
The Firematic Committee for the Department shall
consist of the Chief and such other officers as may be designated
in the bylaws of the Department.
