UPPER FREEHOLD — The Township Committee has scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. Sept. 3 to consider the adoption of an ordinance that proposes the hiring of a fire superintendent and a fire official.
Those officials would work with the Hope Fire Company, which serves Upper Freehold and Allentown.
At the same time that municipal officials are planning to act on the ordinance, fire company officers have put out a call for additional volunteers to serve the community.
Hope Fire Company Chief Steve Gomba explained the need for volunteers and paid firefighters.
“Upper Freehold used to have volunteers who worked in the community. They were able to leave their jobs and answer fire calls. Over the years, more and more people are now working outside the community. We approached the Allentown and Upper Freehold (governing bodies) saying we needed career staff coverage (and) an agreement was made,” he said.
Robert Fortsch, the assistant to the township administrator, said the fire company has not had a formal director of its career firefighters.
“It was sort of a group of five guys,” Fortsch said. “The firefighter who had been there the longest sort of assumed that (director’s) position. He left six months ago and now there is a vacancy for the fire lieutenant position.”
The Hope Fire Company currently consists of about 25 volunteer firefighters and four career (paid) firefighters, among other positions. The fire company has responded to about 300 calls for service in 2015, although the majority of the responses are not to fires, according to officials.
Gomba said it is possible one person could have the qualifications to fill both positions — fire superintendent and fire official.
According to the proposed ordinance, the fire superintendent will:
Direct the daily work assignments of the township fire department personnel and ensure the satisfactory completion of the assignments
Write memos and standard operation guidelines with the assistance of the Hope Fire Company chief to inform, instruct or direct fire department activities
Review department training programs to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and may assist in training of fire personnel
Authorize training courses for departmental staff
Have the authority to relieve or recommend disciplinary actions of township career firefighters for violations of departmental, county, state or federal regulations
Maintain inventory control of township fire department assets
Assist the township administrator in the development of the township fire department budget and in formulating the township’s position in negotiating applicable collective bargaining negotiations agreements
Consult with and advise the township administrator with respect to any matters pertaining to fire department policy, personnel, or the purchase of equipment and supplies or other matters generally relating to the efficient operation of the fire department.
The fire official, which could be a parttime position, will handle fire prevention codes and other associated tasks.
Career staff at the Hope Fire Company work weekdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., consisting of four 10-hour days.
The fire superintendent position is expected to pay between $25,000 and $60,000 per year. The fire official position is expected to pay between $5,000 and $15,000 per year.
The Hope Fire Company is seeking additional volunteers at this time.
“The bigger the pool of volunteers you have to pull from, the more likely you will have more people showing up on a call,” Gomba said.
Volunteers perform a variety of tasks for the Hope Fire Company. An individual may be a social member and help with fundraising, cleaning and behind-the-scenes functions that keep the firehouse running. Lead auxiliary members support firefighters at the scene of an incident. Fire police volunteers help direct and control traffic at the scene of an incident. Volunteer firefighters handle emergency situations and are on the front line fighting fires.
In order to become a volunteer firefighter, an individual must attend the Monmouth County Fire Academy, Howell, for 160 hours of training. The training is provided at no cost to the volunteer.
Individuals who are 16 and 17 years old may participate with the Hope Fire Company as junior members.
“We let them participate and follow the training to get an idea of what it is like to be a firefighter. They can’t go into any smoke conditions or to actual fires, but they are allowed to go to the fire grounds and stay with the driver of the truck in a safe spot. They are not put in harm’s way. Once a person turns 18, they can go through training to become a firefighter,” Gomba said.
For more information, visit hopefirecompany.com. Interested individuals may stop in at the Hope Fire Company, 82 Route 526, Upper Freehold, any Wednesday between 7-9 p.m. Gomba said all are welcome to visit the fire company and speak with the personnel on hand.