NJ Fire Company Battles Borough For Control

Posted by: Curt Varone August 7, 2013 1 Comment

A New Jersey volunteer fire company is challenging a town’s attempts to usurp its authority to appoint members, officers and its fire chief.

The Newfield Volunteer Fire Company filed suit against the Borough of Newfield in New Jersey Superior Court seeking to invalidate a borough ordinance that purports to give the borough council the authority to appoint reprimand, suspend or remove members and officers of the department, including the fire chief.

The fire company claims that the borough lacks the ability to give itself authority over the fire company by enacting an ordinance.  It also points out that the fire company’s existence predates the creation of the borough by 16 years.

The dispute has been simmering for several years with borough officials attempting to close the fire company earlier this year. That effort failed when those in favor of closing the company lost the vote.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

New Jersey Firefighter Alleges Race Discrimination and Retaliation

A New Jersey firefighter is suing his department, the fire chief and a firefighter alleging violations of the state’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act due to race discrimination and retaliation. Michael Warren filed suit against the Hamilton Township, Fire Chief Christopher Tozzi and Ray Krajcsovics.

FDNY Prevails in Trademark Case With Medic

The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down a ruling in favor of FDNY concluding that a trademark owned by an FDNY paramedic in the name of "Medical Special Operations Conference" cannot be enforce because it is descriptive.