43:17-9 - Membership qualifications
43:17-9 Membership qualifications.
43:17-9. The membership of such corporation shall consist, without any formal election thereto, of the officers and members of such fire engine, hook and ladder, hose and supply company or companies, fire association or fire department, or board of firewardens, as shall be under the supervision or control of the governing board or body of the municipality or fire district and who, at the time of their becoming eligible for membership in the New Jersey State Firemen's Association, shall be not less than 18 years of age and who were not more than 45 years of age at the time of joining the fire engine, hook and ladder, hose and supply company or companies, fire association or fire department, or board of firewardens and shall furnish evidence of good health in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as the executive committee of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association shall from time to time establish; the officers and members of any nonprofit corporations and associations incorporated pursuant to N.J.S.15A:1-1 et seq.; and the officers and members of any association therein of exempt firemen. The whole body of the membership of such corporation shall have the same rights therein as the charter members thereof.
Amended 1989, c.105; 1996, c.151, s.7; 1998, c.90.
43:17-10.Adoption of constitution, by-laws, rules
43:17-10. A corporation, incorporated or reincorporated under this article may, through its representatives, make, adopt and use, and from time to time alter, amend or change, such constitution or by-laws, or both, and such rules for its government, the regulation of its affairs and the disposition and management of its funds and property as seem to the representatives to be proper. The same shall not be inconsistent with the constitution or laws of the United States or of this State, or the rules and regulations adopted by the New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.8.
43:17-11.Board of representatives
43:17-11. On or before the second Monday in December, in every year, each fire engine, hook and ladder, hose or supply company, and the board of trustees of any fire association or department, and any board of firewardens, which is under the supervision or control of any municipal governing body, board of fire commissioners, or nonprofit corporations and associations incorporated pursuant to N.J.S.15A:1-1 et seq., and which is organized for and doing public fire duty in any municipality or fire district in this State, shall choose not more than three representatives, and the exempt firemen's association, if any such there be, shall choose not more than three representatives, who, together with the president, if any, of such fire association or department, and the chief, or, if there be no chief, then the next highest ranking officer, shall constitute a board of representatives, and shall have and exercise all the powers and perform all the duties herein committed to them, and shall hold office until their successors be chosen, and until their successors shall meet for the purpose of holding the annual election of officers, as provided in R.S.43:17-12.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.9.
43:17-12.Rotation of terms of members of board
43:17-12. If the by-laws of any firemen's relief association provide for the election, by each of the several companies, associations, or boards of which the relief association is comprised, of more than one member of the board of representatives thereof, the firemen's relief association may provide for a rotation in the terms of office of the members of the board of representatives, and at any annual election thereafter, there may be elected one representative for one year, one for two years, and, if deemed desirable, one for three years. Thereafter at each election, one representative shall be elected for the longest term provided for, not exceeding three years, from each company, association, or board comprising the firemen's relief association.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.10.
43:17-13.Officers, trustees, election
43:17-13. The board of representatives shall, on or before the third Monday in December in every year, elect by ballot from among their own number, or out of the whole membership of that association a president, vice president, treasurer and a secretary, who shall be the board of officers of the corporation, and not more than five members of a board of trustees.
At the first election after the incorporation or reincorporation, there shall be elected not less than three nor more than fifteen trustees, who shall then be divided by the representatives, by lot, into three classes, of not more than five persons each, those of the first class to hold office for one year, those of the second class to hold office for two years and those of the third class to hold office for three years after the date of their election, so that one class shall go out of office each year, and in each year after the first election not more than five trustees, who shall hold office for three years after the date of their election, shall be elected at the annual election.
The trustees may be elected in the same manner and from the same source as the representatives are chosen, in which case they shall be divided by the representatives, by lot, into three classes for the aforesaid terms. When the term of any trustee so elected expires, the successor shall be selected from the same source as that from which the trustee was chosen, and shall hold office for three years after the date of the election.
All of the officers and trustees shall hold office until their respective successors are elected.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.11.
43:17-14.Oath of officers43:17-14. The officers shall, upon their election, take an oath of office for the faithful performance of their duties.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.12.
43:17-15.Bond of treasurer, officers; custodian
43:17-15. The treasurer and officers of every firemen's relief association, organized or working under this article, shall in each year, upon assuming their office, be covered by a bond for the faithful discharge of their duties, with a surety company authorized to do business in this State as surety thereon, in a sum at least equal to the amount of money and convertible securities that may be in or coming into their hands, control or custody as such officers. The bond shall be procured, maintained and paid by the New Jersey State Fireman's Association.
The Treasurer of the New Jersey State Fireman's Association shall be the custodian of the official bond or bonds provided for in this section, and shall forward copies to the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
Amended 1996, c.151, s.13.