Emergency Services Advisory Board

BYLAWS

www.bcfirechiefs.org

 

 

Article I

 

The name of this organization shall be the Burlington County Emergency Services Advisory Board (BCESAB).

 

Article II

Mission

 

To review the emergency services needs, resources, and related issues within Burlington County and to provide advice to the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

Article III

Purpose

 

To review emergency services activities which are conducted in Burlington County and to serve as the primary vehicle for providing emergency services input and recommendations to the Board of Freeholders.  Matters about which the BCESAB may make recommendations to the Board of Freeholders include, but are not limited to:

 

A.     Planning for the emergency services needs in Burlington County

 

B.     Reviewing, commenting, and providing a forum for public discussion on emergency services issues.

 

C.     Review, confirm and forward to the Board of Freeholders those persons recommended for the positions of Fire and EMS coordinators.

 

D.     Assist in long range planning of the provision of emergency services within Burlington County

 

E.      Planning and promoting coordination of the emergency services delivery system.

 

Article IV

Membership

 

  1. All voting members of the BCESAB shall be appointed by the Board of Freeholders.  Voting members shall consist of the nine (9) members representing the following Burlington County Emergency Services Organizations

 

1.      The Burlington County Fire Chief’s Association shall provide two (2) members.  At the time of appointment each member shall be an active fire chief officer.

  

2.      The Burlington County Firefighter’s Association shall provide one (1) member.  At the time of appointment the member shall be a serving delegate.

 

3.      The Burlington County Fire Police Association shall provide one (1) member.  At the time of appointment he/she shall be an active member of the organization.

 

4.      The Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Association shall provide one (1) member.  At the time of appointment he/she shall be an active member of the organization.

 

5.      The Burlington County First Aid Council shall provide three (3) members.  At all times, it is required that at least one appointee is an active EMS Chief or Captain within the County.  In addition, it is required that the other two members are active members within the Burlington County First Aid Council.

 

6.      A career emergency service worker shall be appointed to the BCESAB.  At the time of appointment he/she shall be employed full time as an emergency service employee within Burlington County.  Interested individuals shall submit a letter of interest to the BCESAB prior to the second Monday of January.  After review the BCESAB shall select a representative based on a majority vote and submit that persons name to the Board of Freeholders for appointment.   

 

  1. Non-voting members will consist of; the Director of Public Safety and his/her designated representatives, a representative from the Institute of Technology, a representative from the Burlington County College, and a representative from the Burlington County Freeholders Office, who shall attend meetings on an as needed basis.

 

  1. Representatives from the emergency services organizations will have their names submitted to the Board of Freeholders for approval.

 

  1. Term of appointment for voting members shall be for (1) year.  If the appointee becomes non-active/serving, (as required by “A” 1 thru 7 above to be a member) during his/her term on the BCESAB, same shall be allowed to finish that term, however, reappointment will not be possible.

 

  1. Any voting member who has two (2) consecutive unexcused absences from scheduled meetings of the BCESAB may be subject to dismissal by the Board of Freeholders after review and recommendation by the BCESAB.  In cases where the chairperson has (2) consecutive unexcused absences, a new election will take place.

 

  1. Any vacancies created shall be filled by the respective association for the unexpired term.  The procedure shall be followed as stated above in Sections (A) and (B).

 

 

Article V

Officers

 

A.     The voting members of the BCESAB shall elect from among the voting members a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.  The term of office for each position shall be one year.

 

B.     Duties of the chairperson shall include:

 

1.      Preside at all BCESAB meetings

 

2.      Set schedules and agenda with the advice and consent of the BCESAB.

 

3.      Call special meetings.

 

4.      Serve as the official spokesperson of the BCESAB.

 

5.      Appoint all workgroups and their chairpersons.

 

6.      Delegate responsibilities or tasks to BCESAB members and staff as needed.

 

C.     Duties of the Vice-chairperson shall include:

 

1.      All responsibilities of the chairperson in his/her absence.

 

2.      All other duties as directed by the chairperson.

Article VI

Meetings

 

A.     The BCESAB shall meet bimonthly, starting in February, on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 P.M.

 

B.     Special meetings can be called by the chairperson or by request of five (5) of the voting members.  Business conducted at special meetings shall be limited to the business specified at the call of the meeting.

C.     The place for the upcoming year’s regular meetings shall be established at the first meeting of each year.

 

D.     A quorum shall be fifty percent of all voting members.  No official business can be conducted at any regular or special meeting unless a quorum is present.  Roberts Rules of Order shall be followed at all meetings unless herein modified.

 

E.   The BCESAB membership shall act by majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Members of the BCESAB may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. When a meeting is conducted by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment, a written record shall be made of the action taken at such meeting.

 

F.   All meetings shall be open to the public.  Anyone wishing to make a presentation to the BCESAB shall be permitted to speak up to five (5) minutes.

 

G.  Any individual, group, or organization wishing to present to the BCESAB shall schedule the presentation prior to the meeting and select a single spokesperson. 

  1. A simple majority vote of those voting members present shall be required for the BCESAB to take action.  In cases of a tie, the motion will fail.

 

Article VII

WORKGROUPS

 

Workgroups shall be appointed by the Chairperson on an as need basis.

 

Article VIII

Conflict of Interest

 

The BCESAB members shall abstain from voting on board issues which would have a monetary effect on the agency in which he/she is employed or on which he/she sits as a BCESAB member.

 

Article IX

Amendments to the bylaws

 

A.     The bylaws may be amended at any regular or special BCESAB meeting, provided that a prior announcement of the proposed amendment(s) has been made at the most recent regular BCESAB meeting

 

B.     Amendments may not be presented for adoption unless 2/3 of the voting members are in attendance. 

 

C.     Amendments to the bylaws may be approved by a minimum of 2/3 of all voting members. 

Article X

Adoption

 

These bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption by 2/3 of all voting members of the BCESAB.

 

 

Effective December 13, 2006.

 

 

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