CHAPTER 5.15: OPERATION OF SERVICE AREAS
Section
5.15.005 Service area boards of supervisors
5.15.010 Organization of boards of supervisors
5.15.015 Duties of boards of supervisors
5.15.017 Compensation for boards of supervisors
5.15.019 Taxes, charges, and assessments
5.15.020 Service area revolving loan funds
5.15.025 Road service areas; local service roads and trails funds
5.15.030 Administration of fire service areas
5.15.040 Fire service mutual aid plans and agreements
5.15.050 Uniform fire service administration and operation
5.15.005 SERVICE AREA BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
The assembly may by ordinance establish appointed or elected boards of supervisors to assist in the operation of service areas.
(Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.010 ORGANIZATION OF BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
(A) Unless otherwise provided by ordinance there shall be a board of supervisors established for each service area and the board of supervisors for each service area shall be composed of three persons who are qualified voters residing within the service area, appointed by the mayor and approved by the assembly. Each supervisor shall serve a term of three years and may serve additional terms. The three-year term shall be calculated on a calendar year basis. The terms of members initially appointed shall be staggered so that as nearly as possible an equal number of vacancies occur each year on a board. Vacancies occurring on a board of supervisors shall be filled for terms remaining by the mayor, subject to assembly confirmation.
(B) [Repealed by Ord. 98-022, § 2, 1998]
(C) The board shall first meet at the call of the mayor within 15 calendar days of the election or its appointment in order to organize. The board shall select from among its members a presiding officer, elected by a majority of the board members for a term of one year, to preside at meetings and adopt rules of procedure. The election of the presiding officer shall be the first order of business at any time that the officer’s seat is not filled. The board shall meet no less than quarterly and may meet at other times as its members shall determine. A majority of the authorized members of the board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, any number less than a quorum may recess a meeting to a later time and date.
(Ord. 16-041, § 3, 2016; Ord. 06-016, § 2, 2006; Ord. 05-010, § 2, 2005; Ord. 98-022, § 2, 1998; Ord. 95-027, § 10, 1995; Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 93-049, § 2, 1993; Ord. 93-044, § 2, 1993; Ord. 93-041, § 2, 1993; Ord. 90-157AM, § 2, 1991; Ord. 80-87, §§ 6 and 7, 1980; Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.015 DUTIES OF BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
(A) Boards of supervisors for all service areas shall:
(1) After public hearing, recommend an annual budget to the manager; and
(2) Make recommendations to the manager and the assembly on building programs, equipment acquisition and disposal, administrative policies and procedures, contracts, maintenance needs, and other matters as the manager or the assembly may request.
(B) In addition to those duties described in subsection (A), boards of supervisors of fire service areas shall also:
(1) make recommendations to the manager and assembly on the appointment and supervision of volunteer fire chiefs appointed to administer the fire service area; and
(2) submit an annual efficiency report on volunteer fire chiefs to the manager.
(C) A board of supervisors for an area for which fire services are provided through contract may not make recommendations on the following:
(1) whether the services should be provided by contract;
(2) the terms of the contract;
(3) the appointment, supervision, and efficiency of the fire chief; and
(4) fees or other reimbursement paid to volunteers for fire-fighting duties.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 93-41, § 3, 1993; Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.017 COMPENSATION FOR BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
Board members shall be reimbursed for mileage incurred in connection with meetings of the board in the same manner as borough employees are compensated for mileage expenses upon presentation of supporting documentation satisfactory to the appropriate director.
(Ord. 00-084 § 2, 2000)
5.15.019 TAXES, CHARGES, AND ASSESSMENTS.
The assembly may levy or authorize the levying of taxes, charges, or assessments in service areas to finance the services. If the assembly authorizes the levying of taxes, charges, or assessments, the rate of taxation and issuance of bonds shall remain subject to the approval of the assembly.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994)
5.15.020 SERVICE AREA REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.
Within the annual operating budget of the borough, the assembly may establish revolving loan funds to provide moneys necessary for the operation of, and the acquisition of capital items in service areas. The assembly by resolution may approve loans to service areas from the revolving loan funds, and shall establish interest rates for the loans. Resolutions approving loans from service area revolving funds may describe additional terms and conditions as the assembly deems appropriate. Repayment of loans made from the service area revolving loan funds shall be accomplished through additional mill levies within the service area indebted unless the assembly approves some other means of repayment.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.025 ROAD SERVICE AREAS; LOCAL SERVICE ROADS AND TRAILS FUNDS.
(A) Road maintenance and improvements within road service areas may be financed by any method permitted by law, and by the assembly through funds made available to the borough for local service roads and trails funds as allowed in this section.
(B) Local service roads and trails funds may be expended for up to 50 percent of the cost of any road project as defined by the assembly with the remaining funds to be generated through tax levies or other lawful means. The assembly may, however, expend local service roads and trails funds for up to 100 percent of the cost of any road project, as defined by the assembly, provided that the project supported is a collector road dedicated to public use, or if the benefit derived by the general public in the project warrants full funding through local service roads and trails funds.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.030 ADMINISTRATION OF FIRE SERVICE AREAS.
(A) The operation of a fire service area shall be under the direction and command of a fire chief appointed by the manager after considering the recommendations of the board of supervisors for the fire service area, unless the assembly provides fire protection in that area through contract.
(B) A paid fire chief, as a borough employee, shall be subject to borough personnel rules and regulations.
(C) Each fire chief shall:
(1) Appoint, supervise and command the personnel of the service area;
(2) Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures and training of the fire service area;
(3) Advise and provide staff assistance to the board of supervisors;
(4) Have custody of and all maintenance responsibilities for all fire equipment, supplies, materials, buildings and grounds assigned to use by the fire service area;
(5) Maintain records of fire service area operations;
(6) Report activities of the fire service area to the manager and the board of supervisors; and
(7) Perform other emergency service duties as directed by the manager.
(D) A fire chief may be removed from office by the manager. A volunteer fire chief shall be given notice and an opportunity to be heard within ten days of the notice and prior to removal. The manager shall make a final decision on removal after considering the recommendations of the board of supervisors, within 20 days of the notice. A fire chief may be suspended from duties, with pay, immediately upon notice of removal.
(E) Fees or other reimbursement paid to volunteers for fire-fighting duties shall be set by assembly resolution, upon the manager’s recommendation and a majority of the supervisors for that fire service area.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 84-34, § 26, 1984; Ord. 80-87, §§ 8 and 9, 1980; Ord. 80-8 (part), 1980)
5.15.040 FIRE SERVICE MUTUAL AID PLANS AND AGREEMENTS.
The manager may provide for fire service automatic and mutual aid plans and agreements among fire service areas and cities within the borough after considering the recommendations of the involved fire service area boards of supervisors. (Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 88-250, § 2, 1988)
5.15.050 UNIFORM FIRE SERVICE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION.
The manager shall provide for uniform policies, procedures and standards for the administration and operation of all borough fire service areas.
(Ord. 94-001AM, § 6 (part), 1994; Ord. 89-7, § 2, 1989)