ROCKLEIGH VOLUNTEER
FIRE DEPARTMENT

      26 Rockleigh Road

      Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647

      “Protecting Rockleigh Borough since 1932"

  1. Call to Order (if quorum present). A quorum being present, Mike Malhame called the meeting to order at 8:15 on 2 September 2003. 

  2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting. Reading of the minutes of the 3 Jun 2003 Meeting was tabled.

  3. Communications and Appropriations. None

  4. Reports of Officers. None

  5. Reports of Standing Committees. None

  6. Reports of Special Committees. None

  7. Reports of Trustees. None

  8. Proposals of Candidates for Membership. The following residents of Rockleigh were proposed for Junior Membership and Accepted. Each Junior Member will become an Active Member upon reaching the age of 18.

Geoffrey April
Chris Ewald

  9. Unfinished Business. The second reading of the proposed change to the By-laws

Introduced 2 June 2003: To amend Article II. Membership; Section 1. Active membership; Paragraph (1). Eligibility:  with deletions (struck through) or additions (underlined) as shown below.

ARTICLE II.  MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Active Membership

Paragraph (a). Eligibility: A person to be eligible for active membership in the Department shall not be less than eighteen (18) years of age, and. Voting privileges are restricted to must either be a residents of Rockleigh Borough or employed within Rockleigh Borough. 

Rationale: To extend membership opportunity to those that neither reside nor work in Rockleigh Borough.

Motion: To accept Amendment 7 to the RVFD By-Laws made by Mike Malame;
Second: John Mazanec
Vote: Unanimous. Adopted 2 September 2003.

10. New Business. 

A Suggestion was made by Ernie April , Ex Chief, that a committee should be formed to review the By-Laws. The By-Laws Review Committee Jay Agresta, Ed Courey and Ernie April volunteered to serve on The By-Laws Review Committee.

11. Review of Fires and Drills. Scheduled Monthly Drills on 6 January 2004 , 3 February 2004.
Next RVFD Meeting on 2 Mar 2004.

12. Election of Officers and New Members, when necessary. NA

13. Reception of New Members. NA

14. Good and Welfare of the Department. NA

15. Roll Call. Members present included: Ernie April, Doug Johnsen, Nick Langella, Mike Malhame,  John Mazanec, Bill McGuire, Jim Pontone. A quorum was present.

16. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 8:45

  1. Call to Order (if quorum present). Mike Malhame called the meeting to order at 8:30 on 2 March 2003. 
Members present included: Ernie April, Doug Johnsen, Nick Langella, Mike Malhame, Bill McGuire. A quorum was present.

  2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting. Reading of the minutes of the 12/09/02 Annual Meeting was tabled

  3. Communications and Appropriations. 

a. Mike Malhame and Nicholas Langella reported positive efforts to recover funds turned over to the State of New Jersey as "inactive accounts" in the amounts as follows: 

Rockleigh Fire Association: ~$10,126.38 in West Essex Bank
Ladies Auxiliary: ~$2013.12
Fleet Bank: uncertain

b. Discussion ensured as to the proper use of these funds. It was suggested that purchase of firematic equipment might be improper use of the funds since the Borough was responsible for equipment purchase.

  4. Reports of Officers. None

  5. Reports of Standing Committees. None

  6. Reports of Special Committees. Mike Malhame reported on progress to secure a HOMELANDS SECURITY GRANT. There are four grant categories: (1) Wellness & Fitness, (2) Equipment, (3) New Vehicles, (4) Training & Education. It was felt that only the Vehicle category was applicable to Rockleigh. As such a grant for a new pumper is being generated for submission.

  7. Reports of Trustees. None

  8. Proposals of Candidates for Membership. One proposal for a new member was proposed. However, the By-Laws as currently written do not permit members who neither work nor reside in Rockleigh. 

[From: RVFD By-Laws, Article II: Membership, Paragraph (a). Eligibility: A person to be eligible for active membership in the Department shall not be less than eighteen (18) years of age, and must either be a resident of Rockleigh Borough or employed within Rockleigh Borough.]

  9. Unfinished Business. None

10. New Business. 

a. A motion was made and passed to "Change residency requirements for membership". 

[From RFD By-Laws, Preamble SECTION 4. Amendments: The By-Laws of the Department shall not be altered, suspended ort amended except at a regular meeting following that regular meeting at which notice of such alteration or amendment was proposed in writing. Any amendments to these By-Laws must not be inconsistent with the Code of Rockleigh Borough. The same shall be adopted if two-thirds of the voting members present concur.]

b. Proposed that the Borough explore the possibility of an ordinance that would enable the Borough to recover costs related to the mitigation of HazMat incidents. EW April pointed out that the Borough contract with the Bergen County Police provides for HazMat assistance. The County Police are currently in a position to recover costs for their efforts in HazMat mitigation.

11. Review of Fires and Drills. Scheduled Drills on 7 January 2003 [Standing Orders, Mutual Aid, Ladder Company Operations] and 4 February 2003 [SCBA].

12. Election of Officers and New Members, when necessary. NA

13. Reception of New Members. NA

14. Good and Welfare of the Department. NA

15. Roll Call. Ernie April, Doug Johnsen, Nick Langella, Mike Malhame, Bill McGuire.

16. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 9:20