New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association

Bylaws of the Association Effective November 14, 2007

 

Article I:         Name

 The organization shall be known as 'The New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association' (Association).

 Article II:       Objectives

 The objectives of the Association shall be the following:

 2-1.0    To promote and improve fire prevention and protection through education.

 2-1.1    To obtain and circulate information among the members and the public.

 2-1.2    To educate the public in the prevention of fire, protection of life and property, and the control of arson.

 2-1.3    To support master planning of the fire service.

 2-1.4    To promote better training and education for fire prevention personnel.

 2-1.5    To bring uniformity to the enforcement of the fire prevention and fire protection codes throughout the State.

 2-1.6    To interact with all fire related agencies throughout the State in fire prevention and protection code matters.

 2-1.7    To provide representation on New Jersey code committees as well as national code committee in the adoption of new codes and standards and changes to existing codes.

 Article III:      Meetings

 The general, special and Executive Board meetings of the Association shall be as follows:

 3-1.0    There shall be two (2) general membership meetings each calendar year. One shall be conducted during the New Jersey Building Safety Week Conference in the spring (April/May), and one shall be conducted at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in the fall (November).

 3-1.1    Special general membership meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Association Executive Board, or by a petition signed by fifty (50) Individual Members of the Association.

 3-1.2    In addition to the general membership meetings the Executive Board shall host at least two (2) regional membership meetings in coordination with the Regional Vice Presidents. Regional meetings shall not be held during the months of July or August.

 3-1.3    Twenty-five (25) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a general, special, or regional membership meeting.

 3-2.0    Executive board meetings shall be the first Thursday of each month. The Board shall have the authority to modify the schedule as needed for the transaction of Association business.

3-2.1    Four (4) operating officers shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board for the transaction of business.

3-3.0    Except as otherwise provided by these by-laws, Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, shall govern the transaction of business at any of the various meetings of the Association.

 

Article IV:      Membership

 The classes of membership of the Association shall be as follows:

 4-1.0    Any industry, company, architect, or engineer shall be eligible as an Associate Member.

 4-2.0    Any current employee of a New Jersey based:  State, County or Local Fire Marshal’s Office; or of a Fire Department or of a UFC Local Enforcing Agency shall be eligible as an Individual Member.

 4-3.0    New Jersey based Fire Departments shall be eligible for a Department Membership which entitles that department to five (5) Individual Memberships. The representatives of the memberships shall be designated at the time of payment of the annual dues.

 4-4.0    Anyone currently:   certified as a Fire Official, certified as a Fire Inspector, licensed as a Fire Subcode Official, or licensed as a Fire Protection Inspector shall be eligible as an Individual Member.

 4-5.0        Past-Presidents shall be Life Members of the Association with the rights and privileges of an Individual Member.

 4-6.0    Honorary Membership shall be awarded at the discretion of the Executive Board for set terms. Honorary Members shall be permitted to attend Association functions and meetings, but shall not have the right to vote.

 Article V:       Election of Officers

 The officers of the Association and the election process shall be as follows:

 5-1.0    The Association shall elect the following Operating Officers:

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Sergeant of Arms

 

North Regional Vice-President
(Represents Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union and Warren Counties)

Central Regional Vice-President
(Represents Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset Counties)

South Regional Vice-President
(Represents Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties)
  

 5-1.1    The organizational structure of the Association shall have the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant of Arms reporting to the President and the Regional Vice-Presidents reporting to the Vice-President for the day-to-day affairs of the organization.

 5-2.0    The Nominating Committee shall recommend candidates for the positions of : President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant of Arms and report same in writing to the Secretary of the Association by July 15th and shall be immediately posted on the association website with an email notification to the Executive Board.

 5-2.1    Nominations for the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant of Arms may be made by the membership at large. Petitions for nomination from members at large shall be endorsed by no less than five (5) current members of the Association and shall be submitted in writing to the Association Secretary postmarked no later than August 15th  The Secretary shall forward a copy of all properly submitted ballots to the Nominating Committee.

 5-2.2    Nominations for Regional Vice-Presidents shall be made at the County Association level. Each County Association may submit one (1) nomination. Regional Vice-President nominations shall be submitted in writing to the Association Secretary postmarked no later than August 15th.

 5-2.3    All nominations meeting the requirements of the By-laws will be published on the election ballot along with the slate of officers recommended by the Nominating Committee. There shall be provision for write in votes.

 5-2.4    The Ballot for the Annual Election of Officers shall be mailed to the membership no later than September 1 of the election year. The completed Ballots shall be returned to the Association for tabulation postmarked no later than September 30th.

 5-2.5    The candidate for each position that that receives the most votes from those ballots properly submitted will be the winner of that officer position. Results of the election will be reported at the Annual Award Dinner and subsequently distributed to the general membership.

 5-3.0    All terms of office shall be for one (1) year commencing on January 1.

 5-4.0    All candidates for an operating officer position shall be in good standing with the Association.

 5-4.1    All operating officer candidates shall be current in their certifications and licenses with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Divisions of Fire Safety and/or Division of Codes and Standards. The certifications and/or licenses shall be maintained during the term of office.

5-4.2  All operating officer candidates shall be current members or associate members of the International Fire Marshals Association and shall maintain that membership while serving in office.

5-5.0    In the event of a vacancy in an Operating Officer position the Executive Board shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 Article VI:      Executive Board

 The Executive Board shall be comprised of the following positions:

 6-1.0    All Operating Officers

 6-1.1    Each county chapter shall designate a representative to the Board.

6-1.2.1The county chapter representative so designated shall be a current member of this Association in good standing.

6-1.2    The immediate Past President.

6-1.2.1Any Past President may attend and participate in discussions of the Executive Board with the right to vote.

6-2.0    The Executive Board shall adopt an operating budget at the first Executive Board meeting of the year. Any expenditure not provided for in the operating budget shall require a vote of the Executive Board for authorization.

 6-2.1    The President shall assign duties to the members of the Executive Board as necessary for the efficient operation of the Association.

 6-3.0    The Board shall supervise the bonding of the Treasurer and the Secretary.

 6-4.0        The Board shall execute the general business of the Association.

 6-5.0    No contracts of payments shall be authorized that provide a financial benefit to a current Executive Board member, their immediate family members or businesses and firms they retain an interest in.

 6-6.0        The Executive Board shall provide for the presentation of the following awards:

 Fire Protection Inspector of the Year

(To be presented to a currently employed Fire Protection Subcode Official or Inspector displaying exemplary service to the community. Nominations are to be solicited and submitted during the month of March)

 

Fire Prevention Inspector of the Year

(To be presented to a currently employed Fire Official or Fire Inspector displaying exemplary service to the community. Nominations are to be solicited and submitted during the month of September)

 

Fire Safety Program/Activities of the Year

(To be presented to a Fire Department or Fire Safety Bureau in recognition of exemplary service to the community in the presentation of fire safety education programs)

 

Special Award(s)

(Awards to be presented by the President to individuals, organizations, or firms in recognition of activities that have benefited the fire prevention and/or fire protection community)

 

6-7.0    All decisions of the Executive Board shall be determined by a majority vote.

 

 Article VII:    Committees

 The following committees shall be established as follows:

 7-1.0    All standing committees of the Association shall have at least one (1) Past President as a member.

 7-2.0    The standing committees of the Association shall be:

 7-2.1    Nominating Committee. This committee shall report a recommended slate of officers to the Secretary and President of the Association. The committee shall consist of a representative from each region of the state

 7-2.2    Award Dinner Committee. This committee shall arrange for and coordinate the Associations Annual Award dinner which shall take place during the month of October each year.

 7-2.3    By-law Committee. This committee shall review the By-laws and provide recommendations for change.

 7-2.4    Poster Contest Committee. This committee shall coordinate the Association’s participation in the Annual Fire Safety Poster Contest including the assembling of awards and scheduling of the award luncheon.

 7-2.5    Building Safety Week Committee. This committee will coordinate the Association’s participation in the conference activities including the award presentation, general membership meeting and the hospitality room.

 7-2.6    League of Municipalities Conference Committee. This committee shall coordinate the Association’s conference activities including the general membership meeting, the NJ Fire Safety Commission Meeting, panel discussions, and hospitality room.

 7-2.7    Membership Committee. This committee shall develop and implement recommendations to enlarge the membership of the Association.

 7-2.8    Auditing Committee. Chaired by the Treasurer and including two (2) past presidents, this committee shall arrange for an outside audit of the Association’s financial accounts by a NJ Certified Public Accountant and report the results of that audit to the Executive Board.

 7-2.9    Education Committee. This committee shall identify, develop and coordinate code enforcement related educational seminars to be hosted by the Association.

7-3.0    Ad Hoc Committees. The President may appoint Ad Hoc committees as necessary to address items and topics of importance to the Association. Ad Hoc committees shall be temporary and shall terminate upon completion of the assignment.

 Article VIII:   Affiliation and Chapters

 The Association shall encourage chapter affiliations as follows:

 8-1.0    The Association may join or be affiliated with national and international associations and organizations to enhance the furtherance of the Associations objectives and to enhance the benefits of the membership. Any such relationship will be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

 8-2.0    The President shall represent the Association on the New Jersey Fire Safety Commission.

 8-3.0    The President may appoint a delegate to represent the Association at meetings of other organizations.

 8-3.1    The President and the Secretary shall inform the Executive Board of any required representation that the Association needs to be a part of. The President shall endeavor to ensure any and all such positions are filled by him or her self or another Association member. The Secretary shall keep a current list of all such representations including the term of the position.

 8-4.0    The Association shall establish itself as a Chapter of the International Codes Council (ICC). When the Association conducts business related to the ICC, the Association shall comply and adhere to all applicable requirements and restrictions of the Constitution and By-laws of the ICC as such pertain to Chapters thereof. The Association will hold harmless and indemnify the ICC from and against any and all suits, damages, loss, costs, or other liabilities, which may threaten or accrue to the ICC as a result of the acts or activities or failure to act by the Association.

 8-5.0    The Association shall establish itself as a Chapter of the International Fire Marshals Association (IFMA), a membership section of the National Fire Protection Association. When the Association conducts business related to the IFMA, the Association shall comply and adhere to all applicable requirements and restrictions of the Constitution and By-laws of the IFMA as such pertain to Chapters thereof. The Association will hold harmless and indemnify the NFPA and/or IFMA from and against any and all suits, damages, loss, costs, or other liabilities, which may threaten or accrue to the NFPA and/or IFMA as a result of the acts or activities or failure to act by the Association.

 8-6.0    The Association shall provide a mechanism for and encourage County Associations to become Chapters of this Association.

 Article IX:      Dues and Voting

 9-1.0    Individual memberships shall be $35.00 per calendar year. Each member shall carry one (1) general vote.

 9-2.0    Fire Department Membership shall be $125.00 per calendar year for up to five (5) Individual Members.

 9-3.0    Associate memberships shall be $250.00 per calendar year. Associate members shall have no general vote.

 9-4.0    Life and Honorary members shall be exempt from paying annual dues.

 9-5.0    Individual Members must declare their County affiliation for the purpose of voting for a Regional Vice-President at the time of payment of their dues. Each member may only cast a vote for the Regional Vice-President position that represents the County they have declared.

 9-6.0    Any member in arrears for six (6) months shall be considered inactive and shall lose any membership privileges until the outstanding dues are paid. Any member in arrears for nine (9) months shall be dropped from the rolls.

 Article X:       Amendments to the By-laws

 The By-laws of the Association may be amended by following the procedure specified herein:

 10-1.0  Changes to the By-laws of the Association shall be introduced at a Regular or Special General Membership meeting. After introduction the proposed changes shall be carried to the next General Membership Meeting for additional discussion.

 10.1.1  After introduction and discussion at two meetings of the Association voting on amendments to the By-laws shall be by Ballot that shall be mailed to all voting members in good standing. The Ballot shall include a date by which returned ballots must be postmarked by. Members shall be provided a minimum of fourteen (14) days to return the Ballot to the Association. Any proposal must receive the affirmative vote of two thirds of the voting membership to pass.

 

Duly adopted on the 17th day of November

In the year 2004.

Section 5-4.2 concerning IFMA membership added November 15, 2006.

 

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