40A:14-81.1. Fire districts; paid positions; establishment; resolution; procedure for passage; publication

a. The commissioners of any fire district may, by resolution, establish paid positions within the fire department, or for the fire district, as such position shall be determined by the commissioners to be required for the purposes of the fire district. The commissioners shall, by resolution, appoint persons to, determine the terms of, fix the compensation for, and prescribe the powers, functions and duties of all paid positions so established. For the purposes of this section, a paid position shall mean any position for which any compensation is provided by the fire district other than reimbursement for expenses and losses actually incurred in the performance of duties.

b. Every resolution proposed pursuant to subsection a. of this section, after being introduced and having passed a first reading, which may be by title, shall be published in full at least once in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the fire district, together with a notice of the introduction thereof and the time and place when and where it will be considered for final passage. Such publication shall appear at least 1 week prior to the time fixed for further consideration for final passage.

c. At the time and place stated in the publication, or at any time and place to which the meeting for the further consideration of the resolution shall from time to time be adjourned, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the resolution. The opportunity to be heard shall include the right to ask pertinent questions concerning the resolution by any resident of the fire district or by any other person affected by the resolution. Final passage of the resolution shall be at least 10 days after the first reading.

d. Upon the opening of the hearing, the resolution shall be given a second reading, which may be by title, and may thereafter be passed with or without amendment, or rejected. At least 1 week prior to second reading, a copy of the resolution shall be posted in such public place as notices are usually posted in the district, and copies shall be made available to each person requesting a copy during said week and during the hearing. No amendment to such resolution shall be adopted, unless such amendment is presented in written form to the fire commissioners and copies made available to each person requesting a copy at the meeting at which the amendment is considered.

e. Upon passage, every such resolution, or the title, together with a notice of the date of passage or approval, or both, shall be published at least once in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the fire district.

L.1979, c. 453, s. 1.