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NJ court: Council can control volunteer fire department

The court sided with the municipality in the two-year battle over control of volunteer fire assets and personnel

By Carly Q. Romalino
The Courier-Post

NEWFIELD, N.J. — Newfield council has the authority to remove its fire chief from duty and take on oversight of the volunteer department, according to a Gloucester County Court of Appeals ruling.

The fire department sued the borough two years ago, claiming a 2013 ordinance giving council the last word on adding, removing and promoting fire department members is “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”

A Gloucester County Superior Court judge ruled in the borough’s favor in 2013. The fire company lost its appeal in a Jan. 23 decision. The ruling said the fire company was “incorrect in asserting its activities and management are independent of municipal oversight and control.”

Full story: Newfield can oversee fire department, court rules