LEONIA, N.J. — A deadline for volunteer firefighters to undergo physicals was extended another week after two dozen members were informed they would be fired after not handing in their medical documentation.
North Jersey.com reported that firefighters have until next Monday to submit paperwork proving they underwent physicals. Firefighters who do not do so will be suspended for two weeks – during which they can submit their paperwork and be reinstated. If they don’t turn their paperwork in by the end of the two-week period, they will be deemed ineligible to serve in the fire department, according to the report.
The deadline was extended after the Fire Committee met with 24 members — out of 51 department members — who received notices informing them they were fired since they did not submit their medial paperwork, according to the report.
Councilman Greg Makroulakis said some firefighters had their physicals rescheduled because of inclement weather and others were unable to make their appointments due to a house fire in January, according to the report.
A Borough Council meeting on Monday was attended by 50 people and they called on the council to rework the ordinance that makes both physicals and criminal background checks mandatory for continued service in the department, according to the report.
“We just keep coming up with problems with it,” said firefighter Robert Pawlick.
The council adopted regulations in October giving it more oversight of the borough’s volunteer department. The new rules were passed after an incident at the firehouse in June in which the 3-year-old son of a firefighter was allegedly molested by a developmentally disabled teenager who had hoped to become a firefighter, according to the report.
Firefighters have repeatedly criticized the new ordinance, which also states that the mayor and council has final say over who becomes deputy chief, captain and lieutenant, according to the report.