New Providence could see its fire chief chosen by the mayor instead of elected by firefighters. Two ordinances headed for a vote Tuesday, Sept. 15, would overhaul the fire department's leadership and finances, according to the borough's meeting agenda reported by NJ21st.
Ordinance 2026-11 would repeal and replace Chapter 51 of the Borough Code. Under the current code, fire department members elect the chief each year, subject to council approval, according to NJ21st's review of the existing ordinance. The proposed ordinance shifts that power to Mayor Al Morgan, who would appoint the chief with council consent.
Candidates would need to be active fire officers in good standing with the New Providence Fire Department and meet Incident Management Level training requirements set by the state Division of Fire Safety, according to the ordinance text. The chief would report to Borough Administrator Bernadette Cuccaro and file monthly reports on equipment, calls, response numbers and membership changes.
The ordinance also removes the Public Safety Committee's role in signing off on spending orders. The chief would still certify bills before they reach the council, and contracts committing borough funds would still require council approval.
New billing system for emergency calls
The same ordinance introduces a cost-recovery system not found in the current code. The borough or fire department could bill insurers or residents for response costs covering fires, hazardous-material incidents, vehicle accidents and other covered calls.
Personnel charges would start at $50 per firefighter per hour, rounded up to the next full hour. Equipment rates would follow FEMA's schedule and could be updated by resolution.
No one would be denied service for lacking insurance or an inability to pay, according to the ordinance text. But residents could still receive a bill if an insurer refuses payment. Failure to pay within 30 days of an invoice would be a violation, though the borough could arrange installment plans or write off uncollected fees.
All money collected would be restricted to replacing or maintaining fire department equipment, materials and training. The department would file semiannual financial reports with the borough's chief financial officer detailing billings, collections and spending.
John Migueis, editor of NJ21st, wrote Sept. 14 that "the two fire ordinances are the biggest items on the table this week, but we didn't see a redline or summary in the online packet showing residents what's changing."
Fire prevention and food truck rules
Ordinance 2026-12 would restructure fire prevention administration. The Fire Official would be designated a deputy chief of the fire department rather than deputy chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Operating guidelines would be developed by the Fire Official with input from the chief and approved by the borough administrator.
The ordinance would also require food truck inspections each time a truck leaves and returns to its pre-approved location in New Providence. Inspections must happen before food prep begins. Permit fees would be $54 for a one-time permit or $225 per quarter, with no allowance for partial quarters.
Police promotions and school safety funding
The Sept. 15 agenda also includes four police promotions: two officers moving to lieutenant at approximately $167,000 per year and two to sergeant at approximately $151,000 per year. The names of the officers were not listed in the available agenda materials.
The consent agenda includes a $275,317.45 budget insertion for additional funding tied to the 2018 Safe Routes to School engineering and design project, described as available from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The timeline and current status of that project were not detailed in the agenda packet.
The Borough Council's public hearing begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center, 360 Elkwood Ave.
