New Fire Police Officer Sworn and Open Burning Ordinance Adjusted

Special Fire Police Officer takes oath

In front of the assembled board of commissioners last night, Robert Bodamer was sworn in as a Special Fire Police Officer with the Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company (WGVFC).

Presided by Judge Paul Leo, magistrate judge for District 38-1-14, Bodamer took the oath as prescribed by the state for the fire police position.

Anne Jones, the WGVFC fire police captain, stood by Bodamer as he took the oath. Several members of the fire police unit and WGVFC were in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony to show their support.

According to Upper Moreland , the Special Fire Police Officer position is a volunteer one whose main duty is to support firefighters and police in traffic control. There are approximately 10 such volunteers in the fire police unit.

Fire Marshal deputies and UMPD now authorized to give fire citations

Following Bodamer’s swearing-in ceremony, a public hearing was held to consider the new article added to the “Fires and Open Burning” ordinance, number 1599. The ordinance follows the 2009 International Fire Code, which was adopted by the township in 2010.

The ordinance outlines the township’s policy regarding the use of open burning with open-flame cooking devices (grills) and recreational burning (outdoor fireplaces).

The ordinance explicitly prohibits the burning of yard or any waste products of any kind.

The new article would give authority to deputy fire marshals and any sworn Upper Moreland Township Police Department employee to issue citations for those found in violation of the ordinance.

Before the introduction of the new article, only the Fire Marshal could issue such fines to violators of the ordinance.

According to Drennen, the new article would allow fines to be issued when the fire marshal is indisposed.

The new article was approved at the end of last night’s regular meeting of the township commissioners. The authority extended to deputy fire marshals and the police department include the members of the UMPD Community Service Responder unit (CSR).

According to Drennen, during the public hearing, CSRs could accompany UMPD officers as they respond to fire violations, issuing citations. This arrangement would be beneficial, Drennen said, as it would free up the police officer from having to also attend the subsequent court date.

UMPD said that CSRs can enforce township ordinances, and further training in township fire regulation will likely follow due to the adoption of the new article.

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More from the reporter’s notebook:

Resident wants more water at Memorial Park

Long-time Upper Moreland resident and regular commissioners’ meetings attendee Charles Acker, of Ward 3, made a public comment asking the commissioners to consider raising the water level at Memorial Park two more feet.

“If you stand on the bridge, it looks like a drainage ditch,” Acker said of the creek located at the park. “If you clean it up, it’ll look like a high-class drainage ditch.”

According to Acker, raising the water level would not only raise the appeal of the park, but also make recreational activities possible, such as fishing.

Commissioner Joseph LaValle, chairperson of the community development committee, responded that the suggestion wasn’t in the scope of the original plans for developing Memorial  Park, but he will raise the suggestion at the next committee meeting.

Task Force member thanks commissioners for saving Sonic

Jonathon de Jonge, a member of the , spoke during the public comments portion of the regular meeting last night, thanking the commissioners for extending a Temporary Occupancy Permit for Sonic restaurant.

According to de Jonge, not only would Sonic’s doors remain open for business, but 17 jobs and tax revenue would also be saved.

The permit was debated among the commissioners at last month’s regular meeting due to its longevity, as the occupancy permit holds a temporary status. The permit was passed with a majority vote.