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Council introduces updated fire-prevention ordinance and discusses tiered stipend for volunteer firefighters
Summary
Englewood Cliffs introduced Ordinance 2026-12 to modernize the borough's fire-prevention code after a Division of Community Affairs review; the fire chief also proposed a tiered stipend program to boost volunteer response, with estimated additional annual cost of about $90,000 if fully implemented.
The Englewood Cliffs Borough Council introduced a comprehensive rewrite of Chapter 17 of the borough code on July 8, responding to deficiencies identified by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the state Division of Fire Service.
Fire Chief Andrew Nicole said the existing fire-prevention ordinance was significantly out of date and that the new draft modernizes enforcement, updates fee schedules and reorganizes the fire-prevention office to meet state expectations. "We developed a comprehensive new fire prevention ordinance that satisfies the deficiencies identified by the state of New Jersey," the chief said.
Chief Nicole also presented a separate proposal to revise volunteer-firefighter stipend policy. He described a tiered incentive system used in neighboring municipalities (for example, Paramus and Palisades Park) in which members who meet varying response-percentage thresholds receive incrementally higher monthly stipends. Under the proposal the borough could add approximately $90,000 in annual costs in a full build-out scenario, Chief Nicole estimated; the council and staff said any change would be timed to the 2027 budget cycle.
Council reaction and next steps
Council members asked for a detailed cost analysis and recommended the fire committee and finance committee examine two components together: base stipend/standby pay and related benefits (clothing allowances, LOSAP). The CFO recommended a review at the fire committee level and timing any changes for implementation on Jan. 1, 2027, to align with the next budget year.
Why it matters
The ordinance rewrite addresses state-identified compliance gaps that could affect inspections and enforcement; the stipend proposal aims to retain and attract volunteer firefighters but would require additional budget appropriation and committee review before any final action.
What's next
Ordinance 2026-12 was introduced for first reading and will return for a public hearing and further committee-level budget review of the stipend recommendation prior to any adoption.
