[Amended 12-3-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996]
The Fire Department shall be composed of the Fire Chief and
as many paid fire personnel and volunteer members as the Common Council
shall approve. There shall be three (3) Volunteer Assistant Fire Chiefs
who shall serve at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
[Amended 12-3-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996]
The three (3) Volunteer Fire Chiefs shall be elected in accordance
with the constitution and by-laws of the Norwich Fire Department.
[Amended 12-3-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996]
The present volunteer members of the City of Norwich shall continue
as volunteer members of said city, subject to removal by the Fire
Chief and the Common Council; other volunteer members shall be appointed
and vacancies filled in the different companies of the Fire Department,
by the Common Council and Chief, upon the nomination of the members
of the company in which such appointment is to be made or vacancy
filled; the Common Council and Chief may refuse to appoint such nominee
if in their judgment said candidate ought not be appointed.
The Common Council shall have the power in their discretion
to disband any fire, hook and ladder, or hose companies in case they
deem it necessary or in case any said company may prove refractory,
and, as often as they may judge the interests of the city may require,
organize new volunteer fire companies.
An exempt volunteer fireman, as defined in Section 200 of the
General Municipal Law, and paid members of a fire company, are entitled
to exemption from service as a trial juror upon claiming exemption
therefor and producing evidence thereof.
The Common Council shall have power:
1.
To establish and ordain the fire zones within the city and to contract
with fire protection districts, incorporated villages, and towns,
public institutions or cities, as the Common Council may from time
to time deem advisable, for aid and assistance in the extinguishment
of fires in said districts, public institutions, cities, towns or
villages, except that the fire zones for said City of Norwich shall
remain and be the same as the fire zones are now for the said city
until they shall be changed or modified by the Common Council.
2.
To define the kind and kinds of buildings and structures to be erected
within the respective fire zones of the city, and to require by ordinance
the filing of plans for all new construction, and in case of the destruction
of a nonfireproof structure where the loss shall be adjusted at not
to exceed thirty-three and one-third per centum (33 1/3%) of
the original value of the building, it may in its discretion approve
a plan for reconstruction which shall not necessarily be fireproof.
3.
To procure fire engines, hose, hose carts, hooks, ladders, buckets
and other apparatus necessary for the extinguishing of fires and the
protection of property, to regulate the use and management thereof;
and to provide proper places for keeping the same.
4.
To remove or demolish any building or structure which by reason of
fire or other cause may become dangerous to life or property.
5.
To make such other rules and ordinances as may be necessary and proper
for the prevention and extinguishment of fires, and to enforce the
same by fines and penalties.
6.
To employ firemen, to fix their salaries, and to create a Fire Fund
for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Fire Department.
7.
The Common Council may, by resolution, give to any employed fireman,
when entitled, a vacation or vacations of not less than two (2) weeks
in any one (1) year, and the period or periods of such vacation or
vacations shall be included as a part of the time for which such fireman
shall be entitled to pay as time actually served by him.
All rules and regulations pertaining to the organization and
government of the Fire Department of the City of Norwich in force
shall, except as hereinafter in this Act provided, remain, be and
continue the same under the said City of Norwich, until the repeal
thereof and the adoption of other or further rules and regulations
in relation thereto as provided by this Act.
