There shall continue to be a Board of Fire Commissioners (hereinafter
referred to as the "Board") consisting of five members. One Commissioner
shall be appointed annually to serve for a term of five years. Appointments
shall be made so that only one Fire Commissioner's term shall
expire each year, so that at no time shall more than three Fire Commissioners
be members of the same political party, and so that at least one member
shall be a member of the Easton Volunteer Fire Company.
Meetings of the Board may be called by the Chair or by a majority
of the members thereof, and a majority of the members of said Board
shall constitute a quorum. In the month of September, said Board shall
make an annual report to the Selectmen which shall be published by
the Selectmen in the annual report of the Town.
The Board is authorized to enter into agreements from time to
time with any volunteer fire company within the Town for the protection
thereof from fire, subject to such conditions as to financial assistance
and the observance of the regulations of the Board as it shall deem
suitable and adequate in the public interest and as approved by the
Board of Finance.
The Board shall have the management and control of all matters
pertaining to fire protection within the Town of Easton pursuant to
§ 7-301 of the General Statutes, except such matters as
are vested by law in the Easton Fire District No. 1, Incorporated,
or in the Easton Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Incorporated. Pursuant
to such powers and duties, it shall:
A. Select and recommend to the Board of Selectmen the acquisition of
sites for the location of facilities to assure adequate fire protection
within the Town.
B. Review the adequacy of existing fire protection facilities and make
recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for such changes as the
Board may deem advisable.
C. Supervise the purchase of fire-fighting equipment and supplies after
reviewing with the Volunteer Fire Company its requirements and make
recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance relative
thereto.
D. Make recommendations for improvements in the communications service
particularly as it pertains to the effectiveness of the fire protection
of the Town.
[Amended 9-15-2014]
E. Prepare each proposed annual operating budget for the fire protection
of the Town and particularly the provisions thereof with respect to
the necessary paid personnel and cooperate with the Volunteer Fire
Company in determining its budgeted needs with respect to fire-fighting
equipment, supplies and services as may be deemed necessary for the
coming fiscal year.
F. Supervise the care of equipment, deportment and dress of all firefighters
paid by the Town and encourage proper training of new recruits.
G. Coordinate the activities of the Board with the Board of Police Commissioners
and civil defense personnel in such manner as to best serve the public
interest and safety.
[Amended 9-15-2014]
H. Explore with proper representatives of adjoining towns the matter
of regional cooperation in fire protection matters.
I. Employ such employees as the Board may deem necessary for adequate
fire protection within the Town and prescribe the duties of such employees.
[Amended 9-15-2014]
All expenditures of the Board shall be approved by a majority
of the members present at a duly held meeting and shall be subject
to the approval of the First Selectman.