[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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 193, Volunteer Members to continue, as amended 12-3-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996, was repealed 5-16-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2025.
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.