The purpose of this chapter is to recognize and establish the
Kittery Fire Department as the municipal firefighting unit within
the Town pursuant to 30-A M.R.S. § 3151, and to vest the
Fire Department with all the rights, responsibilities, and obligations
of a municipal fire department as created under said statute.
The Fire Department is established as the organized firefighting
unit for the Town for the principal purpose of preventing and extinguishing
fires and related activities as provided by 30-A M.R.S. § 3151.
The Fire Chief is the administrative head of the Fire Department
and is responsible for the management of the department. The duties
and scope of employment of the Fire Chief are as defined in the Personnel
Code. The Fire Chief is appointed by and is directly accountable to
the Town Manager. In addition, the Fire Chief is responsible for promulgating
and enforcing rules, policies and regulations of the Fire Department.
In addition to all other duties and responsibilities, the Fire Chief
prepares the annual budget in a manner and form as the Manager deems
desirable or the Council requires consistent with the Town charter.
All rights, claims, actions, contracts, mutual aid agreements
and other legal or administrative proceedings taken by or affecting
the Fire Department in its said capacity and all Town ordinances,
resolutions, orders and regulations adopted by the Town and the policies,
rules and regulations of Fire Department remain in full force and
effect and are adopted, ratified and become incorporated into and
binding on the Fire Department as herein established as if the same
were repeated and fully set forth and incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, the Fire Department has all rights, obligations and legal
authority consistent with the Town charter and state statutes.