[Adopted as Rev. Ords. 1976, §§ 8-5 to 8-9,
8-11 to 8-21.3 and 16-13 (Rev. Ords. 1989, §§ 7-26
to 7-30 and 7-32 to 7-45)]
[Amended 9-20-1976 by Ord. No. 19272; 12-19-1988 by Ord. No. 2221; 3-8-2004 by Ord. No. 04-143; 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 09-177; 5-21-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-158]
A Fire Department is hereby established which shall consist
of a Chief, an Assistant Chief, the Director of Public Works, the
Fire Alarm Maintenance Lineman, ex officio, eight Captains, 10 Lieutenants
and 57 privates, organized as follows: Engine Company No. 1, Hook
and Ladder Company No. 1, Engine Company No. 2, Engine Company No.
3 and Rescue Company No. 1, together with such other companies as
may be established hereafter by the City Council. Of the eight Captain
positions, one shall remain unfilled and unfunded until such time
as a Fire Chief, having the rank of Captain when he or she became
Chief, resigns or is terminated as Fire Chief and elects to return
to his or her prior position as a Captain. Also there shall be a reserve
force to consist of five persons. Vacancies on the reserve force shall
be filled from the civil service list within 30 days from the day
a vacancy occurs, and otherwise the five-person reserve force shall
be kept at full complement at all times.
[Amended 5-21-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-158]
The Director of Public Works shall, for the purpose of keeping
the fire hydrants and water mains always in good working order, be
a member of the Fire Department ex officio without additional compensation.
[Added 5-18-2009 by Ord.
No. 09-177]
A.
General duties (illustrative and not all inclusive) of the Fire Alarm
Maintenance Lineman are to:
(1)
Install and maintain underground and overhead wires for the
municipal fire alarm system.
(2)
Climb poles, using the City bucket truck, stringing wire from
pole to pole, making up splices and terminations as required.
(3)
Maintain the fire alarm desk at the central fire station.
(4)
Plug out boxes and reset alarm systems and boxes; test all municipal
fire alarm boxes every 60 days.
(5)
Maintain daily records of work performed, both in the computer
and in writing.
(6)
Coordinate, cooperate and work with other inspectors, firefighters,
the Fire Chief, laborers, and other personnel performing all tasks
assigned or required in a complete and professional manner.
(7)
Be responsible for compliance with instructions, safety procedures,
conformance with accepted trade practices and compliance with Department
policies and regulations and government laws and regulations as they
pertain to the work.
(8)
Perform assigned or required tasks in a timely manner.
(9)
Respond sensitively and constructively to customers' requirements.
(10)
Perform basic electrical work in municipal buildings, under
the direction of the Fire Chief.
(11)
Conduct other work as directed by the supervisor.
B.
The Fire Alarm Maintenance Lineman must be available for overtime
and emergency calls.
C.
The Fire Alarm Maintenance Lineman may be required to act in the
capacity of Electrical Inspector during after hours in his absence.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
Appointments of members to, and promotions in, the Fire Department
shall be made by the Mayor and shall be subject to such rules as may
be prescribed by the Civil Service Commission of the commonwealth.
|
State law reference — Appointment
and promotion of members of Fire Department, MGL c. 31, § 20.
|
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 24-16, Qualifications of
members, was deleted 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
All members of the Fire Department shall, under rules and regulations
prescribed by the Fire Chief, perform all duties required of them
in accordance with the ordinances of the City and laws of the commonwealth.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 24-18, Uniform allowance,
amended 11-13-1978 by Ord. No. 20049, was deleted 8-21-2017 by Ord.
No. 2018-4.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
The Chief of the Fire Department and the Assistant Chief shall
constitute the Board of Engineers and shall perform the duties and
exercise the powers of fire wardens as prescribed and conferred by
law. The Chief shall be the Chair and the Assistant Chief the Secretary
of such Board of Engineers. The Assistant Chief shall be the Deputy
Chief and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the
Chief in case of the latter's absence or disability.
[Amended 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 09-177]
A.
Generally. The Chief of the Fire Department shall, under the direction
of the Mayor, have entire control of the Department, its officers
and members and civilian members. The Chief of the Fire Department
shall be responsible for the discipline, good order and proper conduct
of the persons constituting the Department and for the good condition
of all property connected therewith.
B.
At the scene of a fire. The Chief of the Fire Department shall have
the sole charge and absolute control and command over all persons
present at fires and shall take prompt measures to arrange the various
pieces of apparatus in the most advantageous manner and issue such
orders as he/she may deem necessary. In case of the absence of the
Chief at a fire, the ranking officer present shall, during his/her
absence, have and exercise all the power and authority of the Chief
and shall perform the duties of his/her office.
The order of rank of officers of the Fire Department shall be
as follows: Chief of the Fire Department, Assistant Chief, Captain
and Lieutenant.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to
keep, or cause to be kept, fair and exact rolls of the respective
companies, specifying the name, rank, age, occupation and residence
and the date of the admission and discharge of each member of the
Department. The Chief of the Fire Department shall also keep an accurate
account of all property belonging to the Department.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
The Chief of the Fire Department shall, annually in the month
of January, make to the Mayor a detailed report of the condition of
the Fire Department and of all losses and accidents by fire that may
have occurred within the City, with all ascertainable causes thereof,
and shall give to the Board of Assessors a detailed report of the
number of buildings and a description of property destroyed or injured,
the amount of insurance thereon and the names of the owners.
Under the direction of the proper committee of the City Council
and with the approval of the Mayor, the Chief of the Fire Department
may sell condemned property of the Department and make returns therefor
to the City Treasurer. The sanction of such committee shall be necessary
for such sale.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
It shall be the duty of the officers of the Fire Department
to preserve order and discipline in their respective companies and
to require and enforce compliance with the rules, regulations and
orders of the Chief of the Fire Department and Assistant Chief and
to report forthwith, in writing, to the Chief the name of each and
every member who shall be guilty of any neglect of duty or disobedience
of orders.
No gambling shall be allowed in any building occupied by any
company in the Fire Department, nor shall spirituous liquors be used
therein. No electioneering or discussion of municipal politics shall
be allowed about or in any house or fire station belonging to or occupied
by the Department.
A.
The Fire Department is hereby authorized, in accordance with the
provisions of MGL c. 48, § 59A, to go to aid another city,
town or fire district in this commonwealth or in any adjoining state
in extinguishing fires therein.
B.
No part of the apparatus of the Fire Department shall be taken out
of the City, except to a fire, without the permission of the Mayor
or to a fire outside the City without permission of the Chief of the
Fire Department or, in his/her absence, of the Assistant Chief.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 24-28, Suspension and removal
of officers and members, amended 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 09-177, was
deleted 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4.
No member of the Fire Department shall be transferred from one
company to another except by order of the Chief of the Fire Department.
If any member of the Fire Department shall, except in the case
of sickness or with the written permission of the Chief of the Fire
Department, be absent without official leave, such absence shall be
considered good cause for his/her being discharged from the Department
at the discretion of the Chief. An intentional violation of any of
the provisions of this article by any officer or member shall be good
cause for his/her discharge.
[Added 11-9-1992 by Ord.
No. 93-84]
A.
The Mayor, acting through the Fire Chief, shall be responsible for
the oversight of the emergency medical response services provided
to the residents of Melrose. The Mayor shall appoint, subject to the
approval of the City Council, a five-member Emergency Medical Response
Service Oversight Committee for a term of two years. The Fire Chief
shall be one of the Committee members and shall act as Chair. The
Committee shall formulate appropriate and measurable performance and
quality standards for the delivery of emergency medical response services
to Melrose residents. The Committee shall meet on a regular basis
to evaluate the performance of the emergency medical response providers
based on the standards established. The Committee shall report all
its evaluations and findings to the Mayor.
B.
The Fire Chief shall, on a quarterly basis, report to the City Council
on the quality of emergency medical response services provided to
the residents of Melrose.
[Amended 9-20-1976 by Ord. No. 19271; 2-4-1991 by Ord. No. 91-150; 8-21-1991 by Ord. No. 92-12; 10-5-1992 by Ord. No. 93-2; 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-162]
A.
Generally. The emergency rescue vehicle shall be in the charge of
the Chief of the Fire Department, who shall be responsible for its
care and maintenance. In case of an emergency requiring immediate
medical or surgical care, the Chief of the Fire Department, or his/her
designee, shall direct, control and make such vehicle available for
the transportation of sick, injured or disabled persons to the Melrose-Wakefield
Hospital or the nearest hospital, if deemed advisable.
B.
Records of trips. The Chief of the Fire Department shall keep record
of all trips made by such vehicle, and such information shall be a
matter of public record.
C.
Any and all revenue generated by the emergency rescue vehicle shall
be placed in the Special Revenue Ambulance Account prior to fiscal
year 2012 and the Ambulance Enterprise Fund thereafter. Said revenue
shall be utilized by the Fire Department to pay for any and all expenses
incurred as a result of the operations of the emergency rescue vehicle
in the Fire Department.
D.
Fees and billing policies for medical and emergency transport shall
be established by the City Council. Fees and billing policies will
be reviewed periodically or upon request of the Chief of the Fire
Department.
E.
Fees for medical and emergency transport shall be as follows:
[Amended 6-18-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-174; 5-19-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-122; 6-1-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-158; 6-6-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-165; 6-18-2018 by Order
No. 2018-180; 5-20-2019 by Order No. 2019-93; 6-24-2020 by Order No.
2020-91; 6-14-2021 by Order No. 2021-123; 6-24-2024 by Order No.
2024-32]
F.
The Melrose City Council shall review this fee schedule on an annual
basis prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.
