[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]
(1) 
Advanced Life Support 1 (ALS1): $2,600.
(2) 
Advanced Life Support 2 (ALS2): $3,300.
(3) 
Basic life support: $2,115.
(4) 
Emergency transport mileage: $52 per mile.
F. 
The Melrose City Council shall review this fee schedule on an annual basis prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.