[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Easton 3-25-1980 as Title IVB of the 1980 Code of Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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.
[Amended 9-15-2014]
A. 
The Board shall appoint a local Fire Marshal and such Deputy Fire Marshals as may be necessary. In making such appointment, preference shall be given to a member of the regular or volunteer fire department of the Town. Such persons being appointed must be certified by the State Fire Marshal in accordance with the provisions of § 29-298 of the General Statutes.
B. 
The Clerk shall record acceptance of the position of local Fire Marshal and shall report the same in writing to the State Fire Marshal within 10 days thereafter, giving the name and address of the local Fire Marshal and stating the limits of the territory in which the local Fire Marshal is to serve. Should such Fire Marshal fail to faithfully perform the duties of his office, the Board, after proper inquiry, may dismiss him and appoint another qualified person in his place. Such dismissal shall be in accordance with the provisions of §§ 29-299 and 29-300 of the General Statutes.