[Code 1975 §7.03(1); CC 1989 §9-21; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
There hereby is and shall be established a Fire Department of
the City. The Fire Department shall consist of the Fire Chief, and
all personnel, and fire equipment; provided however, that the City
may contract for services of some other political subdivision of the
State to provide fire protection to the City in which case the contracting
party shall have direct charge of and responsibility of the fire protection
equipment, men and functions. The Fire Department, through its Chief,
and personnel, shall be responsible for, and shall offer the public
within the jurisdiction of the City, safety to life, limb and property,
and protection from fire hazards, and in addition shall perform such
duties as may be assigned by the Mayor. The Board of Aldermen may
assign other functions to the Fire Department by ordinance.
[Code 1975 §7.03(2); CC 1989 §9-22; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
A.
Office Established. There hereby is and shall be
established the office of Fire Chief, and the Chief shall be under
the supervision of the Mayor. The Fire Chief shall control, supervise
and regulate personnel, equipment, and operation of the Fire Department
in all aspects of fire protection and regulation within the jurisdiction
of the City, subject to rules and regulations set down by the Board
of Aldermen by ordinance.
B.
Appointment And Terms. The Fire Chief shall be appointed
by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen and he/she
shall hold his/her office subject to removal by a two-thirds (⅔)
vote of the Board of Aldermen.
C.
Duties. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be
the administrative head of the Fire Department. He/she shall also
perform such other duties as the Board of Aldermen may, from time
to time, require by ordinance or resolution. The Board of Aldermen
shall appoint all department employees on recommendation by the Mayor.
D.
Acting Fire Chief—Assistant Acting Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall designate in writing, a member of the Fire
Department to be Acting Fire Chief who shall exercise all of the authority
of the office of the Fire Chief when the Fire Chief is absent from
his/her post for any reason. The Acting Fire Chief shall have authority
to appoint an Assistant Acting Fire Chief in his/her absence; the
function of the Acting Fire Chief or Assistant Acting Fire Chief shall
cease when the Fire Chief is on duty. The Mayor may designate an Acting
Fire Chief or Assistant Acting Fire Chief at any time, and the Mayor
may suspend a Fire Chief, Acting Fire Chief, or Assistant Fire Chief
by notice forthwith.
E.
Qualifications. The Fire Chief shall have a baccalaureate
degree in fire science, fire administration, or related field, or
the equivalent in training and education; fire service of eight (8)
years with at least three (3) years being in a supervisory or command
level; and proven leadership and staff development experience. The
Fire Chief shall not have been convicted of a felony, and shall meet
such other physical, mental, and educational requirements as shall
be set by the Board of Aldermen.
[Code 1975 §7.03(3); CC 1989 §9-23; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
A.
Qualifications Of Firefighters. A firefighter shall
be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, a citizen of the United
States and resident of the State, reside in an area which is within
sixty (60) minutes normal travel time to this City's then current
fire station within a period of one (1) year from the firefighter's
date of appointment, shall not have been convicted of a felony, and
shall meet such physical, mental and educational requirements as shall
be set out by the Board of Aldermen and the Fire Chief in the rules
and regulations of the Fire Department.
B.
Duties Of Firefighters. The firefighters shall have
such duties as shall be assigned to them by their respective department
heads.
C.
Other Employees. Other employees of the Fire Department
shall have such titles as are assigned to them by the Fire Chief if
they are not qualified firefighters and shall have such duties as
shall be assigned to them by their respective department heads.
D.
Terms Of Employment. The term of employment of department
personnel shall be as follows:
1.
Firefighters. The firefighters shall serve
one (1) year probationary period. If a firefighter fails to successfully
complete his/her probationary period, he/she shall be removed from
duty and discharged upon notice.
2.
Termination. A firefighter or other employee
of the Fire Department may be removed, discharged, suspended, or released
from duty by his/her department head or suspended by his/her immediate
supervisor at any time; and the department head shall report such
action, with or without reasons stated, to the Mayor.
3.
Right of appeal. A firefighter or other employee
of the Fire Department who is assessed a penalty which causes him/her
to lose any benefits, money, or job after his/her initial one (1)
year probationary period shall have the right, within seven (7) calendar
days after such penalty is assessed, to give written notice to his/her
department head, and to the Board of Aldermen, of his/her desire to
appeal such disciplinary decision. The Board of Aldermen shall thereafter
set a time and place for hearing such appeal, give at least seven
(7) calendar days' written notice thereof to such appealing employee,
and shall then fully hear and determine the appeal and make such decisions
as it finds to be just.
[Code 1975 §7.03(4); CC 1989 §9-24; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
The Fire Chief, with the approval of the Mayor may establish
and may publish rules and regulations for the personnel and the operation
of the Fire Department as he/she shall deem necessary. The Board of
Aldermen may also establish rules and regulations pertaining to the
Fire Chief. The rules and regulations may apply to firefighters and
other employees of the Fire Department, employee qualifications, time
for working, uniforms, official conduct, personal conduct, equipment,
discipline, training, records, reports, public relations, and any
and all other matters related to the duties of the members and employees
of the Fire Department pertaining to the functions of the Fire Department.
The Fire Chief may not change any rule or regulation approved by the
Board of Aldermen without approval by a majority of that Board.
[Code 1975 §7.03(5); CC 1989 §9-25; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
The Board of Aldermen shall fix and determine the compensation
of the Fire Chief, personnel, and employees of the Fire Department
from time to time by ordinance.
[Code 1975 §7.03(6); CC 1989 §9-26; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
The Fire Chief and his/her authorized representative (such representative
may be known as the Fire Marshal) shall be responsible for an effective
fire prevention program within the City, and shall be the Chief Enforcement
Officers of the City Fire Code and other ordinances of the City concerned
with eliminating, preventing, or regulating fire or potential fire
hazards.
[Code 1975 §7.03(7); CC 1989 §9-27; Ord. No. 1022 §1, 7-14-1986]
A.
The Board of Aldermen shall receive from the Fire Chief each year,
in January, a record of the performance and activity of the Fire Department
in the year immediately preceding.
B.
The Fire Chief shall maintain a personnel file of the members and
employees of the Fire Department, and shall record therein such information
as the Mayor or Board of Aldermen shall require from time to time.
