Cross References — Police and fire commission, §125.090 et seq.; authority of fire department officers regarding traffic, §310.020; police department established, §200.020.
[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(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.