[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Amery 10-6-2004 as §§ 5-2-1,
5-2-2 and 5-2-12 of the 2004 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Fire Department established. The Amery Fire Department shall be responsible
for the program of fire defense for the citizens and property within
the City of Amery. The Amery Fire Department is hereby officially
recognized as the Fire Department of the City of Amery and the duties
of firefighting, rescue and the prevention of fires in the City are
delegated to such department. Its organization and internal regulation
shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter and by such bylaws
adopted by the Department as are approved by the City Council, except
as otherwise provided by law and ordinance.
The primary objective of the fire defense program is to serve all
citizens, without prejudice or favoritism, by safeguarding, collectively
and individually, their lives against the effects of fires, explosions
and disasters, both natural and man-made.
The second objective of the fire defense program is to safeguard
the general economy and welfare of the community by preventing major
conflagrations and the destruction by fire of industries and businesses.
Appropriations. The City Council shall appropriate funds to provide
for personnel, operation and for such apparatus and equipment for
the use of the Fire Department as it may deem expedient and necessary
to maintain efficiency and properly protect life and property from
fire.
General supervision. The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall have
the general supervision of the Department, which supervision shall
be subject to and not conflict with this chapter and the bylaws of
the Department. He/she shall be responsible for the personnel and
general efficiency of the Department.
Presiding officer. The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall preside
at all meetings, call special meetings, preserve order, decide all
points of order that may arise and enforce a rigid observance of this
chapter and bylaws.
Command of firefighting operations. The Fire Chief or his/her designee
shall be present at all fires, and have complete command and entire
responsibility of all firefighting operations, plan the control of
the same, direct the action of the Department when it arrives at the
fire, observe that the Department does its duty, grant leaves of absence
at a fire when he/she may deem it proper, and see that the fire apparatus
is kept in proper condition at all times.
Disciplinary actions. The Fire Chief or his/her designee may demote
or expel any officer or member of the Department pursuant to Department
bylaws for neglect or refusal to perform his/her departmental duties,
subject to an appeal from such demotion or expulsion to the City Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
Department budget. Not later than October 1 of each year, the Fire
Chief shall file with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer a detailed
estimate of the appropriations needed for the conduct of the Department
during the ensuing fiscal year.
Enforcement of fire prevention ordinances. The Fire Chief shall be
responsible for enforcing all fire prevention ordinances of the City
and state laws and regulations pertaining to fire prevention, and
shall keep citizens informed on fire prevention methods and on the
activities of the Department.
Fire record book. The Fire Chief shall keep a fire record book of
every fire to which the Department was called and shall enter in such
book the locality of fire, time alarm was received, cause of fire,
where fire started, cause of delay (if any) in responding, method
of extinguishment and equipment used, estimated fire loss, time fire
was extinguished, names of firefighters responding and general remarks.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
Duties of commanding officer. The Fire Chief shall perform such other
duties as are usually incumbent on the commanding officer of the Fire
Department.
Purpose and authority. This section is enacted pursuant to the authority
of § 66.0608, Wis. Stats., for the purpose of authorizing
"volunteer funds" to be held in the name of the Fire Department. This
section is to be interpreted in conformance with that Statute as it
may be amended from time to time.
Adoption of authorization. The City of Amery City Council does hereby
authorize the Fire Chief to deposit volunteer company funds of the
Department in an account in the name of the Fire Department in any
public depository in which other City funds are being held by the
City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer or designee.
Control of funds. The Fire Department, through its Fire Chief, is
granted exclusive control over the expenditure of volunteer company
funds of the Department. This authority is granted without limitation
as to amount or type of funds. It is subject to the limitations and
requirements hereinafter set forth.
Expenditures. Expenditures withdrawn from the account may be made
only upon majority vote of Fire Department members present at a duly
noticed meeting of the Department. Such withdrawals and expenditures
may be made for any purpose that promotes the ability of the Fire
Department to provide services for which it is organized.
Accountings. The Fire Chief shall provide the City with a quarterly
statement at the end of March, June, September and December of each
calendar year. The statements shall be provided within 30 days of
the end of the calendar quarter. The statements shall include a detailed
itemization of all receipts, expenditures, and the balance on hand
at the end of the quarter. The source of all funds and the identity
of the payee for each disbursement shall be set forth.
Audit. Fire Department accounts authorized by this section shall
be included in the annual audit of City funds. They shall be audited
in the same manner as other City funds.