The Bridgeport Fire Department is hereby established as a department
of the city and shall have as its purpose the prevention and suppression
of fires and rendition of emergency medical services. The fire department
may be composed of both paid and volunteer or reserve personnel, under
the supervision and direction of the fire chief, and in accordance
with the ordinances and policies of the city.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire department shall be responsible for firefighting and
other related public safety activities within the city, the extraterritorial
jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city and any other areas which the city
has a valid contract to serve. In addition, the fire department shall
honor any mutual aid requests for areas in which the city has a formal
mutual aid agreement.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
There shall be appointed by the city manager, for an indefinite
term, a full-time paid fire chief. To the extent required by law,
the fire chief shall have and maintain valid certifications and licensing
for all firefighting and public safety areas in which the fire department
will be involved. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he
shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the constitution
of this state, before any officer authorized to administer oaths.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire chief is the department head of the fire department
and is directly responsible to the city manager for the proper and
efficient operation of the department. The fire chief shall:
(1)
Supervise,
regulate and manage the department and its volunteers or reserve personnel,
and have control of its activities, including fundraising activities.
(2)
Maintain
all fire department apparatus.
(3)
Direct
operations of the fire department.
(4)
Designate
the order of succession of command in his absence.
(5)
Prescribe
the specifications and manner of wear of the uniform and protective
clothing.
(6)
Compile
and present the department’s annual fiscal budget, forecasting
expenditures in the manner prescribed by the city manager.
(7)
Operate
the fire department within the budget allocated by the city council.
(8)
Keep,
or cause to be kept, a record of membership, meetings, attendance,
fires and other emergencies, and report the same to the city council.
(9)
Collect
on behalf of the city all charges due for the provision of fire and
other emergency services.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
(a)
In
addition to the fire chief, membership of the department shall be
composed of volunteer representatives of the city and the surrounding
area whose applications for membership have been accepted by the members
of the department and approved by the fire chief and who have complied
with all rules, regulations and orders provided for the conduct and
control of the members thereof. All members of the department shall
perform such duties as may be prescribed from time to time by order
of the city council, to be executed by the fire chief or the department.
(b)
Included
in the personnel of the fire department shall be such full and part-time
paid employees as the city council may direct. The city council shall
establish the hours of employment and the compensation to be paid
for such services.
(c)
The
subordinate officers of the department shall be appointed in the manner
provided for in the constitution and bylaws of the department, which
constitution and bylaws must be approved by the city council.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire apparatus belonging to the city shall be kept in such
place or places as the city council shall from time to time provide,
and said equipment shall remain in constant readiness for use. All
property in any way belonging to the department shall be delivered
to such places as designated by the fire chief. All former members
of the department shall be required to return all department property
in their possession or subject to their control or that of their agents.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons not a member
of said fire department to interfere with, or in any manner hinder
any member or employee of said fire department in the discharge of
his duties as such. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons
not a member of said fire department to handle, or in any way interfere
with, any of the apparatus belonging to or used by said fire department,
either at fire or while traveling to or returning from a fire, or
while standing in the fire department quarters, or at any time, unless
such person or persons are requested to do so by an officer of said
department.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire department is under the direction of the fire chief
who is a full-time employee of the city. As soon as possible after
the effective date of this article, the members of the fire department
shall meet and effect their organization for the purpose of the good
order and well-being of the department, the maintenance of harmony
therein, the full promotion of the organization, and to adopt a constitution
and bylaws that will be consistent with the ordinances of the city
and the laws of the state. Said constitution and bylaws shall be subject
to the approval of the city council, and any fire department member
failing or refusing to comply with such constitution and bylaws approved
by the city council or rules and regulations adopted by the fire department,
shall forfeit the rights of said department, and the use of apparatus
in its charge, and such apparatus shall be taken charge of by the
fire chief until such company and members thereof shall comply with
such laws, rules and regulations or until another company shall have
been regularly organized, at which time the fire chief at his discretion
shall have the right to turn the said apparatus over to the newly
organized company.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
All members of the department must make application of forms
provided by the fire department. All applicants must be of good character
and have the physical ability to perform the duties required. All
applicants must pass a written and physical agility test given by
the fire department. All applicants must execute waivers and releases
of otherwise confidential information as the city may from time to
time require to inquire of the background of the applicant and drug
testing.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
(a)
Every
person appointed to the department shall be a minimum of eighteen
(18) years of age and live within twenty (20) miles of the city limits,
except as otherwise provided herein.
(b)
Any
qualifications established for the position of volunteer firefighter
in the department shall meet the minimum physical, mental, education,
and moral standards established by the state commission on fire protection
personnel standards and education, or other state board or commission
having such jurisdiction but may be stricter than the standards established
by such board or commission.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire chief shall prescribe the uniforms and badges of the
members of the department and shall direct the manner in which the
same shall be worn.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
All funds and property of the department shall be held in the
name of the city. The department’s fiscal year shall begin on
October 1st annually.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
All fundraising activities will be reported to the city council
as part of the fire chiefs monthly report.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The department shall not be permitted to engage the services
of any person, firm or entity or any reason except upon prior approval
by the city council. No member of the department except the fire chief
upon prior approval by the city council, shall be authorized to bind
the department or the city to any contract or other financial obligation.
The fire chief will approve all purchases following city policies
and procedures.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The city shall provide vehicle and operational liability coverage
for the department, its property (including vehicles and buildings),
and its members as determined by the city council in its sole discretion.
The city may take such action in the discipline and suspension of
any member of the department in order to minimize the risks for which
insurance may be provided.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The department shall develop constitution and bylaws consistent
with this article or any other rules and regulations adopted or hereafter
adopted by the city council. All changes in constitution and bylaws
shall be referred to the city council for their approval. Department
rules and constitution and bylaws may provide for internal discipline
within the department consistent with this article or rules and regulations
hereafter adopted by the city.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
The fire chief shall submit an annual budget following city
policies and procedures. The budget will be approved in accordance
with the schedule for approving the annual city budget.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
Members of the department shall be subject at all times to the
policies of the city. Members are responsible for complying with and
adhering to these policies, all rules of their department, and to
the directives provided by departmental management in the fulfillment
of these policies, and all other city rules, policies, ordinances,
and laws of the state.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
No member of the department shall be deemed to have a property
interest in serving in the appointed position for the city. Membership
of any such person in the department may be terminated by the fire
chief at any time with or without cause, subject to any hereafter
established policy and procedure. Any such member may resign from
such service at any time, but it shall be his duty to notify the fire
chief of such resignation.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
No separate organization may expend monies from the city or
incur liabilities on behalf of the city or transact financial enterprise
in the name of the city, expressed or implied, without prior approval
of the city council.
(Ordinance 2020-09 adopted 3/9/20)
