The Department shall consist of a Chief, one Assistant Chief for Fire Operations, one Chief Medical Officer, and other officers as the Chief and the City Council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the Department. One officer of the Department shall be appointed as the training officer.
(Ord. 75-5 § 1, 1975; Ord. 90-2, 1990
The Chief shall be appointed by the City Council, City of Plymouth for an indefinite period of time, and his or her tenure of office shall depend upon his or her good conduct and efficiency. The Chief shall be technically qualified by training and experience and shall have ability to command men and women and hold their respect and confidence. He or she shall be removed only for just cause and after a public hearing before the City Council.
(Ord. 75-5 § 2, 1975)
The Chief shall be held accountable to the City Council only, and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the Council may require. All other Department and Company officers shall be accountable to the Chief only.
(Ord. 75-5 § 3, 1975)
The Assistant Chiefs and all other Department and Company officers shall be appointed by the Chief. Such officers shall be accountable only to the Chief, and subject to removal by him or her.
(Ord. 75-5 § 4, 1975)
The Chief shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the Department, and shall be responsible to the City Council for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the Department.
(Ord. 75-5 § 5, 1975)
The Chief shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the Department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms.
(Ord. 75-5 § 6, 1975)
The Chief shall at least once a month conduct suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the City of Plymouth, fire prevention, water supplies, and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire.
(Ord. 75-5 § 7, 1975)
The Chief is hereby required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin, and circumstance of all fires.
(Ord. 75-5 § 8, 1975)
The Chief is hereby empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making inspections and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found.
(Ord. 75-5 § 9, 1975)
Any person so served with a notice to abate any fire hazard or hazards, shall comply therewith and promptly notify the Chief.
(Ord. 75-5 § 10, 1975)
The Chief shall see that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and major equipment, personnel and other information about the work of the Department.
(Ord. 75-5 § 11, 1975)
The Chief shall report monthly to the City Council the condition of the apparatus and equipment; the number of fires during the month, their location and cause, and date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all other runs made; and the number of members responding to each fire or run, and any changes in membership.
(Ord. 75-5 § 12, 1975)
The Chief shall make a complete annual report to the City Council of the City of Plymouth within one month after the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in Section 2.50.120, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Department.
(Ord. 75-5 § 13, 1975)
The membership of the Department shall be appointed by the Chief, with the approval of the City Council, and shall be able-bodied citizens residing within an area whose boundaries are three miles from the City limits of the City of Plymouth. Candidates shall submit an application to the Chief for appointment. Each candidate shall be reviewed by the Chief for appointment. Candidates should be capable of emergency response to the fire station. Candidates may be appointed to the department by the Chief, with the approval of the City Council, after successful completion of a physical examination and submission of an acceptable DMV printout of the applicant's driving record. The Chief, with the approval of the City Council, shall determine the type of physical examination to be utilized in the appointment process. The applicant shall either possess a CPR certificate and the appropriate First Aid certificate or shall obtain same within one year after appointment. All necessary certificates shall be kept current during the term of membership in the department. Members can be appointed to any of the following positions:
A. 
Fire fighter emergency response member, to be trained in fire fighting and medical response. Members shall provide primary fire fighting response and have Workers' Compensation coverage by the City.
B. 
Rescue person emergency response member, to be trained in medical response. Member shall provide primary medical response and will only provide nonfire-fighting support in fire emergencies and have Workers' Compensation coverage by the City.
C. 
Associates non-emergency member, is available to assist fire department in normal department activities; can provide non-emergency support in emergencies; and have Workers' Compensation coverage by the City.
D. 
Disaster Service. This position is controlled by the OES County system. Individuals can be trained workers in emergency activities, but shall only be used in "Local Emergencies" as described by OES. Workers' Compensation coverage is provided by OES.
Members are accountable to the Chief and to other assigned officers. Emergency response members who do not maintain an active role in the department will be removed from active status and will not be utilized as response members. The Chief, officers and members of the Fire Department will determine the minimum level of activity required by personnel.
Members of the Department shall serve a six-month probationary period. Any member in the probationary period may be terminated in accordance with State law.
(Ord. 75-5 § 14, 1975)
Any member of the Department may be suspended or discharged from the Department by the Chief at any time he or she may deem such action necessary for the good of the Department. On written request of such member to the City Council he or she shall be given a public hearing on the charges brought by the Chief.
(Ord. 75-5 § 15, 1975)
The Department shall be equipped with such apparatus and other equipment as may be required from time to time to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire.
(Ord. 75-5 § 16, 1975)
Recommendations of apparatus and equipment needed shall be made by the Chief, and after approval by the City Council shall be purchased in such manner as may be designated by the City Council.
(Ord. 75-5 § 17, 1975)
All equipment of the Department shall be safely and conveniently housed in such places as may be designated by the City Council. Such places shall be heated during the winter season.
(Ord. 75-5 § 18, 1975)
Suitable arrangement or equipment shall be provided for citizens to turn in an alarm, and for notifying all members of the Department so that they may promptly respond.
(Ord. 75-5 § 19, 1975)
No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority take away or conceal any article used in any way by the Department.
(Ord. 75-5 § 20, 1975)
No person, other than a member of the Department, a City Councilperson or that Councilperson's designee or persons accompanied by a City Councilperson, shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any apparatus or equipment belonging to the Department unless accompanied by, or having special permission of, an officer or authorized member of the Department.
(Ord. 75-5 § 21, 1975)
The City Council of the City of Plymouth is hereby authorized to enter into agreements or contracts with nearby incorporated communities or governing bodies or other organizations to provide the members of such communities or organizations with fire protection or to establish a mutual aid system.
(Ord. 75-5 § 22, 1975)
No apparatus shall be hired out or permitted to leave the City of Plymouth, except in response to a call for aid at a fire in a neighboring community, without the consent of the City Council of the City of Plymouth. The officer in charge of the Department shall have power to assign equipment for response to calls for outside aid in accordance with Section 2.50.220, and in other cases only when the absence of such equipment will not jeopardize protection in the City of Plymouth.
(Ord. 75-5 § 23, 1975)
Each member of the Department shall be issued a badge designating his or her rank.
(Ord. 75-5 § 24, 1975)
All motor equipment and all personal cars of Department members shall have right-of-way over all other traffic when responding to an alarm.
(Ord. 75-5 § 25, 1975)
Each member of the Department driving a car shall be issued a suitable insignia to be attached to the car.
(Ord. 75-5 § 26, 1975)
All regularly appointed members of the Department are hereby given the necessary special police powers for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 75-5 § 32, 1975)
It is hereby made the special duty of the Chief of Police and/or other peace officers who may be on duty and available for fire duty, to respond to all fire alarms and assist the Department in the protection of life and property, in regulating traffic, maintaining order, and in enforcing observance of all sections of this chapter.
(Ord. 75-5 § 33, 1975)