[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Alfred 3-10-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 105.
A.
This company shall be known as the "Alfred Fire Department"
and shall consist of 50 or more persons, as the company shall decide, with
the approval of the municipal officers of the Town of Alfred, Maine.
B.
The officers of this company shall be known as “Chief,”
“First Assistant Chief,” “Second Assistant Chief,”
“Captain of Operations,” “Captain of the Hose,” “Captain
of the Ladder,” “Lieutenant of the Hose,” “Lieutenant
of the Ladder,” “Clerk” and “Treasurer,” all
of whom shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting which shall be held
on the first Monday in December. Whenever a vacancy may occur, the Chief may
fill such vacancy until the next annual meeting.
A.
The company, at its annual meeting or as soon thereafter
as possible, shall recommend to the municipal officers for appointment a Chief,
First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief, Captain of Operations, Captain
of the Hose, Captain of the Ladder, Lieutenant of the Hose, Lieutenant of
the Ladder, Clerk and Treasurer.
B.
There shall be a three-member Board of Trustees of the
Alfred Fire Department consisting of the Chief, First Assistant Chief and
Second Assistant Chief or their successors.
The Chief, in addition to the duties and powers prescribed in the Town
ordinances governing the Fire Department, shall preside at all meetings, and
strict obedience shall be paid to his orders. He shall appoint the following
standing committees to serve during his term: Finance Committee consisting
of three members and any other special committee needed from time to time,
not otherwise provided for.
The Assistant Chiefs, in addition to the duties and powers prescribed
in the Town ordinances governing the Fire Department, shall assist the Chief
in the performance of his duties and shall perform such other duties as become
necessary.
The Board of Officers, in addition to the duties prescribed in the Town
ordinances governing the Fire Department, shall inspect all fire apparatus
and see that it is ready to respond to an alarm at all times. It shall inspect
all property of the company as often as may be necessary and shall annually
report to the municipal officers and to the company the condition of said
apparatus and property or whenever requested to do so by the municipal officers
or company. The Board of Officers shall have full charge of purchasing necessary
supplies and making repairs, additions and alterations.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Captain of the Hose to attend
to the hose, to select a pipeman or hoseman in the absence of any and to take
charge in the absence of the Chief and Assistants.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Lieutenant of the Hose to
assist the Captain in the discharge of his duties, to take charge of hydrants,
to look after and attend to the washing and drying of the hose and to take
charge in the absence of the Captain of the Hose.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Captain of the Ladder to
have charge of the ladders, to select a ladderman in the absence of any and
to perform such other duties as may become necessary.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Lieutenant of the Ladder
to assist the Captain in the discharge of his duties and, in the absence of
the Captain, to take charge of the ladders.
A.
In addition to the duties prescribed in the Town ordinances
governing the Fire Department, each member shall, at the alarm of fire, assume
his proper position and continue with the company until dismissed by his commanding
officer.
B.
Any member wishing to leave a fire or meeting before
the company is dismissed shall ask permission of the commanding officer, who
may or may not excuse him, at his own discretion.
A.
In addition to the duties prescribed in Town ordinances
governing the Fire Department, the Clerk shall have charge of all books and
papers not in charge of some other officer. He shall keep an accurate record
of all the proceedings of this company in a book provided for that purpose,
which shall at all meetings be open for inspection by any member of the company.
He shall keep an accurate record of all fires with the amount of fire apparatus
used, as reported to him by the officer in charge of the incident, together
with the roll calls. He shall call the roll at all meetings and shall keep
a true record of all rolls in a book provided for that purpose. The record
book shall not leave the station, and it must be kept in the fireproof cabinet
when not in use. The Clerk shall make a report to the company annually or
whenever requested to do so by them. He shall perform any other duties which
may be necessary.
B.
These duties may be performed by any other member of
the company in the absence of the Clerk that the Chief may select.
C.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk Pro Tem to make returns
to the Clerk as soon as possible after adjournment of said meeting.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a correct account between
the members and the company; to collect and hold all money due the company
and to pay therefrom all orders drawn by the Clerk, signed by the Finance
Committee and ordered paid by the company. He shall submit a true statement
of the standing of the company at the annual meeting or whenever requested
to do so by the Chief or company.
It shall be the duty of the Captain of Operations to inspect all Fire
Department property, equipment and apparatus as to their compliance with National
Fire Protection Association standards (NFPA) and the Fire Department policies
and to notify the Fire Chief of any deficiencies found. The Captain of Operations
will take charge in the absence of the Chief and Assistants.
A meeting of the company shall be held on the first Monday of each month,
at 7:30 p.m. All meetings shall be conducted according to parliamentary rules
and the rules and usages of this company. The presiding officer shall be addressed
as Chief.
All persons are strictly forbidden to remove any article other than
their own from the station without permission from an officer in charge.
The Finance Committee shall examine and approve or disapprove all bills
against the company before orders are drawn for payment. They shall audit
the accounts of the Treasurer and Clerk and report at the annual meeting or
whenever it may become necessary.
A.
All applications for membership, whether it be for regular
member or associate member, shall be referred to the Investigating Committee,
who shall report favorably or unfavorably before the applicant can be balloted
upon. When the Chief announces the action of the Committee, a ballot may be
taken, and if 2/3 or more of the members present vote in favor of the applicant,
he/she shall be declared elected.
Any person may be placed on the honorary member list by a 2/3 vote of
the members present at a regular meeting.
No member shall be allowed to respond to an alarm or training or be
on Fire Department property or operate fire apparatus while being under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. Any member found to be in violation shall have
charges preferred against him and, if found guilty, shall be reprimanded or
suspended or could be discharged from the company.
A.
All members of this Fire Department must be residents
of or work in the area of the Town of Alfred and may not be less than 18 years
of age, and they must be situated so as to respond to alarms day or night.
New members will be on probation for not less than six months. They will then
be referred to the Investigating Committee for review.
C.
After discussion of a suspension at a regular meeting,
a registered letter of notification will be mailed to the member at least
10 days before the next regular meeting. At the next regular meeting, the
suspension from membership shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of members
present.
D.
Upon suspension of membership from the Department, all
property of the Alfred Fire Department shall be returned within 10 days of
notification of suspension.
No private members shall undertake to give any orders except under the
sanction of his commanding officer, and no subordinate officer shall assume
any duty or authority beyond what legally belongs to him, according to this
constitution.
All new members voted into the Alfred Fire Department shall take a breathing
apparatus course within one year of being voted into the Department.
New members must attend all training sessions.
All new members voted into the Alfred Fire Department shall be required
to maintain 25 hours of fire service related training per state mandate.
It shall be the duty of each member to see that the above constitution
and bylaws are strictly enforced.
