[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Farmington 1-28-1997;[1] amended in its entirety 3-5-2003. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 47.
Pensions — See Ch. 51.
Fire hydrants — See Ch. 101.
Fire lanes — See Ch. 182.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal of former
Chapter 29, Fire Department, adopted 9-28-1993.
The former Chapter 29 is repealed and the following is substituted in
lieu thereof.
A unified Town-wide Fire Department (Department) consisting of the Farmington
Volunteer Fire Department, LLC, the Tunxis Hose Company No. 1, and the East
Farmington Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., is established for the purpose
of providing fire-fighting, rescue and emergency medical services throughout
the Town.
The Department in its operations shall utilize the Farmington Fire Station,
the Tunxis Hose Fire Station, the East Farmington Fire Station, the Oakland
Gardens Fire Substation, the Southwest Fire Substation, and any other station
or substation as may from time to time be established. The existing volunteer
fire companies shall continue as operating entities and shall function as
constituent units of the Department. The Director of Fire and Rescue Services
is hereby charged with managing the Department and with directing and being
responsible to the Town Manager for all fire, rescue and emergency medical
services provided within the Town; however on-scene fire ground operations
shall be commanded by the Fire Chiefs as well as their officers. Each volunteer
fire company and its officers shall be responsible for operating in conformance
with unified procedures established by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
The Board of Fire Chiefs shall consist of three members: the Fire Chief
from each of the three existing volunteer fire companies. The Fire Chiefs
shall personally serve on the Board of Fire Chiefs; and shall not be permitted
to name designees. If the Fire Chief is unable to fulfill his or her duties,
takes a leave of absence, and appoints an Acting Fire Chief, the Acting Fire
Chief shall be permitted to serve on the Board of Fire Chiefs so long as he
or she is serving in the capacity of Acting Fire Chief.
A.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services shall have all
reasonable powers necessary to fulfill the obligations of managing and being
responsible for all fire, rescue and emergency medical services excluding
on-scene fire ground operations which shall be commanded by the Fire Chief(s)
as well as their officers.
B.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, with assistance
from the Board of Fire Chiefs, shall establish standard policies, rules and
procedures for providing fire-fighting, rescue and other emergency and safety
services throughout the Town as from time to time deemed appropriate. Such
policies, rules and procedures shall be consistent with policies and direction
from the Town Manager and shall comply with the Town Charter and applicable
collective bargaining agreements.
C.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, with assistance
from the Board of Fire Chiefs, shall coordinate the training and physical
fitness programs of the Department; take appropriate steps to improve efficiency,
recruitment and public relations; develop specifications for needed equipment
and determine purchase requirements; evaluate risk management issues; develop
annual budget recommendations; and develop strategic and tactical plans for
future equipment and facilities.
D.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, with assistance
from the Board of Fire Chiefs, shall plan new programs and take necessary
steps to have such programs implemented and represent the Department before
the Town Council, other Town agencies, other state and local agencies and
the general public. The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, with assistance
from the Board of Fire Chiefs, shall analyze the needs of the Department and
coordinate programs to meet those needs, keeping in mind the unique nature
of volunteer emergency services being rendered by the volunteer fire companies.
E.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, with assistance
from Board of Fire Chiefs, shall interview candidates for any paid positions
within the Department and recommend candidates for such positions for appointment
by the Town Manager. Such recommendations shall comply with the provisions
of any applicable labor contract and with the Town Charter.
F.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services shall make recommendations
to the Town Manager regarding the direction, discipline, suspension and relief
from active duty of any paid employee or voluntary member in the Department,
subject to the provisions of applicable collective bargaining contracts and
the Town Charter. The Fire Chiefs shall be the direct supervisors of the career
fire fighters that are assigned to their fire stations. All direction from
the Fire Chiefs to the career fire fighters shall be consistent with all policies,
rules, and procedures set forth by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
G.
The Fire Chiefs shall be the supervisors of the volunteer
fire fighters assigned to their stations. The Fire Chiefs are responsible
for carrying out the directives of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services
and ensuring that they are followed by the volunteer fire fighters assigned
to their stations.
The Board of Fire Chiefs shall meet with the Director of Fire and Rescue
Services as necessary to manage and conduct the operations of the Fire Department.
