[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The former Chapter 29 is repealed and the following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.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
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 may from time to time establish or
remove any station or substation based on Town and organizational
needs.. 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.
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 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.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
C.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services 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.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
D.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services 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 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.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
E.
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services 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.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
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 and shall be
responsible for the supervision of all paid personnel.
[Amended 5-10-2022]
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.
