[Amended by L.L. No. 4-2004, ref. date 11-2-2004; 1-3-2017 by L.L. No. 1-2017]
There shall be a Fire Department which shall
consist of the Fire Chief and such other officers and positions within
the Fire Department as now exist or as the Common Council may hereafter
determine. The functions of the Fire Department shall include the
prevention of fires, fighting and controlling fires and the investigation
of the causes, circumstances and origins of fires and such other related
functions and duties as the Mayor may assign. Notwithstanding this
provision or any other provision of this Charter or other law, the
Fire Department may engage in or otherwise provide ambulance services.
[Amended 7-5-1994 by L.L. No. 9-1994,
ref. date]
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council from the unclassified service, as found in Article
III, § 35(e), of the Civil Service Law of the State of New York.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be the
executive head of the Fire Department, and his powers and duties shall
include:
A. Organization and administration of the Fire Department
and the deployment and supervision of its officers, members and employees,
including the promulgation of reasonable rules and regulations concerning
the operation of the Department and the conduct, duties, discipline
and assignments of its personnel.
B. Subject to Civil Service Law, Rules and Regulations,
the Chief of the Fire Department shall appoint all officers, members
and employees of the Fire Department to fill such positions within
the Department as have been authorized by the Common Council; the
Chief also may suspend and remove all officers, members and employees,
subject to Civil Service Law, Rules and Regulations.
C. Exclusive jurisdiction over the fighting and extinguishing
of any fire occurring within the City.
D. Responsibility for the operation, repair and maintenance
of a fire alarm signal system.
E. Responsibility for the efficiency, discipline and
good conduct of the Department and for the care and custody of all
City property entrusted to the Department for its use.
F. Maintenance and administration of a fire prevention
and safety program.
G. Investigation of the causes, circumstances and origins
of fires and the submission to the Chief of Police and the District
Attorney of a written report of every incident in which arson is suspected.
H. Filing of copies of all fire safety inspection reports
in the Office of the City Engineer.
I. Implementation of a program of suitable, continuous
training of all members of the Department.
J. Attendance at meetings of the Common Council.
N. Inspection of all multiple dwellings subject to state
law, State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and any standard
or special codes now in force or hereafter adopted by the Common Council,
for purposes of ensuring compliance with such laws, state codes and/or
City codes.
[Added 12-18-1990 by L.L. No. 2-1990, ref. date]
O. Responsibility for requiring the posting of occupancy
limits in all public buildings in the City of Amsterdam.
[Added 12-18-1990 by L.L. No. 2-1990, ref. date]
P. Responsibility for firesafety inspections in the City
of Amsterdam.
[Added 12-18-1990 by L.L. No. 2-1990, ref. date; amended 7-17-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007]
R. Responsibility, within authority established by the
Common Council, for the inspection of rental premises and the issuance
of rental certificates.
[Added 12-18-1990 by L.L. No. 2-1990, ref. date]
S. The Fire Chief shall be the Chief Code Enforcement
Officer within the Division of Fire Code Enforcement and the Chief
shall appoint Code Complaint Technicians from within the Fire Department
to serve at his direction.
[Amended 7-17-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007]