[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Northfield 9-19-1972 by Ord. No. 6-1972; amended in its entirety 2-2-1993 by Ord. No. 1-1993 (Ch. 16 of the 1974 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
For the better protection of persons and properties against fire, a Fire Department is hereby created in the City of Northfield, to consist of full-time and part-time career employees now therein or hereafter provided for by Council, and such incorporated Volunteer Fire Company as now exists or may hereafter exist within the City, provided that such company shall accept the conditions and provisions of this chapter, which acceptance shall be in writing under corporate seal, signed by the company's President and attested by its Secretary, and which acceptance shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk. Hereinafter, the Career Department and Volunteer Company shall be known as the "Fire Department."
A. 
The Fire Department shall consist of full-time and part-time career employees and a Fire Company consisting of volunteer personnel. The Fire Department shall be under the general direction and control of the Chairman and the Assistant Chairman of the Fire Committee of Council, and written policy and regulation shall, from time to time, be established by the Fire Committee of Council.
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
B. 
The Fire Department shall be officered by:
(1) 
One Chief, who shall be a volunteer.
(2) 
One Deputy Chief, who shall be a volunteer.
(3) 
Not more than two Assistant Chiefs, one of whom shall be a volunteer member of the Fire Company and one of whom shall be a career member of the Fire Department.
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
(4) 
Not more than three captains, as follows:
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
(a) 
Not more than one captain who shall be a volunteer member of the Fire Company; and
(b) 
Not more than two captains who shall be career members of the Fire Department.
(5) 
Three lieutenants, designated "First," "Second" and "Third," each of whom shall be a volunteer.
(6) 
One safety officer, who shall be a volunteer.
(7) 
Such other officers as the Council of the City of Northfield may from time to time appoint upon recommendation of the Fire Committee of the Northfield City Council.
When a vacancy occurs in the Fire Department, the members of the Volunteer Fire Company shall have the first opportunity to request employment in the Department, provided that the member is in good standing in the company and is approved by the Fire Chairman, Chief and the career Assistant Chief of the Department, or their designee, and such request is made within two weeks of the occurrence of said vacancy, when appointment shall be by resolution of Council.
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
The Career Department may be officered by one Assistant Chief, who shall act as the department head, and not more than two captains. These officers shall be recommended for appointment by the Chairman of the Fire Committee, his Assistant and the Chief, subject to the approval of Council. These appointments shall be by resolution of Council.
One Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Assistant Chief, one captain, three lieutenants, and one safety officer shall be elected by the Volunteer Company in accordance with its constitution and bylaws. The result of such election shall be certified to the City Clerk and reported to Council at its first meeting in January for confirmation. Such officers shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, subscribe an oath before the Mayor or City Clerk.
In all emergencies, it is the duty of the Chief to assume full command of the Fire Department, and the Chief will have charge of City-owned equipment at all times, as per the City of Northfield Fire Manual.
It shall be the duty of the Deputy Chief to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties, as per the City of Northfield Fire Manual.
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
A. 
If the position of Assistant Chief (career) is filled, it shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief (career) to see that all career employees perform their duties, conduct themselves with proper decorum and maintain and keep in proper condition all fire apparatus and equipment. He will also be in charge of maintenance of all City-owned equipment. It shall also be the duty of the Assistant Chief (career) to make inspections of the Department employees, keep the records of the Career Department, and make reports to the Chairman of the Fire Committee as required, as per the City of Northfield Fire Manual.
B. 
If the position of Assistant Chief (career) is not filled, it shall be the duty of the Chief to ensure that all duties of the Assistant Chief (career) are performed, and he may at his discretion assign them to career or volunteer officers.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief (volunteer) to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties.
[Amended 5-30-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017]
It shall be the duty of other Career Department officers to assist the Assistant Chief (career), if the position is filled in the discharge of his duties. If the position is not filled, it shall be the duty of other Career Department officers to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties.
It shall be the duty of other Department officers (volunteer) to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties.
The Council shall have the right to suspend or remove the Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chiefs, captains, lieutenants and safety officers, or any other officer thereof, but only after written charges of the cause of complaint shall have been preferred in each case against such officer. Any complaint shall be in writing and shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk, who shall present the same at the next meeting of Council. A hearing shall be held by Council at a date and hour to be fixed by Council within 15 days of the complaint, and notice thereof, together with a copy of the complaint, shall be served upon each accused officer by the City Clerk or any police officer at least five days prior to the hearing thereon. At the hearing, witnesses may be heard for or against the accused, and the accused may be represented by counsel. Pending the hearing on said complaint, after the filing of the same with the City Clerk, the Chairman of the Fire Committee of the Council may temporarily suspend any officer; provided, however, that if the accused shall be found not guilty on the hearing of the complaint by Council, he shall be reinstated as of the date of his temporary suspension.
The delegation of authority for all emergencies of the Fire Department shall be as outlined in the City of Northfield Fire Manual.
All officers of the Department shall attend meetings as prescribed in the City of Northfield Fire Manual. These meetings shall be under the supervision of the Chief.
All employees and members of this Department shall respect all superior officers as outlined in the City of Northfield Fire Manual.