[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of
the Town of Madison 6-13-1994; printed as last amended 6-4-2001.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Interim amendments to this
ordinance were adopted 6-10-1996 and 6-24-1996.
The objectives of this Department shall be to:
A.
Protect lives and property endangered by fires, accidents,
disasters, and haz-mat incidents within the Town of Madison or neighboring
communities covered by mutual aid agreements;
B.
To be part of Emergency Medical Service System to
provide care of person's suffering from injury or sudden illness;
C.
Increase the public awareness of the existence of
conditions constituting potential emergencies or hazards;
D.
Maintain a properly equipped Department with adequately
trained and available personnel;
E.
Assist in the planning for a safe community.
A.
The Madison Fire Department shall include the East
Madison Fire Department and the Madison Village Fire Department.
B.
The Madison Fire Department, located in Madison Village,
shall be composed of three companies, known as "Madison Company Number
1" and "Madison Company Number 2" and "Madison Company Number 3,"
located in East Madison Village.
C.
Additional companies may be established by vote of
the Department with the approval of the Madison Board of Selectmen.
B.
Any member not attending 25% or more of the calls
in the previous year shall have his or her name referred to the membership
committee for possible violation of this chapter. The membership committee
shall investigate whether a hearing is warranted or may dismiss the
matter without hearing.
C.
It shall be the duty of each member of the Department
to notify his or her Captain or Lieutenant when leaving the Town of
Madison for an extended period of time.
A.
The members shall elect annually a Fire Chief who shall be the principal officer of the Department and shall preside at all meetings of the Department. The Fire Chief shall exercise all powers and duties in accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3153 unless otherwise provided for in this chapter. The Fire Chief shall have responsibility for the general care, management and control of the property of the Department and shall be responsible for the operation of the Department in accordance with established policies and ordinances of the Town. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for assignment of members to the various companies within the Department.
B.
Each Company shall elect annually a Deputy Chief who may perform all the duties of the Fire Chief in his or her absence. The Deputy Chief may perform such other duties as the Fire Chief may from time to time delegate.
C.
The members shall elect annually a Secretary/Treasurer
who shall perform the customary duties usually performed by officers
of similar organizations, and keeping accurate records of attendance
at meetings and preparing minutes of all meetings and keeping copies
of all correspondence by the clerks. All documents of the Department
shall be the property of the Town and all important correspondence
shall have copies forwarded to the Town Office where they shall be
kept on file.
D.
The Fire Chief and Deputy Chiefs of the Madison Fire Department shall elect annually in June a Training Officer who shall be responsible for the operational readiness skills level of the Departments. The Training Officer shall keep accurate and current files on the qualifications of each member; and will coordinate the training needs of the membership with appropriate regional and state agencies. The Training Officer shall be responsible for scheduling needed training sessions for the membership as necessary and may designate various individuals to assist him or her as required to maintain and upgrade the proficiency levels of the membership.
E.
The members shall elect annually a Captain for each company who shall preside at all meetings of the company, have responsibility for the general care, management and control of the property of the company, and have command of his company at all times when assembled under the direction of the Fire Chief or persons acting in this capacity.
F.
The members shall elect annually a First Lieutenant
for each company who shall aid the Captain in the discharge of his
or her duties and, in case of absence, to take charge of the company.
G.
The members shall elect annually a Second Lieutenant
for each company who shall aid the First Lieutenant in the discharge
of his or her duties and, in case of absence, to take charge of the
company.
H.
The members shall elect annually a Clerk for each
section company who shall keep a correct written record of the proceedings
of each section company meeting, call the roll at all meetings, and
perform other customary duties usually performed by officers of similar
organizations.
I.
The Fire Chief shall annually appoint a Safety Officer who will be responsible for calling safety defects in equipment to the Fire Chief's attention, and unsafe practices to the attention of all members of the Department.
J.
The members of the Department may elect other officers
as necessary who shall perform the duties usually performed by officers
of similar organizations and as may be required of them by vote of
the Department with the approval of the Madison Board of Selectmen.
K.
Election of all officers shall take place at the annual meeting held in June. All balloting shall be by secret ballot. All persons elected at the annual meeting, excepting the Fire Chief, shall take office immediately, and all officers, including the Fire Chief, shall serve until such time as a replacement is elected or appointed. The Fire Chief designate's name shall be presented to the Madison Board of Selectmen for confirmation at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The Selectmen shall have the power to confirm or reject the designee of the Department. In the event of rejection, the Department shall hold a special election at either the next regular meeting or at a special meeting. The Department shall not nominate any person so rejected for confirmation by the Selectmen. Upon confirmation by the Board, the Fire Chief shall be sworn in by the Town Clerk.
L.
In the event of vacancy due to resignation, death,
disability or absence from the municipality for an extended period
of time, the Department may hold a special election during the year
to fill the vacancy.
A.
The Membership Committee shall consist of the Fire Chief, (First Assistant Chief) and (Second Assistant) Deputy Chiefs. The Committee will meet on an as-needed basis for the purposes of reviewing applications for membership; interviewing applicants; and to consider disciplinary action against members charged with violation of this chapter or any of the rules and regulations of the Department or professional misconduct.
B.
The Finance Committee shall consist of the Fire Chief, (First and Second Assistant) and Deputy Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, and Secretary/Treasurer. This Committee will meet on an as-needed basis for the purpose of preparing an annual budget and making recommendations to the Selectmen on major capital expenditure items for the Department.
C.
Special committees may be established on an as-needed basis for a limited time and members shall be approved to serve by the Fire Chief.
A.
An annual meeting will be held each year during the
month of June. The purpose of this meeting will be to elect officers
and adopt any rules or regulations or amendments thereto. Fifty percent
(50%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the conducting
of the annual meeting. Seven-day notice prior to the meeting shall
be provided to the membership by Pager System 911.
B.
Monthly meetings shall be held for the purposes of training the membership and conducting any other business deemed appropriate by the Fire Chief. One-third (1/3) of the membership shall constitute a quorum if any business matters are to be decided upon by the membership. No quorum requirements apply for training sessions.
C.
Special meetings shall be called at the discretion of the Fire Chief with the same quorum requirements applying as for monthly meetings.
D.
All actions of the Department shall be deemed approved
by majority vote of the membership in attendance provided the quorum
requirements are met.
E.
Notice of special or monthly meetings may be provided
by Pager System 911. The Department by vote may designate a fixed
monthly meeting date, which shall be posted in the Fire Hall and shall
satisfy the notice requirements.
F.
All members of the Department, unless prevented by sickness or other unavoidable occurrence, shall be present at the annual, monthly or special meetings of the Department. Any members of the Department absent repeatedly without being excused by the Fire Chief or another officer shall have his or her name referred to the Membership Committee for possible violation of this chapter. The Membership Committee shall investigate whether a hearing is warranted or may dismiss the matter without hearing.
A.
The Department shall be empowered to adopt such rules
and regulations necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs provided
they do not conflict with general Town policies, ordinances, or any
state law.
B.
Proposed rules and regulations shall be presented
in writing and a copy of the proposed rules and regulations shall
be sent to each member at least one month prior to any meeting at
which they shall be considered for adoption.
C.
Any rules or regulations or amendments thereto shall
be considered either at the annual meeting of the Department or a
special annual meeting. The quorum necessary for the conduct of a
special annual meeting shall be the same as for the regular annual
meeting.
D.
A true copy of this chapter and any rules and regulations
shall be posted in a conspicuous place within the building occupied
by the Department.
Firemen with 10 or more years of service, upon
departure from active duty with the Department, shall have their names
ascribed to a plaque, which shall be maintained at Department expense.
Ex-Fire Chiefs and officers shall have special mention on said plaque.
The Madison Fire Department, its officers and
members shall exercise all power and duties incumbent upon them by
state law within the Town of Madison. Nothing in this section shall
be construed to prevent any other fire department established within
the Town from providing fire protection service within this zone in
accordance with state law.
This chapter may be amended in accordance with
the applicable provisions of state law.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence,
clause or phrase in this chapter shall for any reason be held invalid
or unconstitutional by a decree or decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decree or decision shall not affect or impair the
validity of any other section or remaining portion of this chapter.
This chapter shall become effective immediately
after adoption by the Town at a Regular or Special Town Meeting.
Upon approval of this chapter on June 13, 1994,
the Town of Madison Ordinance Regarding the Organization of the East
Madison Fire Department, previously adopted on March 17, 1981, is
hereby repealed.
