[Amended 8-22-2007 by Ord. No. 90]
In accordance with the provisions of C.G.S.
§ 7-301, there is hereby established within and for the
Town of Newtown a fire department, to be known and designated as the
"Newtown Fire Department," for the purpose of protecting life and
property within the Town of Newtown from fires and other emergencies.
[Amended 8-22-2007 by Ord. No. 90]
The operation, supervision and management of
the Newtown Fire Department shall be vested in a Board of Fire Commissioners,
consisting of seven members serving without pay, whose terms of office
shall be for three years, running from the date of the Annual Town
Meeting to the Annual Town Meeting three years hence, or until their
successors are appointed. Each of the local volunteer fire companies
shall appoint one member of this Board, and the Commissioners so chosen
shall appoint the additional Commissioner or Commissioners necessary
to constitute a full membership of seven; said additional Commissioner
or Commissioners shall not belong to any local volunteer fire company.
Should any of the local volunteer fire companies fail or neglect to
appoint such a member, then and in that event the vacancy shall be
filled by appointment by the other Commissioners not later than 30
days from the date of such Annual Town Meeting, and said Commissioner
so appointed shall not be a member of any local volunteer fire company.
[Amended 8-22-2007 by Ord. No. 90]
Said Board of Fire Commissioners shall establish
rules and regulations governing the operation and management of the
Newtown Fire Department; shall prescribe uniform conditions for admission
of volunteer fire companies as members of the Newtown Fire Department;
shall authorize and direct the disbursement of all funds appropriated
by the Town of Newtown for the Newtown Fire Department; and shall
annually draw up a budget covering the anticipated expenses of said
Fire Department for the ensuing year, and present such budget to the
Board of Selectmen not later than February 1 in each year. The Board
of Fire Commissioners shall appoint a Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire
Marshal with executive powers to carry out the policies of the Board.
All operating expenses of the Newtown Fire Department
created by this article shall be met and paid for by the Town of Newtown,
out of funds appropriated for that purpose.
For the year beginning with the next Annual
Town Meeting, the funds at the disposal of the Board of Fire Commissioners
shall be the sum voted by the Annual Town Meeting.