[1997 Code § 35-1]
The Fire Department of Absecon City shall consist of such properly
incorporated fire companies as now exist or hereafter may exist in
this City and shall accept the conditions and provisions of this Article,
which said acceptance shall be in writing, signed by its President
and Secretary, with its Official Seal attached thereto, and placed
on file in the office of the City Clerk; provided, however, that no
further increase in the number of companies now composing the Department
shall be authorized or additional companies admitted except by resolution
of the Common Council.
[1997 Code § 35-2]
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of one Chief
Engineer, who shall hold office for the period of two years from the
date of his appointment; one Deputy Chief Engineer, who shall hold
office for the period of two years from the date of his appointment;
one Assistant Chief Engineer, who shall hold office for the period
of two years from the date of his appointment; and five Captains,
who shall hold office for a period of two years from the date of their
appointment. The officers shall be appointed from the membership of
the fire companies comprising the Department. The officers shall,
before entering upon the duties of their office, subscribe an oath
before the Mayor or City Clerk. In case of a vacancy in the office
of Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer
or Captain, such vacancy shall be filled as soon as possible for the
unexpired term. All appointments to the Fire Department shall be made
by a convention of delegates, which delegates shall convene for that
purpose on the third Thursday in September of each year and which
shall consist of five members from each company selected by the company
from the membership thereof. The officers so elected shall be confirmed
by the Council at its first meeting following. In case of a vacancy
of office, the same shall be filled within 10 days in the manner and
form as prescribed above. In the event of a tie vote in the convention,
the deciding vote shall be cast by the Mayor of Absecon City.
[1997 Code § 35-3]
It shall be the duty of the Chief Engineer to take full command
and control of the fire companies of this City at all times; to give
directions; to draw up rules pertaining to the care of the apparatus
and equipment and the operation of the same and the rules of conduct
for all members of the Department; and, with the majority of the Fire
Committee of the Common Council, to sign all requisitions for the
purchase of supplies, equipment and apparatus. He shall hold a parade
and inspection of the Fire Department upon a certain day selected
by him for that purpose; he shall require a written report on the
15th day of each and every month from the Captain of each fire company
as to its needs and the condition of its apparatus and equipment;
he shall, on the first Tuesday in January, April, July and October
in each year, make a thorough inspection of the houses of the several
companies of this Department, their apparatus, hose and equipment;
he shall require the several companies to hold as many drills a year
as he may deem necessary and upon days selected by him for that purpose;
and he shall present an annual report, in writing, to the City Council
at the first regular meeting in the month of January and whenever
required to do so by the body. He shall perform any other duties assigned
to him and authorized by the City Council.
[1997 Code § 35-4]
It shall be the duty of the Deputy Chief Engineer to aid the
Chief Engineer in all his duties and to perform the same in the absence
of the Chief Engineer.
[1997 Code § 35-5]
It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief Engineer to supervise
and institute the raining program of the Fire Department. He shall
be responsible to the Deputy Chief Engineer and the Chief Engineer,
reporting to the same the progress of the training program. He shall
also supervise the Captains in all drills and training matters. He
shall also be the drill master and training officer of the Department.
He shall also be responsible for providing direction and coordination
with the Safety Officer, who will be appointed by the Chief Engineer.
The duties of the Safety Officer are as follows. He shall:
A.
Be responsible for the filing of the right-to-know workplace surveys.
He shall keep an up-to-date file on said surveys.
B.
Maintain a liaison with all lien officers and make recommendations
concerning all apparatus and equipment to eliminate unsafe conditions
or practices at incidents or drills for the Fire Department.
C.
Maintain records of all accidents, injuries or deaths and fill out
applicable forms when necessary.
[1997 Code § 35-6]
The Deputy Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer and Captains
shall be subject to the orders of the Chief Engineer, and the chain
of command shall pass as follows: Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer,
Assistant Chief Engineer, Captains and driver of the first apparatus.
[1997 Code § 35-7]
A.
The Common Council, upon good cause shown, shall have the right to
suspend or remove such Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Assistant
Chief Engineer and Captains, but only after written charges of the
cause of complaint shall have been preferred against such officer
and filed in the office of the City Clerk, who shall present the charges
at the next meeting of the City Council.
B.
The hearing shall be held within 15 days thereafter at a date and
hour fixed by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall give the
accused officer at least five days' notice of the time and place
of the hearing and the charges so preferred. The accused shall have
a fair trial upon said charges and every reasonable opportunity to
make a defense.
[1997 Code § 35-8]
On the first election in September following adoption of this
Article, the Fire Department officers shall be elected as follows:
Chief Engineer for one year; Deputy Chief Engineer for two years;
Assistant Chief Engineer for one year; two Captains for one year;
and three Captains for two years. Thereafter all aforementioned officers
shall be elected for the terms as prescribed in this Article.
[1997 Code § 35-9]
The Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer
and Captains shall be compensated according to a schedule which shall
be annually adopted in the Fire Department budget with the City of
Absecon City.
