[Amended Ref. of 11-7-1995; Ref. of 11-2-2010; 11-6-2018]
There shall be a Department of Emergency Medical Services, the
head of which shall be the Chief of Emergency Medical Services who
shall have State of Rhode Island licensure as a paramedic and at least
five (5) years of experience as a paramedic in an emergency medical
services environment or other comparable experience. The Chief shall
also hold an earned Bachelor's degree. The Chief shall be appointed
by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council to serve a term
concurrent with the term of the Mayor and until his or her reappointment
or the appointment of a successor is approved by the Town Council.
At the time of the appointment of the Chief or at any time thereafter,
the Mayor and the Town Council shall have the authority to enter into
a written employment agreement with the Director not to exceed three
(3) years in duration with the possibility of an additional three
(3) years extension. The agreement shall be executed by the Mayor
and President of the Town Council after a vote of approval by a majority
of the Town Council.
In addition to the Chief there may be a Deputy Chief who may
be a member of the active service and such subordinate officers and
technicians as shall from time to time be determined by the Town Council
on recommendation of the Mayor after conferring with the Chief of
Emergency Medical Services. All members of the Service shall have
State of Rhode Island licensure as a Paramedic. All members of the
department, except for Chief, shall be appointed or promoted as the
case may be by the Mayor upon the recommendation of the Chief, provided
that they shall have satisfactorily passed such qualifying tests as
the Town Council shall have established by ordinance or have met all
requirements established by the Chief. All members of the Service,
except the Chief of Emergency Medical Services, shall at the time
of their permanent appointment have served for a period of one (1)
year in a probationary status during which they may be removed at
any time by the Mayor upon recommendation of the Chief of Emergency
Medical Services, with or without cause. There shall be a physician
Medical Director appointed by the Mayor on the recommendation by the
Chief. There may be an associate or Deputy Physician Medical Director
appointed by the Mayor on the recommendation of the Chief.
The Department of Emergency Medical Services shall be responsible
for emergency medical services in compliance with the laws of the
State and Town Ordinances. The Chief shall be in direct command of
all members of the department and shall, subject to the approval of
the Mayor, make rules and regulations concerning the operations and
management of the Emergency Medical Services. He or she shall be responsible
for budgets, expenditures and all town property used by the department.
The Chief shall be responsible for the oversight and coordination
of all components of the Town's emergency medical services system.
In the absence or disability of the Chief of Emergency Medical Services,
the Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services shall have all the
powers and responsibilities and perform all the duties of the Chief.
