[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Fredonia as Secs. 5-2-1 and 5-2-11 of the 1995 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
A.
Fire Department recognized. The volunteer fire company organized
under the title of Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department is hereby officially
recognized as the Fire Department of the Village of Fredonia, and
the duty of firefighting, the prevention of fires and emergency medical
services in the Village of Fredonia is delegated to such Department.
Its organization and internal regulation shall be governed by the
provisions of this chapter and by such bylaws adopted by the Department
as are approved by the Village Board, except as is otherwise provided
by law and ordinance.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
B.
Bylaws. The Fredonia Fire Department is hereby authorized and directed
to adopt bylaws for the control, management and government and for
the regulation of business and proceedings of the Department, which
bylaws shall not become effective and operative until presented to
and approved by the Village Board. Amendments shall be adopted in
the same manner.
C.
Appropriations. The Village Board shall appropriate funds for Fire
Department operations and for such apparatus and equipment for the
use of the Fire Department as the Board may deem expedient and necessary
to maintain efficiency and properly protect life and property from
fire.
D.
Goals of the fire defense program.
(1)
The primary objective of the fire defense program is to serve all
citizens, without prejudice or favoritism, by safeguarding, collectively
and individually, their lives against the effects of fires and explosions.
(2)
The second objective of the fire defense program is to safeguard
the general economy and welfare of the community by preventing major
conflagrations and the destruction by fire of industries and businesses.
(3)
The third objective of the fire defense program is to protect the
property of all citizens against the effect of fire and explosions.
All property deserves equal protection, regardless of location or
monetary value.
E.
Membership. The Fire Department shall consist of a Fire Chief, who
is appointed for a two-year term beginning May 1 of each odd-numbered
year, and such other personnel that the Village Board of Trustees
may from time to time authorize. The appointment shall be made by
the majority vote of the Village Board.
F.
Vacancy of Chief. A vacancy in the office of the Chief shall be filled
by appointment by the majority vote of the Village Board. Upon creation
of a vacancy in the office of Chief, the ranking officer shall perform
the duties of Chief until such vacancy is filled. Upon appointment,
the Chief shall assume office immediately and shall hold office until
the end of the term.
G.
Removal of Chief. The Chief shall hold office until the end of his
term unless he is removed by cause, after a hearing, by action of
3/4 of the members of the Village Board, on the recommendation of
the Public Safety Committee, unless his services be sooner terminated
by resignation, change of residence or death.
H.
Request for membership. Any person desiring to be a member of the
Fire Department may file with the Secretary of the Department an application
in such form as the Department may require. Each applicant shall also
file a certificate of fitness from such physician as the Village may
designate. All members accepted for membership shall serve a six-month
probationary period before final acceptance.
I.
Resignations. All resignations from the Department shall take the
same course as applications for and appointments to membership.
J.
Right to hearing. Any member or officer of the Department who has
been expelled or demoted for any offense, or neglect of duty, or insubordination
shall have the right to appear before the members of the Public Safety
Committee and state why such penalty should not be confirmed. The
Public Safety Committee may by a 3/4 vote of the members order the
Chief to reinstate the member or officer.
L.
Appointment of officers. The appointment of the secretary/treasurer
and such officers as the bylaws may require shall be held at the annual
meeting of the Department in such manner as is provided in the bylaws.
In case of any vacancy, the Chief shall appoint a member in good standing
to fill the office until the next annual election.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
A.
The Chief shall have general supervision of the Fire Department personnel,
apparatus and equipment, subject to the ordinances of the Village
and the rules and regulations of the Department. The Chief may suspend,
reduce, suspend and reduce or remove any officer or member of the
Department for neglect or refusal to perform Department duties, subject
to the right of any member demoted or expelled to appeal to the Public
Safety Committee. He shall enforce or cause to be enforced all fire
prevention ordinances, laws and regulations of the Village and state.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Chief or his assistants to have complete
command of, and entire responsibility for, all firefighting and emergency
medical services operations.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
C.
At a time designated by the Village Board, the Chief shall file with
the Village Treasurer a detailed estimate of the appropriations needed
for the operations of the Department during the ensuing fiscal year.
[Amended 11-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-6]
D.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to submit a written report
to the Village Board, not later than March 1 of each year, and at
such other times as he deems desirable, relating to the conditions
of the various pieces of apparatus, the number of fires since the
previous report, the date of same and loss occasioned thereby, the
number of members of each company, the total number of active members
in the Department and resignations and expulsions from the Department.
He shall also report on the training program of the Department, together
with other pertinent information, including recommendations of such
improvements as he deems proper and necessary for the operation of
the Department.
E.
The Chief shall, as Fire Inspector, appoint one or more Deputy Fire
Inspectors who shall perform all duties required of fire inspectors
by the laws of the state and the rules of the State Department of
Safety and Professional Services.
F.
The Fire Chief shall perform such other duties as are incumbent on
the commanding officer of the Fire Department.
