[R.O. 2009 § 105.111; R.O. 2007
§ 105.111; Ord. No. 2196, 4-10-2001; Ord. No. 2803 § 1, 5-8-2008]
A.
Creation Of Office Of Fire Chief. There
is hereby created the position of Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall
be employed by the City as either an at-will or contract employee
as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Aldermen.
The Fire Chief shall receive such compensation and benefits as shall
be determined by the Board of Aldermen and set forth in the annual
budget as adopted by ordinance. The Fire Chief shall perform those
duties, shall have those responsibilities and shall possess those
qualifications as set forth in this Section.
B.
General Job Duties. The Fire Chief shall
be responsible to direct the activities of the municipal Fire Department
and will be under the general supervision of the City Administrator.
C.
Specific Job Duties. In carrying out his/her
general duties, the Fire Chief shall be responsible for performing
or overseeing the performance of the following specific duties:
1.
Training And Operations. Direct the
training and operations of all full-time, part-time or volunteer firefighters
and with the approval of the City Administrator shall develop and
implement a chain of command and job descriptions for the various
positions within the Fire Department.
2.
Administer Laws. Administer all Federal
or State laws, rules and regulations and all local ordinances, rules
or policies pertaining to fire prevention and fire protection.
3.
Recommend Policies. Review, evaluate
and recommend ordinances, rules and policies pertaining to fire prevention,
fire control and firefighting; oversee compliance with such ordinances,
rules and policies; maintain current knowledge of new fire prevention,
fire control and firefighting methods and techniques and, within budgetary
limitations, implement such methods and techniques; conduct studies
of the operations of the City Fire Department with a view of increasing
its effectiveness.
4.
Command. Assume personal command
at multiple alarm fires and at any other fires or functions that the
Chief deems appropriate.
5.
Supervise Firefighters. Supervise
firefighters when engaged in training, operations and maintenance
functions.
6.
Mutual-Aid. Coordinate mutual fire
protection plans with surrounding municipalities.
7.
Budget. Survey buildings and grounds,
equipment and personnel to determine needs of the City relating to
fire prevention, protection and fighting and recommend operational
and capital budgets to the City Administrator.
8.
Public Relations And Education. Assume
responsibility for maintaining good relationships between the City
Fire Department and citizens, commercial enterprises and non-profit
and community groups; oversee implementation and conduct of public
relation and educational campaigns and efforts involving the responsibilities
of the Fire Department; and confer with appropriate public official
relating to changes and laws, rules, regulations or policies that,
in the judgment of the Fire Chief, will advance the cause of fire
prevention, fire control or firefighting.
9.
Investigations. Maintain knowledge
as the causes of fire and techniques to investigate such causes; and
within the scope of the knowledge, skills, training and ability of
the Chief, to investigate the probable causes of fires of unknown
origins.
10.
Occupancy Permits. Recommend the
issuance or non-issuance of occupancy permits to the City Building
Inspector; and make studies and recommendations to the City Planning
and Zoning Commission and Zoning Administrator with respect to all
aspects of the operations of the Commission and the Planning and Zoning
Department pertaining to fire prevention in the context of zoning
and subdivision.
11.
Other. In general, to perform such
other duties relating to fire prevention, fire control or firefighting
as may be assigned from time to time by lawfully enacted ordinances,
rules, regulations or by the City Administrator.
D.
Qualifications. The Fire Chief must be
physically and mentally able to perform all of the essential duties
of the position of Fire Chief with or without reasonable accommodation.
In addition, the person appointed as Fire Chief must:
1.
Education. Have no less than a high
school education or its equivalent.
2.
Training. Have completed appropriate
training in fire prevention, control, fire fighting and investigation
or have acquired the knowledge necessary to perform the duties of
Fire Chief by a combination of training and experience.
3.
Language Skills. Possess the ability
to read and write the English language; to read and comprehend technical
documents, rules, instructions and manuals; to write routine reports
and correspondence; and to speak effectively before municipal, community
and legislative bodies.
4.
Accounting. Understand and formulate
basic budgets and possess sufficient knowledge of accounting to implement
and carry out budgeted appropriations.
5.
Reasoning Ability. Possess the ability
to understand and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral
or diagram form and to deal with and reach common sense decisions
when faced with multiple variables or options.
6.
Decision Making. Possess the ability
to make quick and rational decisions under emergency conditions, including
those where the lives or well-being of persons or the protection of
property is at stake.
E.
Licenses And Certificates. Possess or obtain and maintain all licenses
or certificates now or hereafter required by all Federal, State or
local laws, rules, regulations or ordinances.
