City of Middletown, CT Fire Department

§ 31-15 Composition.

The Middletown Fire Department shall consist of a Fire Chief, a Deputy Chief, a captain and such lieutenants and other members and employees as may be authorized by the Common Council.

§ 31-16 Authority of officers.

The authority of superior officers shall be exercised in the following order: Chief of Fire Department, Deputy Chief, captain and lieutenants.

§ 31-17 Duties of Fire Chief.

The Chief shall have command of the Fire Department and general supervision of all buildings used for Fire Department purposes and shall have control of all fire apparatus and equipment and the duty of keeping it in good condition and ready for immediate use. At fires the Chief shall have sole command over all persons present, shall have the use and control of hydrants and reservoirs belonging to the City and shall direct all proper measures for extinguishing fires, protection of life and property, preservation of order and observance of laws, ordinances and regulations respecting fires. The Chief shall see that Department members are kept under discipline and suitably trained in the use of their fire apparatus, for which purpose he may call them out for exercise and drill at any suitable place within the limits of the City at such times as he shall deem proper. The Chief shall perform all other duties required of him by the ordinances of the City. The Chief shall report to the Common Council annually as to the fire apparatus under his care and the conditions of the Department generally.

§ 31-18 Duties of Deputy Chief.

The Deputy Chief shall perform the duties assigned by the Fire Chief and shall perform the duties of the Chief when the Chief is absent from the City or for any reason is unable to perform the duties of the office of the Chief of the Fire Department.

§ 31-19 Duties generally.

All uniformed members of the Fire Department have the duty to assist the Chief, the Deputy Chief, the captain and lieutenants in the discharge of their duties and shall receive and communicate their orders and see that they are executed.

§ 31-20 Regulations. [1]

The Fire Chief, with the advice of the Public Safety Commission as provided in § 23-13, shall make regulations appropriate for the proper administration of the Fire Department, including but not limited to the organization and administration of the Department and regulations governing the conduct of members of the Department. Each regulation and any amendment thereto shall become effective on the date provided in the regulation, provided that no such regulation shall become effective until the same has been posted on the bulletin board at the fire stations at Cross Street and Main Street. A copy of the regulations shall be made available to each uniformed member upon appointment. A copy of each change shall be made available to each uniformed member of the Department before or when it is posted. The Chief shall maintain a book at the Chief's office which shall contain a copy of all regulations in force and which shall be available for public inspection at all times. The existing regulations shall continue in effect until changed.

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 31-21 Removal of members.

All officers and fire fighters shall hold their positions during good behavior and may only be removed for cause.

§ 31-22 Members to wear uniforms when on duty.

All uniformed members of the Fire Department when on duty shall wear the uniforms prescribed by the Chief of the Fire Department.

§ 31-23 Volunteer companies.

Companies authorized. The volunteer companies of the Fire Department shall consist of the following:

(1)

O.V. Coffin Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.

(2)

Douglas Hose Company No. 1.

(3)

Hubbard Hose Company No. 2.

(4)

Hotchkiss Hose Company No. 3.

Duties. The volunteer companies shall perform such duties as the Chief of the Fire Department shall designate.

Bylaws. Each company may adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business which shall not be inconsistent with the General Statutes or any regulation, rule, bylaw or ordinance of the City.

Application; nomination; approval by Chief and Commission; physical examination. Any person who desires to become a member of any volunteer company shall make written application to the company. Within 45 days of application the company shall vote upon whether to nominate the applicant for membership. A majority vote is necessary for nomination. If nominated by the company, the applicant shall appear before the Public Safety Commission. If approved by the Public Safety Commission and the Fire Chief, the applicant shall take a physical examination prescribed by the City. If the applicant passes the physical examination the applicant may be appointed as a member of the company.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

Appointment; term. All members of the volunteer fire companies shall be appointed by the Mayor. The first year shall be a probationary period. After successful completion of the probationary period, a member may only be removed for cause.

Oath of office. Upon appointment a member shall take the following oath:

	I, the subscriber, hereby enlist in _____________ Company No. _______ of said City and engage to perform the duties of a member of said company so long as I remain a member thereof, subject to all the regulations, bylaws and ordinances of said City, including Fire Department regulations, and all bylaws adopted by said company.
	Dated at Middletown, Connecticut this _______ day of _____________, ____.

Officers; appointment; term. Each volunteer fire company shall have a captain, a first and second lieutenant, and a secretary, who shall be appointed by the Mayor upon the nomination of the members of their respective companies and shall hold office for one year and until their successors are appointed or until they are removed.

Duties of secretaries. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and the roster of personnel and shall report annually in January to the Fire Chief the nominations of officers.

Assistant engineers. Two assistant engineers shall be appointed annually by the Mayor. The members of the several fire companies shall annually, at Fire Department headquarters, on the second Wednesday in January at 8:00 p.m., meet together to nominate by ballot the two assistant engineers for the year next to ensue, which nominations shall be presented to the Mayor in February for consideration when appointing such officers. It shall be the duty of the assistant engineers to assist the Chief, Deputy Chief, captain and lieutenants in the discharge of their duties and to receive and communicate their orders at a fire.

§ 31-24 Fire Prevention Bureau.

[Amended 3-3-1997]

Composition. There is hereby created and established within the Fire Department a Fire Prevention Bureau. This Bureau shall consist of such positions in the Department as may be determined by the Fire Chief with the consent of the Common Council.

Supervision. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be the director of the Fire Prevention Bureau. All employees assigned thereto shall perform their duties subject to the supervision of the Fire Chief.

Duties. The Fire Department shall exercise the authority and discharge the duties of the City as it pertains to Chapter 541 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended from time to time.

§ 31-25 Training Division.

Composition. There is hereby created and established within the Fire Department a Training Division. The Division shall consist of such positions in the Department as may be determined by the Fire Chief with the consent of the Common Council.

Supervision. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be the director of the Training Division. All employees assigned thereto shall perform their duties subject to the supervision of the Fire Chief.

Duties. The Division shall perform such training duties as may be required by the Fire Chief.