HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 204 - Volunteer Fire Dept CHAPTER II—OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION & ORGANIZATION
ORDINANCE 204 VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT................................................. 204-1
Section 204.01: ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT................................ 204-1
Section 204.02: PURPOSE AND SCOPE.................................................................... 204-1
Section 204.03: ELECTION OF CHIEF..................................................................... 204-1
Section 204.04: VACANCIES..................................................................................... 204-1
Section 204.05: FIRE FIGHTERS.............................................................................. 204-1
Section 204.06: HONORARY MEMBERS. ............................................................... 204-1
Section 204.07: DUTIES OF CHIEF.......................................................................... 204-2
Section 204.08: DUTIES OF ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF............................................ 204-2
Section 204.09: DUTIES OF CAPTAIN ..................................................................... 204-2
Section 204.10: RECORDS OF FIRES....................................................................... 204-2
Section 204.11: FIRE DRILLS................................................................................... 204-2
Section 204.12: COMPENSATION............................................................................ 204-3
Section 204.13: RELIEF ASSOCIATION.................................................................. 204-3
Section 204.14: WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE................................ 204-3
Section 204.15: VIOLATIONS .................................................................................. 204-3
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CHAPTER II—OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION & ORGANIZATION
ORDINANCE 204 VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Section 204.01: ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT. It is hereby established
in the City of St. Joseph, a volunteer Fire Department consisting of a Fire Chief, Fire Captain,
Assistant Chief, and not less than 15 nor more than 30 Fire Fighters. The department shall be
known as the "St. Joseph Fire and Rescue Department", hereinafter referred to as the "Fire
Department".
Section 204.02: PURPOSE AND SCOPE. The objective of the Fire Department shall be
to prevent fires through education, to fight fires, and to preserve e and protect life and property
against injury and damage within the City of St. Joseph and its vicinity.
Section 204.03: ELECTIONS . The Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief shall be
appointed by the City Council for a term of two calendar years. The Captain shall be appointed
by the City Council for a term of three calendar years. The terms of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire
Chief and Captain shall be staggered so that not more than one term shall expire in any given
year. To achieve staggered terms, the initial appointment for Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief
may be for a term of one year. The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and Captain shall serve until
their successor is appointed, unless otherwise removed for cause by the City Council after a
public hearing.
Section 204.04: VACANCIES. Any vacancy in the Fire Chief position shall be filled
through the appointment of a successor by the City Council as soon as is practicable. Until such
time as the successor Fire Chief is appointed, the Assistant Fire Chief shall assume and perform
the duties of the Fire Chief. Any vacancy in the Assistant Fire Chief position shall be filled
through the appointment of a successor by the City Council as soon as is practicable. Until such
time as the successor Assistant Fire Chief is appointed, the Captain shall assume and perform the
duties of the Assistant Fire Chief. Any vacancy in a Captain position shall be filled through the
appointment of a successor by the City Council as soon as is practicable. The position shall
remain vacant until such time as a successor is appointed by the City Council. To maintain
staggered terms, the appointment of a vacant position may be for a term of one year or, in the
case of Captain, two years.
Section 204.05: FIRE FIGHTERS. Applicants shall be screened by the Fire Department
Investigation Committee. Finalists shall then be screened by the Fire Chief and the Fire Board,
and then presented to the City Council for appointment.
Section 204.06: HONORARY MEMBERS. Any member retiring in good standing shall
have his/her name placed upon the Honorary Membership List.
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CHAPTER II—OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION & ORGANIZATION
Section 204.07: DUTIES OF CHIEF. The Fire Chief shall perform professional and
administrative work managing and directing fire, incident and emergency service activities
including responding to fire and emergency calls, searching for and rescuing victims,
suppressing fires, performing clean up and participating in continuing training and related work
as required. The Fire Chief shall work with the City Council in setting policies and goals for the
Department. The Fire Chief shall also be responsible for departmental supervision over the
Assistant Fire Chief, Captain, and Fire Fighters, and maintain control over all of the fire fighting
apparatus and shall be solely responsible for its care and condition. The Fire Chief may
establish such committees as the Fire Chief deems necessary to assist in carrying out these
duties. Such committees shall be appointed by the Fire Chief on an annual basis. The Fire Chief
shall report semi annually to the City Council at its meeting in March and September, as to the
condition of the equipment and the needs of the Fire Department. He or she may submit
additional reports and recommendations at any meeting of the Council, and shall report each
suspension of a Fire Fighter at the first meeting of the Council following such suspension. He
or she shall be responsible for the proper training and discipline of the Fire Fighters, and may
suspend any Fire Fighter for refusal and neglect to obey orders pending a hearing and final
action by the Council on such Fire Fighter's suspension, discharge or retention.
Section 204.08: DUTIES OF ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF. In the absence of, or disability
of the Fire Chief, the Assistant Fire Chief shall perform all functions and exercise all the
authority of the Fire Chief by performing the professional and administrative work managing and
directing fire, incident, and emergency service activities including responding to fire and
emergency calls, searching for and rescuing victims, suppressing fires, performing clean up and
participating in continuing training and related work as required. The Assistant Fire Chief shall
work with the Fire Chief in setting policies and goals for the Department. The Assistant Fire
Chief shall exercise supervision over Captains and Fire Fighters.
Section 204.09: DUTIES OF CAPTAIN. The Captain shall perform intermediate
protective service work in supervising, planning, implementing and coordinating fire training
and safety operations for the Fire Department, maintenance and operation of trucks or
equipment, preparing and maintaining detailed records and files, develop Standard Operating
Procedures related to specific assignments and related work as required. The Captain shall
perform his or her duties under the moderate supervision of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Fire
Chief. The Captain shall oversee and supervise the Fire Department personnel during operational
response, maintenance, and safety and training activities.
Section 204.10: RECORDS OF FIRES. The Chief shall keep in convenient form a
complete record of all fires. Such records shall include the time of alarm, location of the fire,
cause of the fire (if known), type of building, name of owner and tenant, purpose for which
occupied, value of the building and contents, Fire fighters of the Fire Department responding to
the alarm, and such other information as may be advisable or as may be required from time to
time by the Council, or by state law or regulation.
Section 204.11: FIRE DRILLS. It shall be the duty of the Chief, when weather permits,
to hold a monthly drill of at least one hour duration for the Fire Department and to give the Fire
Fighters instructions and approved methods of fire fighting and fire prevention.
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CHAPTER II—OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION & ORGANIZATION
Section 204.12: COMPENSATION. The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Captains, and
Fire Fighters of the Fire Department shall receive such compensation as shall be designated by
the City Council from time to time. In computing compensation for fires, one hour shall be
considered as a minimum to be paid any personnel of the Fire Department.
Section 204.13: RELIEF ASSOCIATION. The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief,
Captain, and Fire Fighters of the Fire Department may organize themselves into a Firemen's
Relief Association.
Section 204.14: WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE. Workers' Compensation
Insurance coverage shall be maintained in accordance with the Minnesota Worker's Compensation Act.
An employee of the Fire Department shall be a covered employee for the purposes of workers' compensation
coverage from the moment the Fire Fighter responds to the call until the time the employee completes his or
her duties at the Fire Station after the call has been cleared. All injuries shall be reported and processed in
accordance with the St. Joseph Personnel Policy.
Section 204.15: VIOLATIONS. It shall be unlawful for any person to give or make, or
cause to be given or made, any alarm of fire without probable cause, or to neglect or to refuse to
obey any reasonable order of the Chief at a fire at any time, or to interfere with the Fire
Department during the discharge of its duties. Any person convicted of violating this section
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
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