King City Municipal Code Ch. 2.20 Volunteer Fire Department

There is created a department to be known as the King City volunteer fire department, which said department shall consist of one company of not less than ten nor more than thirty-five members, each of whom must be at least eighteen years of age.

(Ord. 145 § 1, 1934; Ord. 643 § 1, 2003)

The officers of the fire department shall consist of a chief, first assistant chief, second assistant chief, chief engineer, assistant chief engineer, secretary and treasurer. The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person.

(Ord. 145 § 2, 1934; Ord. 643 § 2, 2003)

The chief, first assistant chief, second assistant chief, secretary and treasurer shall be elected from among the members of the department at an election held by said department on the first Tuesday in June of each year; the election of said officers shall be subject to confirmation by the city council at the first meeting of the city council next following said election; said officers so elected and confirmed shall hold office for one year beginning from the time of their confirmation and until their successors are elected, confirmed and qualified; the secretary of the department shall give written notice of the result of said election to the city clerk on or before the first meeting of the city council next following said election.

(Ord. 145 § 3, 1934)

The chief engineer and first assistant engineer shall be selected and appointed by the city council, and these engineers shall select a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth assistant engineer, subject to the approval of the city council; the chief engineer, first assistant engineer, second assistant engineer, third assistant engineer, fourth assistant engineer, fifth assistant engineer and sixth assistant engineer shall be selected from individuals volunteering their services for such positions, and upon their appointments, shall become regularly constituted members of the King City volunteer fire department, and shall hold their positions subject only to the regulations and directions of the city council, and at the pleasure of the council.

(Ord. 145 § 4, 1934; Ord. 154 § 1, 1935; Ord. 643 § 3, 2003)

The city council shall, at its first regular meeting next following said election, vote upon the confirmation of the members of the department declared elected to the offices to be filled at such election; a majority vote of the members of the council present being, in each instance, necessary to such confirmation. If any person so elected fails of confirmation, the city council shall call a special election to fill the office to which such person was elected, at which such special election such person failing of confirmation shall be ineligible to receive votes; the election of any person at such special election shall be subject to confirmation at the first meeting of the city council next following said special election and the term of any person elected at such special election shall expire at the same time as those confirmed in the first instance. If a vacancy occurs in any of said elective offices the chief, or in case of his or her absence or inability to act, the first assistant chief, or in case of his or her absence of inability to act, the second assistant chief, shall call a special election to fill such vacancy, such special election to be held within thirty days from the date of such vacancy, and the person so elected to such vacancy, when confirmed and qualified, shall hold office during the remainder of the unexpired term.

(Ord. 145 § 5, 1934)

The chief of the fire department must inquire into the cause of every fire occurring in the city, and keep a record thereof; he must aid in the enforcement of all fire ordinances, examine buildings in process of erection, report violations of ordinances relating to prevention or extinguishment of fires, and shall cause the arrest and prosecution of all persons wilfully or negligently causing the same. He must attend all fires with his badge of office conspicuously displayed; he must prevent damage to, take charge of, and preserve all property rescued from fires, and return the same to the owner thereof. Subject to the general control of the city council, he shall have charge and supervision of all buildings, apparatus and property belonging to or used by the department, and shall cause the same to be properly cared for, repaired and preserved. He shall be the presiding and managing officer of the department. With the consent and approval of the committee on fire department of the city council, he may purchase or procure such minor supplies as may be required for immediate use by that department. The first assistant chief shall perform the duties of the chief in case of his absence or inability to act, and the second assistant chief shall perform the duties of the chief in the absence or inability of both the chief and first assistant chief.

(Ord. 145 § 6, 1934)

The secretary of the fire department must keep a record of all certificates of active or exempt members, the date thereof and to whom issued. He shall keep an inventory of all apparatus and property of every kind and description, belonging to or used by the department; he shall keep a record of each fire, with its date, location, and cause thereof, the character, amount and value of the property destroyed by such fire and the same of the owner of such property; he shall furnish the city council and the chief of the fire department with such information concerning the business or affairs of the department as may at any time be required of him, and shall perform such other duties as the city council may prescribe.

(Ord. 145 § 7, 1934)

Subject to the approval of the city council, the department may establish and adopt bylaws and regulations for its operation and management, may provide rules and regulations for the admission of new members and the qualifications thereof, may provide for the election or appointment of such subordinate officers and committees, other than those mentioned in this chapter, as it may deem expedient and necessary, and may impose penalties, not exceeding five dollars, or expulsion, for each offense. The constitution and bylaws of the city fire department, as revised January 5, 1932, are approved and adopted as and for the constitution and bylaws of said department.

(Ord. 145 § 8, 1934)

The officers, members and employees of the department shall, respectively, receive such salary or compensation for their services as the city council may by resolution provide. Any such salary or compensation in effect on July 5, 1934, as theretofore provided by the city council, is fixed as and for the salary and compensation of the officers, members and employees of the department, and is continued in effect according to the same terms and conditions as theretofore provided and until otherwise changed by resolution of the city council as aforesaid.

(Ord. 145 § 9, 1934)

The fire department shall receive such allowance from the city treasury as the city council shall, from time to time, by resolution, provide.

(Ord. 145 § 10, 1934)

No liability shall be incurred by the city because of the fire department, except by order or authorization of the city council, and except as provided in Section 2.20.060.

(Ord. 145 § 11, 1934)

The city council may, for good cause and after an investigation or trial, remove any officer of the department or discharge any member. All charges against any officer or member must be in writing and signed by the party making the same, and shall set forth in plain and concise language the acts complained of, and shall be filed with the city clerk. If the city council deem the charges worthy of investigation, they shall fix a time therefor and shall cause a copy of the charge, together with notice of the time set for the hearing, to be served upon the accused at least five days prior thereto. At such trial the accused shall have the right to appear and defend in person or by attorney and to secure and enforce the attendance of witnesses in his behalf.

(Ord. 145 § 12, 1934)