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Ordinance 015 Volunteer Fire Department OrganizationPage ~,g ORDINANCE #15 AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION OF A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. ~ ~ ~ BE IT ORDAINED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH 0 r r 1 Li PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, that a department to be hereafter known as the Village of North Palm Beach Fire Department, the object of which shall be the prevention and extinguishment of fire and the protection of life and property within the limits of the Village of North Palm Beach is hereby created as follows: Section 1. Officers. Article 1. The Department shall consist of a Chief and such other officers as the Village Council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the Department. Article 2. The Chief shall be appointed by the Village Council for an indefinite.pariod, and his tenure of office shall depend upon his good conduct and efficiency. The Chief shall be technically qualified by_ training and experience and shall have ability to command men and hold their respect and confidence. He shall perform such additional duties as shall be directed by the Village Council or Village Manager, Article 3. The Chief shall be held accountable to the Village Manager, and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the Vil- lage Manager or Village Council may require, All other Department officers shall be accountable to the Chief. Section II. Duties of the Chief. Article 1. The Chief shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the Department, and shall be responsible to the Uillage- Manager for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the Department. Article 2. The Chief shall at least once a month conduct suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the Village of North Palm Beach, fire prevention, water supplies, and all other matters gen- erally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire. Article 3. The Chief is hereby required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or caus- ing to be investigated the cause, origin, and circumstances of all fires. n i~ J Page • Article 4. The Chief is hereby empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour for the. purpose of making in- spections and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found. Article 5. Any person so served with a notice to abate any 0 fire hazard 'or hazards shall comply therewith and promptly notify the Chief. Article 6. The Chief shall see that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and minor equipment, personnel and other information about the work of the Department. Article 7. The Chief shall report monthly to the Village Manager the conditions of the apparatus and equipment; the number of fires dur- ing the month, their location and cause, and date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all other runs made; and the number of members responding to each fire or other run, and any changes in membership. Article S. The Chief shall make a complete annual report to the Village Manager within one month after the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in Article 6, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Department. Section III. 2embership. Article 1. The membership of the Department other than the Chief shall consist of such persons as may be appointed by the Chief who are willing to serve on a voluntary basis, all of whom shall be able-bodied citizens, preferably property owners whose business activities are normally within the confines of the general area of the Village, and who have telephones in their homes. Determination of whether candidates for appointment are able-bodied shall be made by the Chief after a medical and physical examination has been made in a manner prescribed by the Chief and approved by the Village Manager. Article 2. Such voluntary members of the Department shall not be considered employees of the Village. Section IV. Equipment. Article 1. The Department shall be equipped with such ap- paratus and other equipment as may be required from time to time to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire. Article 2. Recommendations of apparatus and equipment - needed shall be made by the Chief, and after approval by the Village Manager and Village Council shall be purchased in such manner as may be designated by the Village Council. Page ~~ • Article 3, Suitable arrangement or equipment shall be pro- vided for citizens to turn in an alarm, and for notifying all members of the ' Department so than they may promptly respond. Article 4. All equipment of the Department shall be safe- ly and conveniently housed in such places as may be provided by the Village. Article 5. No person shall use any fire apparatus or equip- ' ment for any private purpose, nor shall any person wilfully and without proper authority take away or conceal any article used in any way by the Department. Article 6. No person shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any apparatus or equipment belonging to the Depart- . meat unless accompanied by, or having the special permission of, an officer or authorized member of the Department. Section V. General Article 1. Each member of the Department shall be issued a badge designating his rank. Article 2. A11 motor equipment and all personal cars of Department members. shall, when responding to an alarm, be deemed emergency vehicles. Article 3. Each member of the Department driving a car shall be issued a suitable insignia to be attached to the car. Article 4. No person shall drive any vehicle over fire hose except upon specific orders from the Chief or other officer in charge where the hose is issued. Article 5. No person shall park any vehicle or otherwise cause any obstruction to be placed within twenty-five (25) feet of the entrance to any fire station or other place where fire apparatus is stored, or within ten (10) feet of any fire hydrant or cistern. Article 6. No person shall maliciously turn in or cause to be turned in a false alarm. Section VI. Enforcement ' Article 1. Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of not less than Ten Dollars 010.00) or more than One Hundred Dollars ($100,00) for each offense. Article 2. All regularly appointed members of the Department ' are hereby given the necessary special police powers for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this ordinance. Article 3. It is hereby made the special duty of all Village police who may be on duty and available for fire duty, to respond to all fire alarms i~ i~ i~ 1 • II II Page '.g~~ and assist the Department iri the protecting of life and property, in regulating traffic, maintaining order, and in enforcing observance of all sections of this ordinance. FIRST READING the 8 dap of April, 1957. SECOND, FINAL READING AS AMENDED AND PASSAGE the 13 day of May, 1957. SJ Charles A. Cunningham (SEAL) Mayor ATTEST: S/ R. C. Tufford _ Village Clerk 1 •