The herald., 1898-10-27
ARTICLE XXI.

rior courts, as are now, or may hereafter
be, provided by the Legislature
ARTICLE XXI.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Sec. 23l. The Fire Department and all
property appertaining thereto shaii pc
under the management and contfoi OF .he
Board of Fire Commissioners consisting
Of five members, who shall be appointed
by the Mayor each of whom shall serve
without compensation. No person shall
be appointed as Fire Commissioner who
shall not have been an elector OF the city
for at least five years next preceding his
appointment.
Sec. 232. The Board shall never be so
constituted as to contain moro than
three members of the same political par
". The term of office OF the ComInis-
sioners shall be four years. Those 1rst
appointed shall so classify themselves by
lot that they shall respectively go out OF
office. one at the end of one year, one a I
the end of two years, one at the end OF
three years, and two at the end OF four
years.
Sec. 233. The commissioners shall or
sanize by electing one Of their number
President, who shall hold office for one
year. The board shall appoint Secre-
tary, not of their number. who shall be
clerk Of the department and Secretary OF
the board. and shall keep all accounts
and records of the department and OF the
relief and pension fund, and perform
such duties as the board may prescribe.
The board shall meet once a week and as
often as tho business OF the department.
may require. and all its meetings shall
be public.
Sec. 234. The board shall organize the
department. create and establish such
fire companies as it may deem necessary.
appoint and prescribe the number and
duties duties of the officers, members and en-
poyees Of the department and the uni
form and badges to be worn by tAem,
have control of all property, buildings
the purchase, erection and repairs there
CT, and exercise full power and authority
over all appropriations made for the use
Of the department. and over all expendi-
lures of all moneys for the use thereof.
The board shall classify the service and
make the rules for appointments and pro-
motions under the civil service require
ments Of this charter. and shall enforce
all ordinances affecting fire interests re-
latIng to fire limits boring for oil. stor-
age of hay. fire escapes, erection of en-
gnes. establishment of laundries shops
ordinance have been or may be entrusted
to the board The salaries of all officers
and employees of the department, except
when prescribed by this charter. shall
be nXCu Dy OTulHdHCe
Sec 2S5 The board shall make such
rules and regulations rs may be neces-
sary to secure discipline and efficiency of
the department.: and for any violation
of such rules and regulations may i'm
pose reasonable fines upon officers, men,
bers and employees of the department.
reprimand. reduce in grade or dismiss, or
suspend sny OF them, as the board may
by rule prescribe. Such fines shall be de-
fhn ,nnlr h as,tc Of = tI,o
officers, members and employees upon
whom they are imposed and shall be
transferred by the Treasurer to the Fire
mans Relief and Pension Fund.
Sec. 9s6. No member or employee of
the Fire Department, except callmen,
shall be engaged in any other employ
ment.
Sec. 2s7 The Board shall. Immediately
upon their appointment and qualifica-
,ion proceed to organize the Fire De-
partment in accordance with the provis-
ions of this charter, and in so doing the
hoard shall make its appointments OF Of
ficers and members from the persons
constituting the force in the service of
the Fire Department at the time this
charter goes into effect. Such officers
and members shall not be required to
pass any civil service examination. All
future appointments and promotions
shall be made by the board. subject to
the provisions Of Article XXVII Of this
charter.
Sec. 23S. No officer. member or en-
ployee shall be reduced in rank, fined or
dismissed, except for cause nor until
after trial. The accused shall be fur
nished with a written copy of the charges
against him, at least three days previous
to the trial IIe shall have the right to
appear in person and examine witnesses
in his behalf All witnesses shall be ex-
| ,tpnI chan
be public
Sec. 239. When any officer. member or
employee shall become temporarily disa-
bled by reason of injuries received while
In the actual performance of his duties.
so as to incapacitats him from perform
ing MS duty. the board may allow any or
az OF his salary during the continuance
OF SUCH temporary disability.
contracts awarded and work done for the
department are faithfully performed and
shail. upon the awarding of any such
contracts, exact an adequate bond for
me prompt and faithful performance of
the same. The provisions of Article XIV
or fhis charter shall, SO FAR as the same
can be made applicable. apply to all pro-
posaIs and contracts made awarded or
entered into for the erection and repairs
OF buildings and apparatus and for fur
nlshing supplies to the department Any
contract made in violation of any Of the
provisions. Of this charter shall be void.
The board shall cause to be made exact
property returns from each company o.
division, which shall show In detail all
stores and property received, used and
remaining on hand for each quarter, and
shall enter the issuance of each article
to each company or division In appropri-
ate books.
Sec. 21. The board shall appoint
Chief Engineer, who shall have control
of the department under the board. He
shall be charged with the special duty of
experimenting the extnguishment Of
fires. The Chief Engineer shall be the
chief executive officer Of the department,
and 1t shall be his duty to see that all
laws, orders and regulations in force in
the city or made by the board concerning
the department. are enforced.
Sec. 242. The Chief Engineer may sus-
pend any subordinate officer, member or
employee of the department for incom-
retency. or any violation of the rules and
regulations of the department, and shall
forthwith report In writing such suspen-
sion, with his reasons therefor, to the
poa,,. for their action He shall vigIlant-
ly observe the condition of the apparatus
and workings of the department and re-
port in writing thereon at least once
month to the board and make such rec
concentrations and suggestions respect
Ing the same as he may deem proper.
Sec. 2is. The Chief Engineer may, dur
Ing confiagration. cause to be cut down.