(A) The Commissioners of the Board of Safety shall have every power and shall comply with every responsibility in the policymaking and management oversight of the operation, management and control of the Departments of Police and Fire, including emergency medical services conducted by the Municipal Fire Department, as is now, or may hereafter in the future be provided, under applicable state law, as amended from time to time.
(B) Each Commissioner of the Board of Safety, in appointing, disciplining or dismissing a member of any department under its control, shall do so without regard to the political affiliation of the person, and without regard to any other cause or reason other than fitness or unfitness of the person, under applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures of each department.
(C) (1) The Board of Safety shall consist of five appointed Commissioners. Each shall be appointed in accordance with applicable state law, as amended from time to time. The Town Council shall appoint each Commissioner. A designated Town Administrator shall receive notice of and have the right to attend all meetings, including regular, special, and executive, and shall be allowed to participate in discussions at all such meetings, and shall be allowed to submit reports and writings to the Commissioners; but in no event shall the designated Town Administrator, in the liaison capacity, have any right to vote or have any other right, power or duty reserved to a Commissioner.
(2) Two Commissioners shall be initially appointed for one year terms. Two Commissioners shall be initially appointed for two year terms. One Commissioner shall be initially appointed for a three year term. Each term thereafter shall be for three years. The term of each Commissioner expires on January 1 of the third year after the appointment of the Commissioner. The appointments of the current members of the Town Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners are ratified as to said appointments and term(s) of appointment for each.
(D) Each Commissioner of the Board of Safety is subject to removal for any cause deemed sufficient by the Town Council.
(E) A majority of the appointed and acting Board of Safety shall constitute a quorum. The Board of Safety shall adopt rules concerning the time of holding regular and special meetings and of giving notices of them in accordance with applicable state law, as amended from time to time. The Board of Safety shall elect one of its Commissioners as Chairperson, one as Vice Chairperson, and one as Secretary, and each Commissioner shall hold the position as long as prescribed by the rules of the Board of Safety. The Board shall record its proceedings in accordance with applicable state law, as amended from time to time, and same shall be considered public records to be filed and maintained in the Office of the Clerk-Treasurer.
(F) The Commissioners of the Board of Safety may act only as a board. No individual member may bind the Board of Safety or the town except through a resolution entered in the records of the Board of Safety authorizing such Commissioner to act in its behalf as its authorized agent for the purpose set forth therein, and no individual member can otherwise act unilaterally.
(G) The Commissioners of the Board of Safety may appoint, subject to qualifications for employment determined by the Board of Safety, and approved by the Town Council, the following:
(1) The members and other employees of the Metropolitan Police Department; and
(2) The members and other employees of the Municipal Fire Department.
(H) Compensation.
(1) The annual compensation of all members and employees of the Police and Fire Departments, and other appointees, shall be fixed by the town’s Annual Salary Ordinance.
(2) The salary of the Commissioners shall be fixed from time to time by the Town Council and payable out of the General Fund of the town under the provisions of the annual Town Salary Ordinance.
(Ord. 1353, passed 6-16-20)