§ 31.01 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
   (A)   Fire Department established; mission statement.
      (1)   There is hereby established in the city, a Volunteer Fire Department.
      (2)   This Department may prepare and present to the Council a mission statement, which, upon approval of the Council, shall to the extent covered therein govern the operation of the Department.
      (3)   The Fire Department established shall have such offices as Chief and Assistant Chiefs and appointed personnel.
   (B)   Appointment of officers. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed annually by the Fire Department elections; subject to approval by the Council. Members of the Fire Department may recommend to the Fire Department Executive Committee nominees for appointment by submitting same in writing to the Committee prior to December 2 of each year. The Chief of the Fire Department and the Assistant Chiefs each shall hold office for 1 year until his or her successor has been duly appointed or qualified. The above named officer may be removed by the Council for cause and after a public hearing. Council approves appointment officers and approves dismissed officers upon recommendation of the Department Chief.
   (C)   Duties of Fire Chief. The Fire Department shall make an annual report and can also file additional reports throughout the year. The Chief shall oversee all operations of the Department. That Department shall be operated under the guidelines developed by the Department and approved by the Council with the ability to change with compliance with state and federal regulations.
   (D)   Practice drills. It shall be the duty of the Chief, when the weather permits, to hold practice drills as regulated by the state for the Fire Department and to give the firefighters instruction in approved methods of fire fighting and fire prevention.
   (E)   Firefighters. Standard hiring process of new recruits are trained to a firefighter II standard and on probation for 1 year as of the date of application. This date becomes the date of hire and is used for benefits and retirement. Zero benefits are given to those firefighters that are released prior to the 1-year probation period. If dismissed, the firefighter has a right to appeal to the Council.
(Ord. 2011-06-07A, passed 6-7-2011)