(a) Appointment and Removal. The City Manager shall select and appoint the Fire Chief. The Chief of the Fire Department may be removed or discharged by the City Manager; provided, however, that the City Manager shall file with the corporate authorities the reasons therefor and such removal or discharge shall not become effective unless confirmed by a majority vote of the corporate authorities. Candidates qualified to serve as Fire Chief must meet the following criteria:
(1) Have obtained the rank of Deputy Chief, District Chief, Lieutenant, or a similar rank within a department of comparable size and composition of the Freeport Fire Department, and held any such rank for a minimum total of three years.
(2) Have served as a professional fire fighter for at least 10 consecutive years.
(3) Have an Associate's Degree in a related field or have obtained Fire Officer II certification, or be able to successfully complete such education within one year of appointment.
(4) Commencing August 1, 2017 and thereafter, any person newly appointed to serve as the Fire Chief shall reside within the corporate limits of the City within six months of the date of his/her appointment.
The City Manager may remove or discharge the Fire Chief. In such case, the City Manager shall file with the corporate authorities the reasons for such removal or discharge, and which removal or discharge shall not become effective unless confirmed by a majority vote of the corporate authorities. The person removed as Chief, unless discharged from the Department for cause, may elect to resume the position and rank in the Department which he or she held immediately prior to his or her appointment as Chief, by election, in writing, delivered to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners within thirty days of such removal. Upon election, such restoration to such position and rank shall be automatic and not subject to the discretion of the Board or any other authority. However, such individual shall be subject to discharge from the Department for cause, by established procedures, if such cause existed at the time of his or her removal as Chief. Upon such assumption of former position and rank, the number of positions within such rank shall be automatically increased by one if such increase is necessary to assure that no other member of the Department, of an equal or lower rank, shall be required to surrender position or rank. If such an increase takes place, thereafter the number of positions within such rank shall be decreased by one by attrition. This section shall be subject to the provisions of 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-4, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Authority and Duties. The Chief, in addition to all other duties required of him or her by law, shall:
(1) Enforce this chapter and all other ordinances of the City and all statutes of the State among all members of the Department, and shall give any necessary orders, and take any needed action, to ensure such enforcement.
(2) Promptly report to the City Manager and the Board all violations of statute or ordinance by members of the Department.
(3) Render at least annually to the City Manager and the Board confidential written efficiency reports on each member of the Department as to character, attitude, competency, ability, attention to duty, discipline and courtesy.
(4) Not be disrespectful or discourteous to the City Manager, the Mayor or to any member of Council or of the Board.
(5) Assign duties to each member of the Department, consistent with lawful orders of the City Manager.
(6) Not publicly criticize, or release for publication any criticism of, the City Manager, the Mayor, members of Council or members of the Board.
(7) Make available to the City Manager all files, official records and documents of the Department or relating to Department business, except where such release would jeopardize the safety or privacy of the Department, Department employees or members of the public.
(8) Receive and obey all lawful orders of the City Manager.
(9) Be the superior officer within, and direct the work of, the Department, be obeyed and respected accordingly by all members and be responsible for the discipline of the members. When necessarily absent, the Chief shall leave with the Deputy Chief information as to his or her whereabouts and return.
(10) Establish rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter, any other ordinances or resolutions of Council or any rules or regulations of the City Manager or Board.
(11) Be responsible and account, for all property, equipment and buildings provided for the Department and employ the same as the City Manager may direct, and be responsible and account for all goods or other property received and reclaimed under Department authority and make final disposition thereof as the City Manager may direct.
(12) Attend all Council meetings; serve all written notifications as ordered by the City Manager and perform all such other duties as shall be prescribed by City Manager or the Board.
(13) Remove or destroy any property whenever it shall become necessary for the preservation of property from fire, to prevent the spreading of fire or to protect adjoining property.
(14) Have full authority, whenever the safety of persons or of property is endangered by fire or other casualty, to disconnect, temporarily, electric wires, gas pipes and water pipes or connections.
(15) When a vacancy exists in a rank other than firefighter, appoint some qualified member of the Department as an acting member of that rank. That appointed person shall serve only until the Board shall have appointed a person from its valid promotion eligibility roster to fill that vacancy.
(Ord. 95-43. Passed 8-21-95; Ord. 2004-48. Passed 9-7-04; Ord. 2010- 04. Passed 1-19-10; Ord. 2017-52. Passed 7-3-17; Ord. 2017-68. Passed 9-5-17; Ord. 2018-24. Passed 4-17-18.)