The secretary shall be assistant fire chief, and in case of the sickness or absence of the fire chief, or in case of his inability to serve for any cause, the secretary shall perform all the duties of the fire chief and shall have all the authority conferred by this chapter upon said fire chief while so acting, and in addition thereto, he shall keep a roll of members of the department and a minute book of the meetings thereof at which meetings the fire chief shall preside. (Ord. 25, 5-20-1910; amd. Ord. 48, 2-18-1913)