A. The fire chief shall be employed by the city manager subject to the approval of the city commission. The fire chief shall:
1. Be accountable to the city manager for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the department;
2. Direct the operations of the fire department and ambulance service and set the rules and regulations thereof;
3. Supervise the manner of handling fires in order to minimize injury to persons and damage to property. During the progress of a fire or emergency incident involving the personnel and/or equipment of the department, the authority of the fire chief in all matters connected with the management or direction thereof or the disposition of property endangered by it shall be absolute, subject to authority of mayor. All orders issued by the fire chief on such occasions shall be respected, and any fireman or citizen ignoring or refusing to obey the same is guilty of a misdemeanor;
4. Conduct, or cause to be conducted, suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first-aid and rescue work, civil defense and salvage operations;
5. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, studies of building structures and other potential hazards within the municipality, be familiar therewith, and have the study results available to the department personnel;
6. Establish fire zones;
7. Investigate the origin, cause and circumstances of all fires and assist other proper authorities in investigating and suppressing arson;
8. Inspect buildings and premises, places of public assembly and places housing dangerous material, or cause the same to be inspected, serve written notice upon owner or occupants of inspected premises to abate within specified time and correct any and all fire hazards and violations that may be found.
For the purpose of conducting such inspections, the chief, or designated representative of the chief, may enter any and all buildings and premises within the municipality at any reasonable hour. Any person served with notice to abate any fire hazard and/or violation shall comply therewith and promptly notify the chief of remedial measures taken;
9. Keep complete records of all fires, inspections, emergency medical runs, apparatus and equipment, personnel and other information concerning operations of the fire department and ambulance service, furnish the commission with such information as may be requested and maintain records open to the public for inspection at all reasonable times, except for records that may violate rights of privacy and/or require subpoena action;
10. Make a complete annual report, in writing, to the commission within one month after the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in subdivision 9 of this subsection, together with comparative experience data for previous years with recommendations
for improvement of the fire department and ambulance service;
11. Employ, evaluate, promote, demote, dismiss or expel any officer or member of the fire department and ambulance service, which demotion, dismissal or expulsion of any officer or member of the fire department and ambulance service may occur for neglect or refusal to perform departmental duties but shall be subject to the right of any member so demoted, dismissed or expelled to appeal to the commission or other body as provided by personnel rules and regulations; and approve work and vacation schedules for personnel of the fire department and ambulance service;
12. Enforce, or cause to be enforced, all ordinances, laws and regulations of the city, state and federal government, insofar as they pertain to the fire department and ambulance service;
13. Establish, subject to the approval of the city manager and/or the city commission, employment policies and selection procedures for all departments under his control;
14. Perform, or cause to be performed, the duties of the civil defense coordinator for the city;
15. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, the annual budget for the fire department and ambulance service.
B. The duties and authorities of the fire chief which apply to employees of the fire and ambulance department shall also apply to members of authorized volunteer and/or nonemployee members of agencies and/or organizations assigned to the fire chief. (Ord. 326 (part), 1984: Ord. 280, 1979: prior code § 4-2-3)