The following shall be adopted for the government of the Fire Department of the town.
(A) Officers of the Fire Department shall consist of a Board of three Chiefs, one each of these to reside in and represent the three principal sections of Oxford: the Center, Quaker Farms and the Riverside sections.
(B) The term of office for each Chief shall be from January 1 to December 31, and no Chief shall hold over in office after the termination of the year due to the failure of an appointment of his or her successor. Fire Chiefs shall be appointed as follows. Each company shall annually submit nominations in writing to the Board of Selectmen not prior to October 15, nor later than December 1, and the Selectmen shall appoint or reject the nominees in writing as soon as practical based on the scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting dates. If no nomination has been received by December 1, the Selectmen shall make the appointment. The three Chiefs shall be known as the Board of Chiefs, and within 30 days after their appointments, shall select one of their members to act as Chief and the others to act as Assistant Chiefs. In the event any Chief is unable to serve, or a vacancy occurs in his or her position, appointment of his or her successor shall be made by nomination by the company, and appointment or rejection in writing by the Selectmen within ten days from receipt of the nomination or as soon as practical based on the scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting dates. If there have been four rejections, or if no nomination is made within 30 days from the time the vacancy occurs, the Selectmen shall make the appointment.
(C) A six-member Fire Commission shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen with members serving overlapping terms. Members of this Commission shall consist of one member of each of the fire companies, plus three independent citizens not currently associated with the Fire Department.
(D) Officers shall have the general superintendence of all the Fire Department property belonging to the town, and see that same is kept in order and repair and ready for immediate use. They shall direct all proper measures for the extinguishment of fires, also enforce all regulations regarding fires.
(E) The Department shall consist of one or more fire companies, each having an active membership of at least ten men or women. The number of fire companies that the town shall approve shall be governed by the Board of Chiefs and the Board of Selectmen. Each company shall have its own officers, namely, Captain, Lieutenants, Secretary and Treasurer. Any member of any company may be removed from the Department by the Board of Fire Chiefs, after a full hearing and sufficient reasons found.
(F) (1) Active membership in the fire companies of the Town Fire Department is open to any resident of the town and former residents of the town grandfathered in, who moved his or her residence to Seymour, Beacon Falls, Monroe, Southbury, Middlebury or Naugatuck and who have been trained as a member of the Town Fire Department, were outfitted and equipped by the Town Fire Department and who was a member in good standing when residence was changed. Citizens and resident aliens of Seymour, Beacon Falls, Monroe, Southbury, Middlebury or Naugatuck who are at least 18 years of age may apply for membership. Out-of-town citizens and resident aliens may not exceed 10% of the total number of active members in each company as determined by the Board of Fire Chiefs. Budgetary restrictions may limit the actual number of new out-of-town residents added on a yearly basis.
(2) Applicants must be at least 18 years of age prior to starting their probationary period, and shall comply with all rules, regulations and laws of the town, state and the federal government, including but not limited to, the passing of any physical examinations, inoculations or other requirements.
(3) All members must continue to be a member in good standing to retain membership. Town employees serving as firefighters, and in good standing, may remain members regardless of their town of residence within the state. Out-of-town citizens and resident aliens shall not hold officer positions within the fire companies. Only turnout gear or equipment specifically approved by the Town Fire Department can be used by members while performing duties for the Town Fire Department.
(G) The Board of Chiefs shall annually hereafter prepare a budget for the Fire Department. This budget is to cover the purchase of equipment, repair and maintenance of all equipment and property in the jurisdiction of the Fire Department.
(H) Each company shall have power to adopt a constitution and bylaws for their regulation and government, provided, however, that no part of same shall be inconsistent with any of the bylaws adopted or hereafter adopted by the town.
(Ord. passed 7-20-1970; Ord. passed 6-5-1972; Ord. passed 2-26-1979; Ord. passed 6-27-1988; Ord. passed 6-6-1994; Ord. passed 3-8-2010)