[Amended 9-23-1996 by Ord. No. 30-1996; 5-29-2001 by Ord. No. 14-2001; 2-12-2007 by Ord. No. 12-2007; 8-22-2016 by Ord. No. 34-2016]
A. Function. The Department of Fire and Rescue Services shall be responsible for the protection of persons and property within the City against fire and other hazards.
B. Department Director. The Department of Fire and Rescue Services shall be headed by a Director termed a Chief who shall be responsible to the Managing Director for the performance of the department and for all other responsibilities and obligations that the Managing Director may from time to time assign consistent with the law, Charter or ordinance.
§ 604. Qualifications.
The heads of departments, offices, and agencies shall be selected solely on the basis of education, training, experience and professional, executive and administrative abilities; and such other qualifications as may be set forth in this Charter. (See § 705.)
§ 705. Compensation of heads of departments, offices and agencies.
The compensation of all heads of departments, offices and agencies under the direction of the Mayor shall be proposed by the Mayor and approved by ordinance. Compensation of all other employees shall be set in accordance with the uniform pay plan established by City Council in the Personnel Code. All such heads of departments, offices and agencies need not be residents of the City at the time of appointment, but after appointment shall reside in the City. City residency shall be required within 12 months of being appointed.
D. Department Director duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Chief shall include, but not be limited to the below. He/she shall direct personally and through subordinates the performance of the below duties and responsibilities.
(1) Prevent and extinguish fires.
(2) Provide rescue services as appropriate.
(3) Identify, remove and control fire hazards and other hazardous conditions.
(4) Enforce laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations relating to fires and fire hazards.
(5) Maintain computerized fire incident reporting system.
(6) Develop and conduct community relations and education programs.
(7) Responsible for fire communications.
(8) Review records and logs relating to radio and the emergency communication system.
(9) Conduct training programs for department personnel.
(10) Operate the Reading-Berks Fire Training Center in cooperation with the County of Berks.
(11) Administer an apparatus/equipment and facility maintenance, testing and repair program in cooperation with other City departments.
E. Fire Marshal.
(1) Function. The Fire Marshal shall be responsible for the fire investigation, recordkeeping, fire prevention and fire code enforcement for the City.
(2) Appointment. The Fire Marshal shall be appointed by the Mayor as per § 603 of the Charter.
Editor's Note: Section 603 of the Charter provides:
§ 603. Heads of departments, offices, and agencies.
(a) Appointment. Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, the Mayor shall appoint and remove the head of any department, office and agency. An appointment shall not be effective unless City Council by resolution confirms it or fails to reject it within 60 days after the appointment. The appointee shall serve unless rejected by City Council or until removal from office, whichever is sooner.
(b) Removal. The Mayor shall have the power at any time to remove the head of any department, office or agency immediately under the Managing Director's direction and supervision, but the Mayor shall within 14 days notify in writing City Council of the removal and the reason for it.
(3) Status. The Fire Marshal is a member of the Fire Department and reports to its Chief. However, the Marshal shall provide investigative reports to the Mayor, Managing Director and the Chief.
(4) Duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Fire Marshal shall include the following, but not be limited to the following:
(a) Initiate and administer a fire prevention program for the City.
(b) Enforce the fire code in conjunction with the Codes Service Division - Building/ Trades.
(c) Investigate cause and origin of fire as required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fire Marshal law.
(d) Maintain records as required by all applicable statutes, laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the City of Reading, the fire prevention code as adopted by the City of Reading8 and the City of Reading Department of Fire and Rescue.
8. Editor's Note: See Ch. 237, Fire Prevention and Protection.