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PREFACE
Chapter C HOME RULE CHARTER
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 5 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 14 AUTHORITIES
Chapter 23 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Chapter 36 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
Chapter 51 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Chapter 62 PENSIONS
Chapter 70 PERSONNEL
Chapter 77 POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chapter 91 SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
Chapter 120 ALARM SYSTEMS
Chapter 127 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Chapter 141 ANIMALS
Chapter 166 CABLE TELEVISION
Chapter 173 COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY CODE
Chapter 180 CONSTRUCTION CODES
Chapter 185 CONVERSION THERAPY
Chapter 188 CURFEW
Chapter 201 ELECTRIC SERVICE
Chapter 212 FEES
Chapter 219 FIREARMS
Chapter 225 FIREWORKS
Chapter 231 FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Chapter 237 FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Chapter 251 FOOD CODE
Chapter 272 GRAFFITI
Chapter 288 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 295 HISTORICAL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Chapter 302 HOUSE NUMBERING
Chapter 308 HOUSING
Chapter 317 INVASIVE PLANTS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS
Chapter 325 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 328 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
Chapter 332 LIBRARY
Chapter 339 LICENSES AND PERMITS
Chapter 346 LITTER AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Chapter 353 LOITERING AND PANHANDLING
Chapter 364 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Chapter 378 MUNICIPAL CLAIMS AND LIENS
Chapter 387 NOISE
Chapter 396 PARKS AND RECREATION
Chapter 403 PAWNBROKERS
Chapter 410 PEDDLING AND SOLICITING
Chapter 424 POLES
Chapter 431 PROPERTY SALES
Chapter 433 PUBLIC ART
Chapter 438 RAIN BARRELS
Chapter 442 RECORDS, PUBLIC ACCESS
Chapter 453 SALES
Chapter 460 SCRAP METAL DEALERS
Chapter 467 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Chapter 473 SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Chapter 479 SIDEWALK CAFES
Chapter 485 SIGNS
Chapter 496 SOLID WASTE
Chapter 502 STORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 505 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Chapter 508 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 515 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 521 SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 536 TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter 540 TATTOO AND PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 543 TAX ABATEMENTS
Chapter 546 TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Chapter 549 TAXATION
Chapter 555 TREES
Chapter 564 VEHICLE NUISANCES, STORAGE OF
Chapter 570 VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS
Chapter 576 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 583 VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 600 ZONING
Chapter A610 ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY
Chapter A611 BOND ISSUES AND LOANS
Chapter A612 FRANCHISE AND SERVICES
Chapter A613 GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chapter A614 PLAN APPROVAL
Chapter A615 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter A616 SEWERS
Chapter A617 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter A618 WATER
Chapter A619 ZONING; PRIOR ORDINANCES
Chapter DT DERIVATION TABLE
Chapter DL DISPOSITION LIST
§ 5-816. Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
[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.
   C.   Department Director qualifications. Charter §§ 604 and 705 speak to general qualifications. Merit system rules and regulations define qualifications and appointment process.
      Editor's Note: Sections 604 and 705 of the Charter provide:
      § 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.