(a) Appointment. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall be responsible to the Mayor. His appointment shall be for an indefinite period of time, depending upon his good conduct and efficiency. He shall be technically qualified through training and experience and shall have the ability to command men. He shall be removed only for just cause.
(b) Powers and duties.
(1) The Fire Chief shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms.
(2) He shall appoint all other officers and fire fighters (both paid and volunteer). Such appointments shall be insofar as possible following fair and impartial competitive examination. All officers shall be accountable to the Fire Chief or his representatives.
(3) He shall annually submit a tentative budget for his department, upon request of the Council.
(4) He shall assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires.