(A) The Chief of the Fire Department and the Assistant Chiefs shall be elected annually by the members of the Department subject to confirmation by the Council. The Chief of the Department or a member of the Department appointed by the Chief shall be the Fire Marshal, subject to approval of the Council by resolution. Each shall hold office for 1 year and until a successor has been duly elected, except that each may be removed by the Council for cause and after a public hearing.
(B) Application and selection of prospective firefighters shall be by sponsor, firefighter recommendation or by city legal paper advertisement. Each applicant must reside within 5 minutes of the fire hall obeying all traffic laws. Each applicant must pass a physical examination by a doctor appointed by the Department. The City of Slayton shall pay for the physical.
(C) A nominating committee or screening committee will consist of 6 members which shall include the Chief, First and Second Assistant Chiefs and 3 elected regular Department members. This 6-member screening committee shall interview each prospective member either jointly or individually at its discretion. The 6-member committee shall vote on the applicant’s qualifications. Three dissenting votes shall disallow the applicant.
(D) Prospective members found eligible for membership by the 6-member screening committee shall be presented at the regular December meeting. A vote of 2/3 majority of those present is required for probationary membership.
(E) The probationary member shall serve a term of 1 year on this basis whereupon the probationary member is again votes upon at the succeeding regular January meeting. The probationary member must again receive a 2/3 majority vote for regular membership. It shall be noted that each eligible prospective member shall be voted on separately and each prospective member must receive a 2/3 majority of the regular members present.
(F) A vote shall then be held. The Chief shall not vote except in the case of a tie vote. In case of a tie, the Chief shall present his or her vote. A probationary member does not vote, each applicant will be notified as soon as possible after the election as to whether the applicant’s application for probationary membership has been accepted or rejected.
(G) Probationary firefighters shall attend a regional or state fire school within the first 5 years of membership. A probationary firefighter shall reside within 5 minutes of the fire hall obeying all traffic laws and shall miss no drills or meetings the first year without a valid excuse given to the Chiefs prior to the drill or meeting.
(H) A probationary firefighter is required to serve 5 extra hours of training the first year and will also be required to attend and complete Firefighter I course in the county within 3 years.
(I) Any new probationary firefighter who has completed the probationary 1-year period and is passed by a 2/3 majority vote held at the January meeting, shall receive all of the benefits accorded a regular member
(J) Any rejected member forfeits the above benefits.
(K) Subject to the foregoing residence requirement regular firefighters shall continue as members of the Department during good behavior, and may be removed by the Council only for cause and after public hearing.
(Prior Code, § 8.102)