The operation officers of the Fire Department shall be a Chief, an Assistant Chief, and such other company officers as the Chief may deem necessary for the effective operation of the Fire Department.
(a) Chief.
(1) The Chief shall be appointed by the Fire Department for an indefinite period of time, and his tenure of office shall depend upon his good conduct and efficiency, and removed only for just cause and after a fair and impartial hearing before Council.
(2) The Chief of the Department shall be held solely accountable to the Department only.
(3) The Fire Chief shall have the control, subject to the order and direction of Council, of the Fire Department and all fire apparatus belonging to the City; whenever any fire apparatus needs repairing the Fire Chief shall cause the same to be done without delay.
(4) The Chief shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the Department, and shall be responsible to the Fire Department for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the Department.
(5) The Chief shall also call the entire Department together at least twice each month for the purpose of conducting suitable drills in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid, and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the City, and all other matters generally accepted as having a bearing on good firemanship.
(6) The Chief is hereby required to cause inspections to be made of all buildings within the City with the exception of those used exclusively for residential purposes, not less than twice each year, and to serve written notice upon the owner to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found therein.
(b) Assistant Chief.
(1) The Assistant Chief and all other operation officers shall be appointed by the Chief.
(2) The Assistant Chief and all other operation officers shall be accountable to the Chief only, and may be removed by him at his discretion.
(1972 Code §7-1-6)