(a) In accordance with Section 7.03 of the Charter, the following ranks, positions, offices and organization are hereby established, together with authorized personnel, within the Division of Fire:
Title | No. of Personnel Authorized |
Fire Chief | 1 |
Assistant Fire Chief | As determined by Mayor |
Captain(s) | |
Lieutenant(s) | |
Firefighter/Paramedic(s): (full or part-time) | |
Cadet/Recruit(s) |
All regular, full-time personnel below the rank of Assistant Fire Chief shall be appointed in accordance with the Twinsburg Civil Service Commission rules and regulations. All regular, full-time personnel below the rank of Assistant Fire Chief shall be promoted in accordance with the Twinsburg Civil Service Commission rules and regulations or an applicable collective bargaining agreement. All duties performed by personnel within such Division shall be prescribed by the Mayor and Fire Chief and shall be set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures which are hereby fully adopted by this reference; the officially adopted copy of which as amended by the Fire Chief shall be kept in both the Offices of the Fire Chief and the Clerk of Council. The Mayor may authorize the future employment of part-time and cadet/recruit personnel, consistent with the monetary appropriations available from Council. All part-time and cadet/recruit personnel shall be within the unclassified civil service status and non-bargaining unit positions of the City and shall be appointed at the discretion of the Mayor consistent with the monetary appropriations available from Council provided, however, that the Mayor may require certain testing and minimum qualifying conditions to receive an original appointment as a part-time or cadet/recruit employee, but such employees may be dismissed by the Mayor with or without cause.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, such Firefighter/ Paramedics shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of original appointment. Determination of whether candidates are suitable for appointment shall be made by the Fire Chief. After receiving a conditional job offer, candidates will be subject to a medical and physical examination made in a manner prescribed by the Fire Chief and approved by the Safety Director. A cadet/recruit may commence service at eighteen (18) years of age, and must possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. and meet other requirements as determined by the Fire Chief.
(c) All appointments made under subsection (a) hereof shall be for a probationary period as set forth in the current contract between the City of Twinsburg and the Fire Department Labor Organization, Twinsburg's Civil Service Rules and Regulations, or Chapter 147 herein, whichever is applicable.
(d) The Fire Chief shall:
(1) Take charge and custody of all fire apparatus and equipment and supervise the maintenance thereof so that the same may be in good order and condition and ready for use at all times;
(2) Have full control of the Fire Division and its members during all fires and emergencies and may at any time during a fire call or emergency, call upon any citizen or citizens to perform labor, which in his judgment is necessary to aid in the extinguishing of fires; and
(3) Have such other and further duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law or assigned to him by the Director of Public Safety.
(e) Each regular firefighter and officer shall receive as compensation that amount approved by Council.
(f) The Fire Division created hereby is a governmental unit and shall have no official connection whatsoever with any fire companies privately organized for any purpose, other than the fact that its members may also be members of such companies or contracts with companies as might be authorized by Council, if any.
(g) The Fire Division hereby created shall be bound by any contract that may be made by Council with any other municipality or township or any other party with which the City is authorized to legally contract according to the terms thereof.
(h) The Fire Chief and the Safety Director shall be responsible for the personnel morale and general efficiency of the Division. The Fire Chief and Safety Director shall formulate and submit to Council any additional rules and regulations to govern the Division and upon approval thereof by Council a copy thereof shall be furnished to each member of the Division and to the Clerk of Council, which copy the Clerk shall file in the permanent records of the City.
(i) The Fire Chief shall assemble the officers and firefighters for the purpose of instruction and drill in the operation and understanding of all phases of the work which have a bearing upon good firefighters to maintain proficiency as recommended by State and National Standards for Fire, EMS, HAZMAT and Special Operations performed by the Fire Department.
(j) The Division may organize for social interests providing there is no interference with its general efficiency and provided that none of the provisions of their social organization shall be in conflict with any of the terms of this section and expenditure of moneys shall be in accordance with standards established by the Bureau of Public Inspection, Ohio State Auditor's Office. No Division funds, however received, may be used for social events without prior approval of the finance director and must be deposited with the Finance Director except outright gifts and contributions not involving the use of Fire Division personnel or equipment as consideration therefore.
(k) The Fire Chief is hereby required to cause inspections to be made for all buildings and premises within the Fire District of Twinsburg, except those buildings used exclusively for residential purposes, as determined by the Occupancy Hazard classifications in the N.F.P.A.'s Fire Protection Handbook, most current edition each year. All high hazard occupancies will be inspected at least twice each year and all low and medium hazard occupancies will be inspected at least once each year. The Fire Prevention Bureau will classify all occupancies by hazard classification to meet this requirement. The Fire Chief and/or his inspectors are further required to serve written notice upon the owner of any building or premises to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards or hazards that may be found therein or thereon.
(l) Any person, firm or corporation so served with an order to abate any fire hazard or hazards, shall comply with such order forthwith, and thereupon notify the Fire Chief or the Fire Marshal.
(m) All personal cars of Fire Division members may be classified as public safety vehicles as set forth in Section 301.27 of the Traffic Code provided provisions of Section 337.19 of the Traffic Code are observed. A record of such vehicles shall be prepared by the Fire Chief and filed with the Twinsburg Police Department.
(n) It is hereby made the special duty of the Police Chief, policemen and such other peace officers as are on duty at the time, to respond to all fire alarms and assist the Fire Division in the protection of the life of the Citizens of the City and the property therein, and the property of the Fire Division and in controlling and regulating traffic and maintaining order.
(Ord. 42-2020. Passed 5-26-20; Ord. 133-2023. Passed 12-12-23.)