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ARTICLE I.
This organization shall be known as the Varna Volunteer Fire Company,
Incorporated, herein called "the Company".
ARTICLE II.
MISSION
The Company shall, under contract with the Town of Dryden, provide
fire protection and emergency medical and rescue services in the Varna
Fire Protection District as defined in the contract with the Town of Dryden.
While the primary obligation of the Company is to the Varna Fire Protection
District, the Company may, if in the judgement of the Chief Officer it
will not jeopardize persons and property in the District, respond to an
emergency outside the District under the County mutual aid agreement. The
Company shall maintain its equipment and its personnel in a state of readiness
to respond to said emergencies. "Fire protection" shall be construed to
mean both the extinguishment and the prevention of fires.
ARTICLE III.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is available to persons whose written application has been
approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Varna Volunteer
Fire Company. Membership requirements are defined in the appended Rules
and Regulations, Part A, Membership Criteria.
Membership is terminated either by written resignation or by removal
for just cause. A member may be removed for just cause by a two-thirds
majority of the eligible voting members present at a regular monthly meeting
at which a "Proposal to Remove from the Rolls" is presented by the Board
of Directors. Said Proposal requires a simple majority vote of the Board
of Directors in a previous meeting.
Section A, Membership Categories
There shall be four categories of membership: Sustaining, Fire Police,
Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Service. Specific activities and requirements
of each membership category are listed in the appended Rules and Regulations,
Part B, Membership Categories.
- Sustaining Member: Members participate in the nonemergency activities
of the Company. Persons who are not approved for any other membership category
may participate only as Sustaining Members and may not respond to emergency
calls except as described in the Rules and Regulations, Part B.
- Fire Police: Members participating in this category are responsible
for traffic and crowd control and maintenance of the safety and security
of the emergency scene as described in the Rules and Regulations, Part
B.
- Firefighter: Members participating in this category respond when
called to fires or situations of potential fire hazard, such as reports
of smoke, downed wires, fuel spills, automobile accidents, and other incidents
as described in the Rules and Regulations, Part B. Within this category
is a specialized subcategory, Interior Firefighter, for those who have
met the specific requirements described in the General Orders of the Chiefs.
- Emergency Medical Service: Members participating in this category
respond when called to situations requiring rescue, extrication, and/or
emergency medical care as described in the Rules and Regulations, Part
B.
All members shall engage in the activities of Sustaining Membership.
The Board of Directors shall approve the specific Membership Categories
for each member, depending upon the Board's judgement of the capabilities
of the member. A member may petition the Board at any time to add or withdraw
from one or more Membership Categories. Further activities in which a member
may engage are described in the Rules and Regulations.
Section B, Competence Levels
Each of the four Membership Categories has three Competence Levels,
Probationary, Active, and Lapsed. The Probationary Level is assumed upon
approval by the Board of a new member's application for membership. Promotion
to Active Membership is by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors
following presentation of satisfactory evidence of having met the requirements
described in the appended Rules and Regulations, Part C, Competence levels.
A member who fails to maintain the minimum training activity defined in
the appended Rules and Regulations, Part C, can be declared a "Lapsed Member"
by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Reinstatement to Active membership
is by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Board, at its
discretion, may require an exam or other demonstration of competence before
reinstatement.
Section C, Leaves of Absence
A member who for personal or professional reasons cannot participate
in the activities of the Company for a period of time known in advance
may request from the Board of Directors a Leave of Absence, and the Board,
by a majority vote, can declare that member's status Inactive. Inactive
Members may not respond to calls until reinstated to Active Status. Reinstatement
to Active Status requires a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Upon the recommendation of the Training Officer, the Board may require
some additional training and/or a demonstration of competence before reinstatement.
(See Competence Level, above.)
Section D, Life Membership
To honor members with long-term dedicated service and/or who have made
extraordinary contributions to the Company, Life Membership may be granted
by a two-thirds majority of the eligible voters at the annual elections.
Life Members do not pay dues.
Section E, Dues
Dues of one dollar are payable at the Regular Meeting in January for
the ensuing year. The Board of Directors may declare a member who has not
paid his or her dues for more than one year ineligible to vote or hold
office.
ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS
The Line Officers of the Company shall consist of the Chief Officers
(Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and Assistant EMS
Chief) and Captains (Fire Police Captain and a Captain for each of the
vehicles). The Administrative Officers shall consist of a Secretary, a
Treasurer, and a Board of seven Directors.
ARTICLE V.
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section A, Chief Officers
The Chief Officers are responsible for the adherence of the Company
to its mission. (See Article II, Mission.) They are responsible for the
general management and day-to-day operations of the Company, the maintenance
of the vehicles and equipment in a state of readiness, and the training
of Company personnel. They shall establish the safety standards for the
Company and develop and maintain a set of General Orders and Operating
Procedures. They shall assume command, in order of rank, at the scene of
any incident to which the Company is called. The ranking Chief Officer
at any fire scene shall assume the responsibility for the investigation
of the cause and origin of the fire. The Chief Officers shall conduct a
program of public education on safety and fire prevention in the District.
- Fire Chief: The Fire Chief is the first officer in the chain of
command and the chief officer to whom all other Line Officers report. The
Fire Chief has the ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day operations
and the management of the Company. The Fire Chief is the primary representative
of the Company.
- Deputy Fire Chief: The Deputy Fire Chief is second in command among
the Chief Officers.
- Assistant Fire Chief: The Assistant Fire Chief is third in command
among the Chief Officers.
- Assistant EMS Chief: The Assistant EMS Chief is responsible for
the emergency medical service of the Company, including, but not limited
to, EMS training and the maintenance of EMS equipment. The Assistant EMS
Chief shall be responsible to and report to the Fire Chief and shall act
as a chief officer at rescue and medical emergencies.
Section B, Captains
Captains shall be responsible to and report to the Fire Chief. In the
absence of the Chief Officers, the Captains shall assume the responsibilities
of Fire Chief.
- Fire Police Captain: The Fire Police Captain, under command of the
Fire Chief, shall direct the activities of the Fire Police at the scene
of an emergency. The Fire Police Captain is responsible for the maintenance
of Fire Police equipment and the training and testing of Fire Police Members.
- Vehicle Captains: The vehicle captains are responsible for the maintenance
of their respective vehicles and the equipment on them. They are also responsible
for the training and testing of driver/operators of their respective vehicles.
They shall report to the Fire Chief any deficiencies in their vehicles
or equipment and advise the Fire Chief on performance status of the driver/operators.
Section C, Administrative Officers
The Administrative Officers shall assist the Chief Officers in assuring
the adherence of the Company to its mission. They do not report to the
Chief Officers.
- Secretary: The Secretary shall keep minutes of the regular monthly
meetings, meetings of the Board of Directors, and other records of the
Company. The Secretary shall be the corresponding officer for the Company.
The Secretary is an nonvoting member of the Board of Directors.
- Treasurer: The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of
the Company, pay authorized bills, make timely deposits and transfers of
Company funds as authorized by the Board, and make monthly financial reports
of the Company's finances. The Treasurer shall assist the Chief and the
Chairman of the Board in the preparation of the Company's annual budget.
The Treasurer is an nonvoting member of the Board of Directors.
- Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall be responsible
for representing the wishes of the membership in the administration of
the Company. The Board shall make decisions concerning the dispersement
of Company funds and the establishment of Company policy. They shall receive
and act on all bills against the Company and carry on other business as
necessary to run the Company. They shall receive and act on all applications
for membership and changes in membership status. The Board shall be responsible
for determining, as necessary, disciplinary measures to be taken against
a member of the Company. The first order of business at the first sitting
of the new Board, shall be the election of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman
to preside for one year.
ARTICLE VI.
QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS
Only Active Members in good standing shall be eligible to be elected
officers in the Company. Specific eligibility requirements are defined
in the appended Rules and Regulations, Part E, Qualifications of Officers.
ARTICLE VII.
TERMS OF OFFICE
The Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Assistant
EMS Chief, and Captains shall serve terms of one year. The Secretary and
the Treasurer shall also serve one-year terms. Members of the Board of
Directors are elected for staggered three-year terms. Officers elected
in a Special Election to occupy a vacant office shall serve only the remaining
term of that office. Any officer is eligible for reelection. No member
may hold more than one Line Officer position at a time. The Fire Chief,
Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and the Assistant EMS Chief may
not hold any other office.
ARTICLE VIII.
ELECTIONS
Section A, Regular Election
The officers of the Company shall be elected by the voting membership
of the Company at the October meeting and shall take office on November 1.
The Board of Directors shall begin in August to review potential candidates
for offices and assess their willingness to serve. At the regular September
meeting the Board shall present to the voting membership a slate of candidates.
The list may contain more than one candidate for each office. If no one
is willing to stand or no one is deemed eligible for a particular office,
that slot may be left unfilled until a suitable candidate becomes available.
The Board may appoint an Acting Officer to serve until such time as the
position can be filled by an election.
At the regular September meeting additional candidates may be nominated
from the floor. In order to be considered, nominees must accept the nomination,
either verbally if present at the meeting or in a prior written statement
if unable to be present. The Secretary will post the list of candidates
until the October elections.
Nominations for Life Membership may be made from the floor at the Annual
Meeting. Nominees need not be present.
The secretary will prepare a list of eligible voters (See Section C.,
Eligibility of Voters.), read it at the September meeting, and post it
until the October elections.
Voting for each office shall be by secret ballot, according to the procedures
described in the Rules and Regulations, Part G, Election Procedures.
Section B, Special Election
A Special Election to fill an unfilled office may be called by a majority
of members voting at a regular monthly meeting. A candidate or candidates
shall be nominated, and their names shall be posted until the next monthly
meeting. In order to be considered, nominees must accept the nomination,
either verbally if present at the meeting or in a prior written statement
if unable to be present. The Special Election shall be held the following
month using the same procedures as for a Regular Election. If the purpose
of the special election is to fill a post that has been vacated, the one-month
posting may be waived.
Section C, Eligibility of Voters
Members who hold Active Sustaining Membership, as described in the
appended Rules and Regulations, Part C, Competence Levels, are eligible
to vote.
ARTICLE IX.
MEETINGS
There shall be at least one regular business meeting of the entire
Company membership and one meeting of the Board of Directors each month
as described in the appended Rules and Regulations, Part I, Meetings. Meetings
shall follow standard parliamentary procedure.
Section A, Quorum
Eleven members shall constitute a quorum for Company business meetings.
Only Active Members shall be counted in determining the quorum, and only
Active Members shall vote. Four voting members shall constitute a quorum
for Board of Directors meetings.
Section B, Presiding Officer
The Chairman of the Board shall preside at the business meetings of
the Company and at the meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence
of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside. In the absence
of both, the Board shall designate an Acting Chairman. The Chairman of
the Board at the time of the Regular Election shall continue to preside
until the newly elected Board has met to elect a new Chairman.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS
Section A, Amendments to Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended by a three-step process: (1) The proposed
amendment is read at a regular monthly meeting, and a proposal to post
the amendment is approved by a simple majority of the eligible voters present.
(2) The proposed amendment is posted for at least 3 weeks prior to the
vote to approve. (3) The proposed amendment is approved by a two-thirds
majority of the eligible voting members present at a regular monthly meeting.
Section B, Amendments to Rules and Regulations
The appended Rules and Regulations may be amended by a two-thirds majority
of the eligible voting members present at a regular monthly meeting.
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