Rushville Volunteer Fire Department
Constitution and Bylaws
Standard Operating Guidelines
Article 1
Company Name & Motto
Section 1
The name of this Company shall be “Rushville Volunteer Fire Department”
Section 2
The Motto of this Company shall be “Always Ready.”
Article 2
Membership
Section1
The department shall consist of not more than thirty-five (35) members, with an additional ten (10) m
embers reserved for the rescue squad. Persons shall be considered for membership if he/she is over nineteen (19) years of age and under forty five (45) years of age, is in good moral character. Section 2
This person must be a resident of Sheridan County and the Rushville Fire District or work full time in the city of Rushville or own land within the Fire District. Article 3
Officers
Section 1
The officers of the department shall consist of: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasure, Chief, Two Assistant Chiefs (one elected and one appointed by the Chief), Two Captains (appointed by the Chief and his assistants), Three Equipment and Truck Foreman, and Training Officer. Section 2
Election of Officers-All officers, other than those which are appointed, shall be elated by secret ballot at the November meeting and those elected will assume duties in January the following year. There shall be at least two nominations for each office. Article 4
Qualifications and Duties
Section 1: Chief
Qualifications: Must have at least five years experience as a firefighter. Must have taken the Firefighter I Course. Must have attended at least twenty drills. Duties: The Chief shall take command of the department at all fires, and all emergencies, or distribute authority following the”Chain of Command” as a situation organization, or at the request of six (6) members. Section 2: Assistant Chief(s)
Qualification: Must have at least three years of experience as a firefighter. Must have taken the Firefighter 1 course. Must have attended at least fifteen drills. Duties: The Assistant Chief(s) will provide support for the Chief following the “Chain of Command” and take the place of the Chief in his absence. Section 3: Captains
Qualifications: Must have at least two years experience as a firefighter. Must have attended at least ten drills. Duties: The Captains shall provide support for the Chief and his Assistants following the “Chain of Command” and take the place of them in their absence. Section 4: Foreman
Qualifications: Must be a member in good standing of the department. Duties: To see that the trucks and equipment are maintained, clean and in good working order. The foreman may delegate persons or businesses to provide necessary repairs. Approval for major repairs and/or purchases should be brought before the membership at the regularly scheduled meetings for discussion. Section 5: President
Qualifications: To be a member of the department in good standing with at least two years on the department. Duties: The President shall preside at all stated and special meetings, and to grant leaves of absence from meetings. The President shall decide on all questions of order, without debate, subject to appeal from the members. The President shall appoint committees, unless otherwise directed by the company, and to call special meetings when he shall deem it necessary for the interest of the department. Section 8: Vice President
Qualifications: To be a member of the department in good standing. Duties: The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President, Secretary or Treasurer in their absence. The Vice-President shall oversee quality control in the acquisition of equipment and supplies of the Department. Section 9: Secretary
Qualifications: To be a member of the department in good standing
Duties: The Secretary shall keep correct and continual records of the members of the company; to call roll at all meetings and fires under the direction of the officers in command; to keep proceedings, note all absentees, to notify all persons in writings of admittance in the company; and to furnish each member with a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws. He shall enter upon the records of the company the names of the officers and members elected by the company with the dates of such elections, and report the same to the City Council. He shall notify each member by written or pager notice of any special meetings at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time of such meeting. The Secretary shall also draft any special letters, notices or correspondence deemed necessary by the members of the department. Section 10: Treasurer
Qualifications: To be a member of the department in good standing and to be knowledgeable in the handling of monetary records and bank transactions. Duties: The Treasurer shall pay all orders drawn on the department upon approval by the company and to keep a current account of all monies received and disbursed. He shall make necessary and timely transfers and transactions, and report the company of said business. He shall report at regular monthly meetings the condition of the company finances. He shall be in charge of the finances in the purchase or sale of company property. At the expiration of his term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver all books, monies and property belonging to the department, to his successor. Section 11: Members
Qualifications: Any person wishing to become a member of this company shall petition over his own signature and be recommended by two members in good standing. Said petition shall be placed on file and balloted on at any regular meeting, provided there is a vacancy in the company. On election by the department, after six months probation, and acceptance by the company, he is a member. Any applicant, when elected, shall be considered a member in good standing. Duties: It shall be the duty of every member, immediately upon hearing the alarm or page, to proceed to the fire hall or to get necessary vehicles and equipment, with observance to all traffic laws as not to endanger himself or the general public. Upon scene arrival, he shall perform the duties as necessary and/or as assigned by the officer(s) in charge following the “Chain of Command.” Should a member refuse to obey orders of the officer(s) in command, he may be arraigned by such officer before the company at the next regular department meeting. Upon hearing the case, the company may fine or expel the said member with discretion to the seriousness of the charge. Members shall attend all monthly meetings and regularly scheduled drills, adn upon due notice, any special meetings. Voting rights will be granted upon completion of the six-month probationary period and acceptance by the company. Members shall make every attempt to acquire training outside of the Department including, but not limited to, Firefighter 1 and CPR. By-Laws
Article 1
Expenditure of Funds
Section 1
No expenditure of any funds of the Department shall be made without a quorum of the total company membership, after roll call by the Secretary. The Treasurer will then be authorized to issue the proper drafts upon the Department funds. Section 2
The President shall appoint, at the November meeting of every even year, a Finance Committee of three members to perform an audit of the books of the Treasurer. This committee shall present their report to the company no later than the following April regular meeting. Article 2
Attendance
Any officer or member of the company absenting himself for three consecutive meetings shall be notified in writing by the Secretary that, unless they be present at the next regularly scheduled meeting to explain said absences, their position and/or membership may be declared vacant by the President. Upon appearing before the department, and after explaining reasons for absence, the member’s office and/or membership may be retained by a two-thirds majority vote of those members in attendance. Sickness in a member’s family, or himself, or indispensable business, shall be sufficient excuse for non-attendance. Article 3
Death Within the Department
In case of the death of a member, the Department shall attend the funeral wearing appropriate attire as determined by the company, and agreeable to the family of the deceased. All members shall conduct themselves with respect to the family, community, and the Department. Article 4
Answering the Call
Section 1
One long blast of the fire whistle shall be the call for Department meetings and drills. Two blasts of the whistle shall be the call for the Rescue Unit. Three or more blasts shall be the general alarm for fires. The disaster siren shall be sounded, as deemed necessary by the Department or other entities, for tornado warnings or any similar emergencies. Pagers or other alerting devices may also be used to summon the Department for an emergency call. Section 2
The members, upon arriving at the fire hall after an alarm has been sounded, shall outfit themselves with all necessary gear and equipment necessary for the emergency before leaving the station. After necessary equipment is obtained, the drivers of the vehicles shall leave the station as soon as possible with a sufficient crew using discretion to the emergency at hand. Upon completion of the task, all equipment and vehicles shall be returned to station and made ready for the next alarm. Article 5
Meetings
Section 1
There shall be a regular meeting of the Department held on the last Tuesday of each month, and at such place as is designated; said meeting shall be called to order at 7:30 p.m. The time and place of the meeting may be altered upon acceptance by the company at the previous monthly meeting. The regularly scheduled November meeting shall include, in its business agenda, an election of department officers, whose terms will begin the following January. Special meetings may be called by the President or at the request of at least six (6) members as deemed necessary. Section 2
Drills will be held as determined by the Training Officer upon approval of the company officers. Section 3
In case of an alarm at the time of a meeting or drill, the meeting shall stand adjourned until the department returns to the station, or until such time as the President shall call another meeting. Article 6
Disciplinary Action
Section 1
Any member of the Department who shall, in any way, aid, assist or abet in causing a false alarm shall, upon conviction thereof, be held liable according to state statute(s) for his actions. The Department may also levy a fine not to exceed $100.00 or expel the member, or both, as the majority sees fit. Section 2
Any misuse or illegal use of company property by a member is subject to all state statutes and may also be subject to Department disciplinary action including, but not limited to, fines, restitution and/or expulsion. Section 3
Operating Department vehicles, and personal vehicles en route to and from the call, are subject to the laws and statutes of the State. Section 4
A “Chain of Command” will be followed at all emergencies. This is determined by, but not limited to, the officers elected and appointed by the company. A member who is found to have disobeyed an order by an office in command may be subject to disciplinary action as deemed necessary by the department. Conversely, an officer may be disciplined for giving an order which jeopardizes the safety and well-being of all concerned. Section 5
Any officer or member who has been charged with an offense shall have the right to a hearing before the company to explain and justify said actions. The company, which shall consist of a quorum of all members, shall determine what action(s), if any, need to be taken-including reprimand, fines, or expulsion. Any action must be resolved within ninety (90) days following the incident or within a timely fashion as may be necessary. All actions shall be submitted to the company in writing and signed by the member taking such action. Article 7
Inspections
There will be a complete inspection of all fire equipment during the month of May in each year. A report shall be made of such inspection to the City Council and to the Rural Fire District Board. Article 8
Interpretation of Constitution and By-Laws
If any disagreement should arise respecting the construction or interpretation of these By-Laws, the matter shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present of the regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Such decision shall be entered upon the records of the Department and such decision shall be final. Article 9
Fire Department Existence
If, at any time, the Rushville Volunteer Fire Department should disband or cease to exist, the monies and property belonging to the Department shall be divided equally among the active members who have served at least one (1) year, and have, at no time, received compensation from the City for their services as a volunteer fireman. Article 10
Review of Constitution and By-Laws
This Constitution and By-Laws of the Rushville Volunteer Fire Department shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, every even year. Changes to such require a two-thirds majority of the total membership of the Department. This Constitution and By-Laws of the Rushville Volunteer Fire Department shall be and remain in full force upon its reading and approval by the members of the Department. Date:
Signed:
