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:. Secretary Volunteer Fire
Company - Constitution |
Preamble |
WHEREAS THE PRESVATION OF GOOD ORDER AND THE
QUALIFICATION AND EQUALIZATION AND DEFINING OF DUTIES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL BEING OF ALL ASSOCIATIONS, THEREFORE:
RESOLVED, THAT WE , THE MEMBERS OF THE SECRETARY VOLUNTEER
COMPANY HEREBY ADOPT, AND AGREE TO SUPPORT, FOR OUR GOVERNMENT
THAT THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, AND IN ORDER, FOR
THEIR FAITHFUL OBSERVANCE
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Article I – General Information |
Section 1 – The organization shall be known and
designated as the Secretary Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. of
Secretary, Maryland
Section 2 – The number of Active members shall be
limited to thirty – five.
Section 3 – No vote, ballot, election, decision,
motion, or other action of the company, or requirements,
qualification, or prerequisite for membership shall be made on the
basis, regards, ,or conditions of race, religion, color, sex,
national origin, ethnic background, marital status, political
affiliation, or any other discriminatory factor. For the purpose
of the Fire Company Constitution and By-Laws, the words
"he", "his", "men", shall denote
either sex, male or female, with no distinction intended.
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Article II – Election of Officers |
Section 1 – The officers of the Company shall
consist of The administrative positions of President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, and three
Trustees; and the line officers of Chief, 1st Assistant
Chief, 2nd Assistant Chief, two engine Captains,
Ambulance Captain, and an Ambulance Lieutenant.
Section 2 – Of the officers listed in section 1, the
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Trustees, Chief,
1st Assistant Chief, and the Ambulance Captain, will be
elected to a one-year term, by secret ballot, at the annual
meeting. The president at the first regular meeting in January
will appoint members to fill all of the remaining administrative
offices, for a one-year term. The Chief will appoint members to
fill all the remaining line offices, for a one-year term, at the
same meeting.
Section 3 – Should a vacancy occur in any elected
office during the course of the year; the office will be declared
vacant and the President and/or Chief will appoint a member to
fill the office temporarily until an election can be held, at a
regular meeting. Should a vacancy occur in an appointed office,
the President and/or Chief will appoint a member to fill the
office at the next regular meeting.
Section 4 – For a members name to appear on an
election ballot, at a regular, or annual meeting, he must be
nominated at the preceding regular meeting. During the period
between the nomination's) and the election, the President and/or
Secretary shall investigate to insure that the nominated member's)
meet the requirements for the office to which he was nominated.
Section 5 – All Active and Life members, in good
standing, will be permitted to vote in the company elections.
Absentee ballots can be filled with the President prior to the
election in sealed envelope with the voter’s name on the
outside.
Section 6 – Nominees for administrative office must
be active, life, or honorary members and meet the following
requirements:
- President – 3 years of service, 21 years of age, and
have held at least one administrative office previously.
- Vice – President – 2 years of service and at least
18 years of age.
- Secretary – 1 year of service and at least 18 years
of age
- Treasurer – 1 years of service and at least 21 years
of age
- Trustees – 5 years of service
- Chaplain – At least 18 years of age
Section 7 – Nominees for line offices must be active
members must be 18 years of age and meet the following
requirements:
- Chief – 3 years of active service, FF – I, HazMat
training, and have held an assistant chief position for at least
1 year
- Assistant Chiefs – 1 year of active service, FF-I, and
HazMat training
- Engine Captains – 1 year of active service and FF-I
- Ambulance Captain – 2 years of active service and EMT-B
- Ambulance Lieutenant – 1 year of active service and EMT
– B
Section 8 – Members may not hold more than one line
or administrative office at one time. However, they may hold one
line office and one administrative office at the same tome if they
so choose.
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Article III – Duties of
Officers |
Section 1 – President: The President shall
preside at all meetings of the Fire Company, preserve order there
in, interpret the constitution and by-laws to the best of his
ability, and announce the decision of the Company in all cases. He
shall cast the deciding vote in all cases of a tie. He shall
oversee all of the other Administrative Officers to insure that
they are performing their duties.
Section 2 – Vice-President: The Vice-President shall
assume the duties of the President in case of his absence.
Section 3 – Secretary: The Secretary shall take
accurate minutes of the transactions of business of the Fire
Company. He shall answer all communications, attend to the
correspondence, and perform all other duties that the Fire Company
may require.
Section 4 – Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive
monies and deposit same in the name the The Secretary Volunteer
Fire Company, INC, into one of the banks in Dorchester County. He
shall keep an accurate record of all money received and expended.
He shall pay all bills, when ordered by the fire company. He shall
give an accurate report of all transactions at each meeting. He
shall also have the books audited each year by an accountant.
Section 5 – Trustees: The Trustees shall have charge
of all fire company property, both real and personal, except
firefighting equipment. They shall keep said property in repair,
properly insured, and have full say of whom it shall be loaned or
rented to. They shall keep accurate account of said property, and
at the end of the year make a full inventory of the same.
Section 6 – Chaplain: Any time there is a sickness of
death of a member of the fire company; the chaplain shall
represent the company
Section 7 – Chief: In cases where the fire company
has been summoned to preserve life and/or property the Chief shall
take command over all of the fire company apparatus. He shall take
prompt and efficient measures to alleviate the danger. He shall
request assistance from other fire companies, when and if their
services are needed. The Chief shall take command at every alarm,
drill, and parade. He shall see that every member under his
command performs their duty, grant leave of absence, enforce the
Constitution and By-Laws rigidly and impartially at all times. For
the disobedience of orders or for contempt of the Constitution or
By-Laws on the part of any member the Chief shall report the same
at the next regular meeting. He shall keep a roster of members
present at each alarm. He shall also keep the state fire reports
accurate and submitted to the state in a timely fashion.
Section 8 – Assistant Chiefs: The assistant Chiefs
shall assist the Chief in the performance of his duties, as
delegated. They shall assume the responsibilities of the Chief in
his absence.
Section 9 – Engine Captains: The Engine Captains
shall assist the chief in the performance of his duties, as
delegated.
Section 10 – Ambulance Captain: The Ambulance Captain
shall assist the chief in the performance of his duties, as
delegated. He shall see that the ambulance is kept well supplied
at all times, and make every effort to insure that the equipment
is returned as promptly as possible. He shall oversee the
ambulance billing process. He shall see that the MAIS run sheets
are completed and submitted in a timely fashion.
Section 11 – Ambulance Lieutenant: The Ambulance
Lieutenant shall assist the Ambulance Captain in the performance
of his duties, as delegated.
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Article IV – Types of
Membership and Requirements |
Section 1 – The Fire Company shall consist of
Active (Firefighter or Emergency Medical Service Provider)
Probationary – Active, Life, Honorary, and Cadet members.
Section 2 – Active Firefighters shall meet the
following requirements:
- Show proof of successful completion of M.F.R.I
Firefighter 1 class
- Must be at least 16 years of age
Section 3 – Active Emergency Medical Services
Providers shall meet the following requirements:
- Must be at least an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic
- Must be at least 16 years of age
Section 4 – Probationary members shall meet the
following requirements:
- Must successfully complete either firefighter I or EMT –
B course within 18 months of becoming a Probationary member,
in order to become an Active member. Any member failing to
meet this requirement will be removed to Honorary member
status.
- Must be at least 16 years of age.
Section 5 – Life members shall meet the following
requirements:
- Must have served as an active member for at least 15 years,
or have been become permanently disabled in the line of
duty.
- Must request to be moved to Life member status at a
regular meeting
Section 6 – Honorary members shall meet the following
requirement:
- Must be at least 16 years of age
Section 7 – Cadet members shall meet the following
requirements:
- Must be between the ages of 13 and 16
- Must have a consent form signed by a parent or legal
guardian.
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Article V – Duties of Members |
Section 1 – Immediately upon receipt
of a
general alarm all Active, Probationary, and Life Members shall:
- Respond to the station and assist in conveying the appropriate
apparatus to the scene.
- Respond to the scene and present themselves to assist, if
the apparatus has already responded when they arrive at the
station.
- Take all orders passed down to them, and do everything in
their power to execute these orders.
- Remain in the line of duty until excused by the officer in
charge.
Section 2 – Immediately upon receipt of an emergency
medical alarm all Active, Probationary, and Life Members shall:
- Respond to the station and assist in conveying the
ambulance to the scene.
- Sign an attendance sheet to receive credit for responding
to the call in case the ambulance has already responded when
the member arrives at the station. Only Chiefs, the
ambulance Captain, and the Lieutenant shall be allowed to
respond to the scene of an emergency medical call in their
personal vehicles.
Section 3 – When responding on Firefighter Equipment,
members shall wear either turnout gear or EMS jumpsuit.
Section 4 – Active Firefighters shall respond to at
least 20% of the general alarms per year. Any member failing to
meet this requirement will be moved to Probationary status until
quota is met.
Section 5 – Active Emergency Medical Service
Providers shall respond to at least 25 emergency medical calls per
year. Any member failing to meet this requirement will be moved to
Probationary status until the quota is met.
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Article IV – Alarms |
Section 1 – Any alarm in which at least one
piece of firefighting equipment is dispatched is considered a
general alarm.
Section 2 – Any alarm in which the ambulance is
dispatched only will be considered an emergency medical alarm.
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Article VII – Applications for Membership |
Section 1 – Applications for
membership to the Secretary Volunteer Fire Company, INC shall
include the following information:
- The applicant’s name
- The applicant’s complete mailing address
- The applicant’s street address
- The applicant’s date of birth
- The applicant’s social security number
- The date the application was submitted
- The applicant’s driver’s license number, including
class and state
- The applicant’s telephone number
- The applicant’s signature to attest that the information
given is correct
Section 2 – Applications for membership shall be
available from the membership committee or the fire company
Secretary.
Section 3 – Completed applications for membership are
to be given to the fire company Secretary, who shall review the
application for accuracy completeness. If any information is found
to be incomplete, the Secretary shall return the application the
applicant for necessary corrections.
Section 4 – Once the application is determined to be
completed, it shall be read to the membership at the next regular
meeting, and then referred to the Membership Investigation
Committee.
Section 5 – After receiving the application from the
Secretary, the Membership Investigation Committee shall meet with
the applicant within two weeks of receipt of the application. No
less than three members of the committee shall be present at this
meeting.
Section 6 – The committee shall review the
application with the applicant, advise the applicant of the
requirements for membership, and inquire into which type of
membership the applicant desires. The committee will also, at this
time, provide the applicant with a copy of the fire company’s
Constitution and By-Laws. The committee will request to see a copy
of the applicant’s credentials, if applicable.
Section 7 – Upon completion of the applicant’s
investigation meeting, the membership investigation committee
shall report its findings to the fire company at the next regular
meeting. If the findings are favorable the applicant will be
accepted as either Active, Probationary, Honorary, or Cadet member
of the fire company.
Section 8 – The Secretary shall notify the applicant
in writing of their acceptance to the fire company, and instruct
them to present themselves at one of the next four regular
meetings to be sworn in.
Section 9 – Failure of the applicant to present
themselves at a meeting, to be sworn in, shall cause his
membership to be declared null and void.
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Article VIII – Meetings |
Section 1 – The regular meetings of
the company shall be held on the second and fourth Thursday of
each month at 7:30 PM January through October. During November and
December there will only be two regular meetings, on the second
Thursday of each month.
Section 2 – Seven Active members shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 3 – All questions that come before the
company and all decisions that need to be made will be decided by
voting, whereas the majority of the votes cast will decide the
outcome.
Section 4 – Special meetings for a definite purpose
can be held with seven days written notification to the members.
Section 5 – The Chief or President can call emergency
meetings at any time without any written notice.
Section 6 – The regular meeting in December will be
designated as the "Annual" meeting.
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Article IX – Delegates and Alternates |
Section 1 – At the first regular
meeting in January the President will appoint five delegates and
five alternates to the Maryland State Fireman's Association.
Section 2 – At the first regular meeting in January
the President will appoint two delegates and two alternates to the
Dorchester County Fireman’s Association.
Section 3 – At the first regular meeting in January
the President will appoint one delegate and one alternate to the
Dorchester County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.
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Article X – Dues |
Section1 – All Active,
Probationary, and Honorary members shall pay annual dues of one
dollar on or before the annual meeting.
Section 2 – Each member will be reminded by mail in
November.
Section 3 – Any member failing to pay his dues by the
first regular meeting in January, will be removed from the fire
company roster.
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Article XI – Suspensions and Expulsions |
Section 1 – When a member is
deficient in his duty, does not exert himself to answer alarms,
fails to give satisfactory excuses for delinquency, is guilty of
using disrespectful language to an officer, or is guilty of any
conduct which brings disgrace upon the fire company, he shall be
dully expelled or suspended.
Section 2 – Charges made under the preceding section
shall be presented in writing at a regular meeting and then
referred to a committee of seven members. The President shall draw
this committee from a box containing the names of all the Active
members, except the member accused, the member pressing charges,
and the President. The first seven names drawn shall compose the
committee and then two additional names will be drawn for
alternates. No member drawn will be excused except on account of
sickness, being out of town, or by an excuse approved by two
thirds of the members present. The duty of this committee shall be
to investigate the charges, and make a report thereon at the next
regular meeting. The Secretary shall mail, to the accused, a copy
of the charges made, and the date and time of the meeting of the
committee. The committee shall report its findings in writing, to
the President, before the next regular meeting. If the majority of
the committee finds the accused guilty of the charges, their
report must contain the penalty to be imposed. It shall be the
duty of the President to announce the decision of the committee at
the next regular meeting, and the Secretary shall notify the
accused of the same. The action of the committee will be final and
no appeal to the company will be entertained.
Section 3 – The President and/or Chief have the power
to suspend any member until formal charges can be made at the next
regular meeting.
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Article XII – Amendments |
BY-LAWS
RULES AND REGULATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
MEMBERS WHILE IN THE FIREHOUSE
SECTION 1: A non-member will not be allowed
in the firehouse except when accompanied by a member.
SECTION 1A: A member shall not be allowed to have more than
two (2) guests in the fire company at any time.
SECTION 2: Illegal gambling will not be allowed in the
building under penalty of being suspended or expelled.
SECTION 3: Any property willfully broken or destroyed by a
member, must be paid for by him. The cost to be determined by the
replacement cost, and the member may be suspended or expelled.
SECTION 4: Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed in the
building at any time, except special events, with the approval of
the majority of the voting members present at the meeting when the
exception is requested.
SECTION 4A: No member of the Secretary Volunteer Fire
Company, INC, shall be allowed to appear in uniform at any place
or establishment that serves alcoholic beverages as their primary
service function, nor any piece of fire company equipment or
apparatus be permitted at these establishments except in the line
of official duty or capacity.
SECTION 5: A member shall not be allowed to appear in the
building or in the line of duty in a state of intoxication, or to
introduce a visitor there in that state, under the penalty of
being suspended or expelled.
SECTION 6: Members who leave the station assigned to him
without permission, or for disobeying orders of his officer, shall
be under penalty of being suspended or expelled.
SECTION 7: Any member that gives an unacceptable excuse for
non-attendance to his duty shall be under penalty of being
suspended or expelled.
SECTION 8: For altering or removing anything pertaining to
the firehouse, or its contents, or for willful abuse of the same,
the member shall be fined (determined by the Fire Company at the
next regular meeting).
SECTION 9: Any member loaning any part of his fire fighting
apparel with the name, number, or designation of the company
thereon, to a person other than a duly appointed substitute, or
member of the Fire Company during his avoidable absence, or
wearing the same himself at any time other than on parades or duty
with the company, shall be fined.
SECTION 10: No fines shall be imposed unless by ballot and
a majority of the vote cast at a regular meeting.
SECTION 11: Any member found removing property without
proper permission while in the line of duty shall be under penalty
of being suspended or expelled.
SECTION 12: Any member neglecting to pay his fine after it
has been imposed, providing that he has been notified by the
Secretary in writing, shall at the expiration of fifteen (15) days
after such notice, be suspended or expelled from the company, and
shall be so considered without further action of the company, and
be notified of the same by the Secretary.
SECTION 13: Smoking shall be prohibited in all areas
of the station.
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