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:

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.

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, 1^st Assistant Chief, 2^nd 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, 1^st 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:

1. President – 3 years of service, 21 years of age, and have held at least one administrative office previously.
2. Vice – President – 2 years of service and at least 18 years of age.
3. Secretary – 1 year of service and at least 18 years of age
4. Treasurer – 1 years of service and at least 21 years of age
5. Trustees – 5 years of service
6. 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:

1. Chief – 3 years of active service, FF – I, HazMat training, and have held an assistant chief position for at least 1 year
2. Assistant Chiefs – 1 year of active service, FF-I, and HazMat training
3. Engine Captains – 1 year of active service and FF-I
4. Ambulance Captain – 2 years of active service and EMT-B
5. 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.

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.

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:

1. Show proof of successful completion of M.F.R.I Firefighter 1 class
2. Must be at least 16 years of age

Section 3 – Active Emergency Medical Services Providers shall meet the following requirements:

1. Must be at least an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic
2. Must be at least 16 years of age

Section 4 – Probationary members shall meet the following requirements:

1. 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.
2. Must be at least 16 years of age.

Section 5 – Life members shall meet the following requirements:

1. Must have served as an active member for at least 15 years, or have been become permanently disabled in the line of duty.
2. Must request to be moved to Life member status at a regular meeting

Section 6 – Honorary members shall meet the following requirement:

1. Must be at least 16 years of age

Section 7 – Cadet members shall meet the following requirements:

1. Must be between the ages of 13 and 16
2. Must have a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Article V – Duties of Members

Section 1 – Immediately upon receipt of a general alarm all Active, Probationary, and Life Members shall:

1. Respond to the station and assist in conveying the appropriate apparatus to the scene.
2. Respond to the scene and present themselves to assist, if the apparatus has already responded when they arrive at the station.
3. Take all orders passed down to them, and do everything in their power to execute these orders.
4. 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:

1. Respond to the station and assist in conveying the ambulance to the scene.
2. 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.

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.

Article VII – Applications for Membership

Section 1 – Applications for membership to the Secretary Volunteer Fire Company, INC shall include the following information:

1. The applicant’s name
2. The applicant’s complete mailing address
3. The applicant’s street address
4. The applicant’s date of birth
5. The applicant’s social security number
6. The date the application was submitted
7. The applicant’s driver’s license number, including class and state
8. The applicant’s telephone number
9. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Article XII – Amendments

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.