Warren County Fire Services
Association Bylaws
Revised January 2000
ARTICLE ONE
SECTION 1. This organization shall be known as Warren County Fire Services.
SECTION 2. The objective of the association shall be:
First: To render mutual aid to other members or departments as per the mutual aid agreement.
Second: To secure and promote ideas for the betterment of the fire services in and around Warren County.
ARTICLE TWO
SECTION 1. Membership of the association shall consist of all personnel from any department in Warren County.
SECTION 2. A department membership fee shall be determined in April of each year. Payment is due by the June meeting. The amount due each year shall be determined at the April meeting by vote.
SECTION 3. Member departments not paying their membership fee by the June meeting shall relinquish their right to vote at a meeting. They will also pay non-members’ rates for any training. Automatic reinstatement will take place upon receipt of payment.
SECTION 4. Each member department will have an equal vote in all elections and business matters. Each individual member shall have a voice in all meetings. All voting shall be by member department official representatives, (three per member department) only one vote per member department. The representatives shall be named by each member department in June of each year and reported along with each membership fee. Change of representatives can be procured by a letter from the member department so stating. The chief of each department shall be an automatic delegate by virtue of his office.
SECTION 5. Any vote shall be passed with a two-thirds majority vote of member departments present and in good standing. Any vote pertaining to policy or expenditure of funds shall be conducted with a roll call vote.
ARTICLE THREE
SECTION 1. Officers of the association shall consist of President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
SECTION 2. Officers of the association shall be nominated from the floor and elected at the regular June meeting each year. They shall take office at the close of the meeting in which they were elected and will continue in office until their successor has been duly elected. Voting will be done by secret ballots if more than one candidate is nominated for a position. The candidate with the most votes wins the election.
SECTION 3. DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
President – To preside over all meetings of the association including officers’ meetings and keep order therein. To appoint all committees and to call special meetings as needed.
Vice President – To assist the president in his/her duties. To take the place of the president in his/her absence.
Second Vice President – To assist the president in his/her duties. Be responsible to check association owned property and equipment on a semi-annual basis. Also take charge in the absence of President and Vice President.
Secretary-Treasurer – 1. To keep record of proceedings of all meetings.
2. Shall notify member departments of all meetings.
3. Keep a roll of all departments present.
4. Shall attend to all correspondence.
5. Take charge of all monies-pay out funds of the association that have been properly approved.
6. Make a monthly report of association accounts.
7. To keep proper records of all income and expenses.
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer – Assist Secretary-Treasurer in duties and perform duties in their absence.
SECTION 4. The association shall elect three County Fire Coordinators, whose term of office shall be for three years, one of whom shall be elected annually at the regular June meeting by secret ballot.
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF FIRE COORDINATOR
1. It shall be the duty of the coordinators to assist the chief or officer in charge of any Warren County Fire Service member department, while at the scene of any fire or other emergency.
2. When the third mutual aid company is called or at the request of the officer in charge of the incident, a Coordinator should respond.
3. They shall maintain an up to date record of all available equipment that may from time to time be requested by the officer in charge for use at any emergency and call for such equipment at the request of the officer in charge.
4. They shall also work with the Fire School Committee, helping the committee set up their schooling and training of Warren County Firefighters.
5. They shall be the connecting link between the Warren County Fire Services and Emergency Management Agency in the event that the E.M.A. is activated because of some type of disaster.
6. They shall be responsible for safety on the fire ground, correcting any unsafe acts they see, if possible, and reporting them to the officer in charge.
ARTICLE FOUR
SECTION 1. Meetings shall be held on the second Thursday of each month, unless a request for change is received by the host company. Officers’ meetings of member departments shall be held when called for by the President. Any decisions rendered at an officers’ meeting must be approved b vote at a general membership meeting.
SECTION 2. MEETING AGENDA (See Attached)
ARTICLE FIVE
SECTION 1. Any amendments to these bylaws shall be presented in writing, which shall be the first reading. A copy of the proposed amendments shall be sent to each member department for review. At the following business meeting, the proposed amendment shall be reread and final vote taken. A two-thirds roll call vote shall be required for implementation.
SECTION 2. Recommended Committees to be appointed by the President each year are:
A. Auditing Committee
B. Fire School Committee
C. 911 Quality Assurance Committee – President and three members
EMS Board Delegate and Alternate
ARTICLE FOUR
SECTION 2. MEETING AGENDA (Suggestions)
Call to order – Pledge to Flag
Ladies Thanks
Company Roll Call
Reading of Minutes
Treasurer’s Report
Correspondence
Committee Reports
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment