§ 2-56. Membership—Composition, etc.

(a)

The membership of the department shall consist of as many persons as shall be appointed by the chief, but in no event shall the membership of the department consist of more than fifty-five (55) persons. All membership appointments to the department shall be reported to the mayor and board of aldermen and confirmed by the mayor and board of aldermen. Members of the department shall be able-bodied citizens residing in the parish, except that the chief, assistant chiefs, and drivers shall reside within a five-mile (air mile) radius of the municipality and preferably be persons whose business activities are normally within the confines of the municipality. All members, the chief, assistant chiefs, and drivers shall be persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, who have telephones in their homes, and who have no criminal record.

(b)

Application forms for membership in the department shall be available upon request at the fire department office or at the town hall. Completed applications may be submitted to the chief or to any employee in the town hall office. Completed application forms shall be reviewed by the chief and the mayor and board of aldermen, and action on the application shall be taken within twenty (20) days of its being submitted.

(c)

The chief shall maintain a current list of members of the department, including all officers, a copy of which current list shall be submitted to the mayor.

(d)

Any member of the fire department who has been inactive for at least one year shall be removed from the membership of the department. In order to remain active in the department each member shall attend at least one-third of the drills or instruction meetings each year and must respond to calls when able to do so.

(e)

Director of the office of emergency preparedness—Membership in the department. The director of the office of emergency preparedness (also known as civil defense director or director of emergency management) of the Town of St. Francisville and/or the Parish of West Feliciana shall be a member of the municipal volunteer fire department and as such subject to the rules and regulations of the department and the authority of the chief.

(f)

Town attorney—Membership in the department. The Town Attorney of the Town of St. Francisville shall be a member of the municipal volunteer fire department and as such subject to the rules and regulations of the department and to the authority of the fire chief.

(Code 1979, § 4-2007; Ord. No. 1979-4, 7-10-79; Ord. No. 1980-4, 3-11-80; Ord. No. 1991-8, 10-8-91; Ord. No. 1996-3, 5-14-96; Ord. No. 2009-6, 10-13-09)