(a) The chief shall report to and be accountable to the mayor. The chief shall be subject to the performance process and procedures used by the mayor to evaluate the performance of other town department heads.

(b) The chief shall formulate procedures for the operations of the department, determine duties of department officers and members, and establish organizational reporting relationships. The chief shall ensure that documentation of procedures, duties, and reporting relationships conforms to town requirements and is communicated to members.

(c) The chief shall be the head of the department and shall determine departmental response to alarms, ambulance calls, and other emergency responses. The chief is empowered to promote fire prevention, suppress the crime of arson, and to investigate or cause to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires.

(d) The chief shall ensure that the appointed officer or member keeps complete records of all fires, ambulance calls, accidents, drills, inspections, apparatus, maintenance, personnel, equipment, and other required information about the work of the department.

(e) The chief or executive assistant chief shall attend town council meetings at least one time each quarter of the fiscal year. Upon the request of the mayor, the chief may be required to attend other town council meetings where department business will be discussed.

(f) The chief may discuss agreements with nearby communities or governing bodies of other organizations to provide the members of such communities or organizations with fire protection or to establish a mutual aid system. The chief shall promptly notify the mayor of potential agreements prior to ratification. To become binding, any such agreements obligating the department or the town in any way are subject to the full review and prior approval of the council.

(g) The chief may identify opportunities for grants, loans, donations, contracts and agreements to acquire funds and other resources necessary to departmental operations. The town may enter into such agreements with prior council approval.

(h) The chief shall ensure that the department conforms to established state and town laws, policies, ordinances, and procedures established for the protection and accountability of all public funds and property entrusted to the department.

(i) The chief shall ensure the preparation and submission of an annual departmental program budget to the mayor in such form and manner as required by state law and the town.

(a) The executive assistant chief is the second in command of the department, and is responsible for performing such operational and administrative duties as the chief deems appropriate.

(b) The executive assistant chief shall act for the chief during the chief’s absence, disability, or demise, until a replacement chief is appointed by the mayor. (Ord. 548 § 3, 2012)