06 March 2006
Adopted by unanimous vote this date at Business Meeting
VERO BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
BYLAWS
P R E A M B L E
The members of the VERO BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC., in order to maintain a perfect union among themselves, establish discipline, define duty, insure tranquility and promote the object for which they are associated, do ordain and adopt the following code of laws for the Government of our Department.
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of the VERO BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT is to serve the residents of Vero Beach and Indian River County by providing protection of life and property through fire and rescue services. The organization shall provide:
1. Support to the Indian River County Fire Rescue Department:
a. By emergency response and services
b. By special projects needing manpower and funding
c. By community fire prevention education.
2. Assistance to volunteer, career, retired firefighters and their families, whatever be the need in times of crisis.
3. Educational opportunities and support to our members
4. Support to charitable organizations in the community.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: There shall be four classes of membership in the organization. All members shall be a minimum of 18 years old, a resident of Indian River County and of good moral character.
A. Active Members: An active member is defined as a member who fulfills all of the duties, obligations and requirements as provided by the By-Laws. Career Firefighters and/or Paramedics are not eligible for active status but may be a Support Member. Active members shall be considered as one of the three following positions:
1. Volunteer EMT or Paramedic
2. Volunteer Firefighter I or II and First Responder or EMT
3. Volunteer FireMedic
B. Support Members: Those who are interested in supporting the department but are unable to be considered as Active Members. Career Firefighters and/or Paramedics are eligible to be a Support Member.
C. Lifetime Honorary Members: A Lifetime Honorary Member is defined as any member who has completed not less than five years of good and faithful active service or any active member disabled in the line of duty. Any member eligible to become a lifetime member will need approval of 2/3 of the members present when petitioning the department for Lifetime Honorary Membership status.
D. Annual Honorary Members: An Annual Honorary Member is defined as any person who is not a member but contributes to the organization in services or funding. In order to become an Annual Honorary Member approval of 2/3 of the members present will be needed. Method of recognition will be considered by individual case by the Executive Committee and membership.
SECTION 2: Any person interested in membership may pick-up an application in person at any regularly scheduled meeting. The application for membership can be submitted to the Fire Chief through the IRCFR Fire Prevention Office. The applicant’s signature on the application certifies that he/she will read the Bylaws prior to being voted into the department and agrees to abide by them if elected to membership in the department.
A. Prospective members can be voted upon at their third (3) business meeting after being present and active for a minimum of two (2) months.
B. Any applicant who is rejected from consideration of membership by the Executive Committee or the Fire Chief has the right to know why and can request a meeting to discuss the problem. If the problem is resolved the application can be acted upon as usual.
C. Any applicant who is cleared by the Executive Committee and Fire Chief but rejected by the membership has the right to know why and can reapply three (3) months from the date of vote.
SECTION 3: The Vero Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., promotes the concept of equal opportunity and will consider all applications for membership without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
SECTION 4: When a new member is voted in by 2/3 of the membership present using secret ballot, he/she shall be initiated into the department according to the following procedures:
A. OATH: The President shall administer the oath to the applicant.
B. TRAINING: New members, in order to become Active, shall satisfactorily complete the application procedure approved by the Executive Committee and the Fire Chief. Upon receiving Active status all new members must complete an orientation as specified by the Executive Committee. All members may participate in training per their level of certification.
C. EQUIPMENT: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be issued once the new member has attained Active Status or at the discretion of the Executive Committee. PPE may be issued, if available, to a support member for the purpose of attending Fire Recruit Academy.
D. UNIFORMS: Proper uniforms will be issued as needed and available, or at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Once uniforms are issued proper attire will be expected at all meetings and trainings.
SECTION 5: A new member is on a six (6) month probation starting at the first meeting after he/she is accepted by the membership. Members on probation may not miss any business meeting without a legitimate excuse. Failure to comply with the bylaws or any other problems that arise may lead to suspension and possible termination of membership.
SECTION 6: If a members moves outside of Indian River County after election to the membership their status will be considered by individual case by the Executive Committee and membership.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
SECTION 1: PRESIDENT: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, make committee appointments and to enforce the Charter and By-Laws of the organization.
SECTION 2: VICE PRESIDENT: The Vice President shall be in charge of all meetings and shall succeed to all of the duties of President in the absence of the President.
SECTION 3: SECRETARY: The Secretary will take and record the minutes of all meetings which may be held by the organization. They will keep a general membership list, summon members to attend meetings and special activities, conduct correspondence of the department and preserve the records of the organization.
SECTION 4: TREASURER: The Treasurer will keep a true and accurate account of all funds belonging to the organization, disperse funds at the discretion of the membership, and make financial reports to the membership. The Treasurer will be required to keep a general ledger and retain all statements until audited on a yearly basis.
SECTION 5: TRAINING OFFICER: The Training Officer will be responsible for conducting one Fire and one EMS training per month. The Training Officer will coordinate and have approval from the Training Chief for IRCFR as necessary.
SECTION 6: VACANCIES: Any vacancy among the elected officers shall be filled by secret ballot at the next regular business meeting.
SECTION 7: INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS:All officers nominated at the November business meeting and elected at the December business meeting by secret ballot shall assume their duties on January 1st of the following year.
ARTICLE IV
DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: It shall be the duty of each and every member to attend all meetings, training and special events. Upon reporting the member shall report to the Officer in Charge for their duty assignment. Any member present at any meeting or activity shall report to the Officer in Charge before leaving.
SECTION 2:
A. Should any member miss three (3) consecutive business meetings the Executive Committee shall automatically review the member’s status
B. Should any member not attend fifty percent of the special events in one calendar year the Executive Committee may place them on probation.
C. Should any member not attend fifty percent of the training meetings in one calendar year the Executive Committee may place them on probation.
D. All excuses from regular business meetings must be communicated in advance of the meeting to the President
E. Members must sign in at meetings or trainings to be counted present.
F. The Executive Committee may for good cause grant any member of the department a leave of absence for a period of time not to exceed six months
G. All members shall attend funerals of deceased volunteer, career, and retired firefighters. The dress prescribed is official uniform including badges with black bands, and black tie or dark pants with white shirt and black tie.
H. The Executive Committee shall meet quarterly for the purpose of purging the roll of the department to terminate any member who has not met the attendance requirements. Hardship cases will be considered on their individual merits, as well as duty at jobs, school, etc.
I. In order to maintain competency, certification and a state of readiness it shall be the duty of every active member to ride with the IRCFRD an average of 24 hours per month.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
SECTION 1: The business meeting of the Department shall be on the first Monday of each and every month at 6:30 P.M. All business meetings are to be held at Station No. 3, unless otherwise called by the President. Business may be conducted at a training meeting if needed by the President. As needed additional business meetings may be called by the President. All voting, except on application of membership and election of officers, will be by either a show of hands or by ayes and nays. In order to pass any motion 2/3 of the members are to be in favor.
SECTION 2: The Fire training meeting will be scheduled a minimum of one (1) time per month at whatever day and time is necessary to accommodate training.
SECTION 3: The EMS training meeting will be scheduled a minimum one (1) time per month at whatever day and time is necessary to accommodate training.
SECTION 4: Should any regular business or training meeting fall on a legal holiday then the following Monday night shall be the designated meeting night.
SECTION 5: The procedure of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the Department.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES:
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the five officers of the Department, the Fire Chief and the Past President. It shall be their duty to manage the affairs of the Department, make all executive decisions, and hear all grievances of members.
B. The Executive Committee shall meet a minimum of one (1) time per year and may be called into meeting at any time by the President of the organization as needed, who shall preside at Executive Committee meetings.
C. All matters of Department policy, including news releases shall be decided approved by the Executive Committee in accordance with the Bylaws.
SECTION 2: BUDGET COMMITTEE:There shall be an audit of the finances of the Department each year before they are turned over to the new Treasurer. The Budget Committee shall employ a paid accountant. The Budget Committee will be responsible for preparing a yearly budget and shall be composed of a minimum of two officers and one member.
SECTION 3: OTHER COMMITTEES: These shall be any and all such committees appointed as the President may deem necessary to conduct the affairs of the Department; they shall be appointed from the membership by the President and shall continue their prescribed duties until relieved or until the Committee project is completed.
ARTICLE VII
PENALTIES
SECTION 1:
A. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to suspend for any period of time or expel any member neglecting their prescribed duties or violating the obligations of membership.
B. Any member disobeying the orders of the officer in charge of any fire, emergency, or training or who shall conduct themselves in such a manner as to endanger public or private property or the safety of the other members may be suspended on the spot by the officer in charge and upon suspension shall leave the area.
C. Any member suspended or expelled for any reason shall have the right to appeal their case to the Executive Committee who shall have the power to reinstate him for good cause or to continue the suspension or expulsion, if the suspension or expulsion is continued by the Executive Committee they shall have the right to appeal to the membership.
D. On any appeal to the membership if 2/3 of the members are in favor of suspension or expulsion it shall stand and the expelled member is automatically dropped from membership in the organization.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 1:
A. FUNDS: All funds received from the various projects of the Department shall be placed in the general account of the Vero Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., and from that account may be allotted to the various special accounts of the Department by majority vote of the membership.
B. EXPENDITURES: All expenditures shall be approved by a majority vote of members present at any regular or called meeting and this vote shall be the authority for the Treasurer to disburse funds.
SECTION 2: AMENDMENT: Any amendment to these By-Laws which is proposed shall be voted on at the next regular business meeting and each member of the Department shall be notified that this is included in the order of business. A 2/3 vote shall be necessary to amend.
SECTION 6: DEPARTMENT BUSINESS: All business of the Department shall be considered confidential and shall not be divulged to any non-member of the Department. Any member violating this may be expelled or suspended as provided by these By-Laws.
SECTION 7: COPY OF BY-LAWS: A copy of the By-Laws shall be made available to all prospective members at the time of application and upon any changes thereafter.
SECTION 8: ORDER OF BUSINESS:
The order of proceeding at a regular meeting shall be:
1. Open with a prayer
2. Reading of Minutes
3. Treasurer’s report
4. Presentation and voting on Bills
5. Reports of Committees
6. Letters of Application for Membership
7. Balloting on Membership
8. Communications
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
11. Good of the Department
12. Adjourn |
