HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 Board of Fire Commissioners Rules of Procedure 12-17-93P02 : 29 RCVD
City Of Lansing Board Of Fire Commissioners
Rules Of Administrative Procedure
The following Rules of Administrative Procedure are adopted by
the Board of Fire Commissioners to facilitate the performance of
its duties and the exercising of its responsibilities in its
advisory capacity as set forth in Section 5.105 and 5.106 of the
1978 City Charter, and in exercising its additional
responsibilities as set forth in Section 5-301 and 5-401 of the
1978 City Charter. See attached Duties.
SECTION 1
OFFICERS
1 . 1 Selection
The Board shall, at the first meeting of each fiscal year,
elect from among the voting members, a Chairperson and a
Vice-Chairperson who shall hold office for one year. No
member of the fire board shall serve as Chairperson on the
Board for more than three ( 3) consecutive one year terms.
However any individual Board Member may be reelected
Chairperson any number of additional one year terms, not to
exceed three, if the member has vacated the position of
Chairperson for one term. The Board members shall also
appoint a Secretary, who need not be from within the
membership of the Board, who shall serve for a one year
term. If the Secretary is not appointed from the
membership of the Board, the Secretary shall not be
eligible to vote on matters before the Board. There shall
not be a limitation on the number of terms that the Vice-
Chairperson or the Secretary may be elected.
1 . 2 Tenure
The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and the Secretary shall
take office upon their selection and shall hold office for
a term of one ( 1) year or until their successors are
elected and assume office.
1 ;
1 . 3 put es of the Board
The Board of Fire Commissioners shall perform the functions
and duties set forth in Section 5-106 and Section 5-401 of the
1978 City Charter except where inconsistent with State and
Federal Law, conflicting Charter Provisions , or any applicable
Ccllective Bargaining Agreement .
1 . 4 Duties of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson_
A . The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings and p•_ :form
such other duties as may be ordered by the Board of Fire
Commissioners .
B . The Chairperson may appoint such standing and special
committees necessary to make an effective administrative
and -progressiv-e--- body of this Board and to expedite
certain functions of the Board.
C . The Vice Chairperson shall act in the capacity of the
Chairperson in his/her absence; and, in the event the
office of the Chairperson becomes vacant , the Vlce
Chairperson shall succeed to this office for the
unexpired term and- the Board shall select a successor to
the office of Vice Chairperson for the unexpired term .
D . The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all
committees . -
SECTION 2
DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
2 . 1 Minutes
A. The Secretary shall be responsible for ma_-taining the
minutes of the Board Meetinas and shall have them
available in suitable volumes . Proposed minutes shall
be available for public inspection n'o late_ than eight
( 8 ) business days after the meeting to which the minutes
refer . Approved minutes shall be available for public
inspection' not later than five ( 5 ) business days after
the meeting at which the minutes are approved. Copies
of the proposed minutes shall be, distributed to all
voting Board Members prior to the meeting at which they
will be considered for approval .
B . The minutes of the Board Meeting shall be riled in the
office of the City Clerk as a -oublic reco_r- and no
official action taken by the Board at any meer.ing shall-
be validated or effective until a copy of the minutes of
the meetinc at which such action wa_ taken is filed wit::
the City Clerk.
2 . 2 Records
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a record of
all the Board' s transactions .
2 . 3 Communications, Petitions and Reports
All communications, petitions and, reports shall be
addressed to the Board and delivered or mailed to the
Secretary.
Regular Meeting
Meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners will be held on
the second Thursday of each month in the Board Room at
Number One Station, or at such other places as may be
determined by a majority of the Board. If the Board
decides to hold its regular meeting at some place other
than the Board Room at Number One Station, a Notice of the
Change in Meeting Place shall be given in accordance with
the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. Subject to the
Open Meetings Act, the Board may reschedule or cancel
regular meetings as necessary to assure a quorum or for
some other reason, provided no meeting shall be scheduled
so as to conflict with a regular meeting of the City
Council .
3 . 3 Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by the
Vice-Chairperson acting for the Chairperson, or by the
Secretary at the request of any two Board members . The
Secretary will provide, if feasible, at least seventy two
( 72 ) hours advance notice of special meetings to the Board
Members. However, the members may elect to waive this
provision. In all cases, however, the Secretary shall
provide, at least, eighteen (18 ) hours notice to the public
of the date, time, and place of any special meetings or
rescheduled regular meetings. Notice of special meetings
and regular meetings shall be posted at the number one
station and in the City Hall Lobby, outside City Council
Chambers on the loth floor of City Hall , and at other
locations considered appropriate by the Board.
3
3 . 4 Public
All regular and special meetings, hearings, records of the
Board its resolutions, transactions, findings and
determinations, as well as acts shall be open to the
public, except as otherwise provided by law. The public
shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at all
Board meetings open to the Public. The name and address of
each person addressing the Board will be recorded.
3 . 5 Ouorum
A. The total number of Board members that exceeds fifty
percent ( 50% ) of the filled Board positions shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority .
vote of that number of members shall be necessary for
official action. Any amendment to a motion is by a
majority vote of the members present.
B. Whenever a quorum is not present at a regular or special
meeting, those present may adjourn the meeting to another
day or may meet as a Committee of the Whole for the purpose
of considering such matters as are on the Agenda . No
action taken at such a meeting shall be final of official .
3 . 6 Attendance
A. A Board member shall be regular in attendance. In the
event a Board Member is absent from three ( 3 ) consecutive
regular meetings or twenty five percent (25% ) of all
meetings in any twelve month period, unless such absences
are excused, any Board Member may ask the subject member to
explain his/her absences .
After, hearing the explanation, any member may move
to excuse, warn, or recommend replacement of the
subject member. Upon the requisite number of votes
of the Board, the Board shall recommend to the
Mayor the removal of the subject Board Member.
B. Such procedures shall not prohibit a member voluntarily
resigning from the Board.
C. Following the roll call of Board Members at any meeting,
the Chairperson shall ask if any of the absent members had
requested that their absence be excused. The Secretary or
any member of the Board will relate to the Board any such
request made to them and the reasons for that request . A
motion to excuse or not excuse that member shall be
approved by a concurring vote of a majority of the members
present .
4
3 .7 Voting
When a quorum is present, a majority of votes cast is
sufficient for the adoption of any Motion, Order or
Resolution. On a tie vote, a Motion is lost. The
Chairperson, may vote to make a vote a tie, or in the case
of a tie may give the deciding vote. The voting shall be
recorded by verbal yeas and nays, unless otherwise ordered
by the Chairperson. All voting to go to a closed session
shall be by roll call vote. Every voting member of the
Board of Fire Commissioners shall vote of the matters
before the Board unless disqualified due to conflict of
interest and , excused from voting upon the vote of the
majority of the members present .
3 . 8 Order of Business
Agenda : The Chairperson and the Secretary shall determine
an agenda for each meeting, and provide a copy to each
Board Member five or more days in advance of each regular
meeting. The agenda shall include opportunity for public
comment on the contents of the agenda and shall be
consistent with the "Open Meetings Act" , "Roberts Rules of
Order, Revised" , applicable provisions of the City Charter,
or applicable state law.
3 . 9 Parliamentary Procedure
In all matters of procedure, not covered by these Rules or
by the provisions of the City Charter or applicable state
law, the Provisions of "Roberts Rules of Order, Revised"
shall control .
5
SECTION 4
AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF PROCEDURE
4 . 1 Amendments
Amendments to the Rules of Procedure may be
initiated by any member of the Board at any regular
meeting and voted upon at the next regular meeting.
All Board Members must be notified of such
amendments by mail at least five ( 5 ) days before
the amendment is to be voted upon. The affirmative
vote of five ( 5) members present shall be required
to amend the Rules of Procedure.
4 . 2 Suspension of Rules
It shall require the vote of five ( 5 ) members
present of the Board to suspend the Rules of
Procedure.
6
DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
ADVISORY DUTIES
The Board of Fire Commissioners advisory functions includes :
Reviewing the progress and planning c_ the fire administratio:1
to insure that all activities are in accordance with City
Policy.
2 . Review of the Fire Administration ' E proposed policies and
programs or changes in existing policies or programs requiring
City Council action and making written recommendations thereon
prior to submission to the Mayor and City Council for action .
3 . Review of the Fire Department' s budget material including
capital improvement proposals and making written
recommendations thereon prior to submission to the Mayor.
4 . Rendering an annual report to the Mayor and City Council prior
to December 1st of each year which includes a description and
evaluation of the department ' s activities during the previous
year including the handling of complaints , if any, and
proposals for future plans .
5 . If it deems appropriate , develop proposals for new or altered
polices and programs and transmit the same to the Mayor and
City Council .
OTHER DUTIES
in addition to these advisory functions , the Board cf Fire
Commissioners is. responsible for:
6 . Establishing in consultation with the Fire Chief and the Mayor
administrative rules for the organization and over all
administration of the fire department ( except as subject to
collective bargaining) . `
7 . Approval of Rules and Regulations for the conduct
of the members of the department in consultation with the Fire
Chief and the Mayor.
7
8 . Establishing a procedure for receiving and resolving
complaints concerning operation of the department .
9 . Acting as final authority of the City in imposing or reviewing
discipline of the department employees consistent with state
law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
10 . Making recommendations to the Mayor on candid esfor
suspension the
position of Fire Chief , ' and reviewing any
or
removal of the Fire Chief by the Mayor .
8
CITY OF LANSING BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
RULES OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
These Rules of Administrative Procedure are adopted effective
December 13 , 1990 by the Board of Fire Commissioners .
Gordon L. Steinha r- Chairperson
al �
Charles Green, Jr. Vice-Chair
Russell W. Sheath-elm
A-I't-
, Q -
fll� V-1
Cor.cancin Aiarin
Ronald Hatcher
.JoAnna Trierweiler
ij
Connie C9-nklin
[,lava Streeter
December 13 , 1990