No. 12-41

ORDINANCE NO. 548-12

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.55 OF THE Cathlamet MUNICIPAL CODE (CMC) AND ADDING CHAPTER 2.70 ET SEQ. THE RELATING TO THE PERSONNEL, ORGANIZATION, AND GOVERNANCE OF THE Cathlamet FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE (CMC); AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 170 (FEBRUARY 1, 1932) IN ITS ENTIRETY.

WHEREAS, the Town of Cathlamet has established a volunteer fire department that has set high standards for fire suppression performance and quality ambulance services, and

WHEREAS, the Town’s policy governing the fire department, as contained in Ordinance 170 (February 1, 1932) has remained in effect, essentially unexamined and unchanged for nearly eighty years; and

WHEREAS, recent study by the Council has revealed that said Ordinance No. 170 may be defective, impractical, contrary to state law, and/or unenforceable in some respects; and

WHEREAS, audits and reviews of the conduct of the fire department’s fiscal and business practices by the State Auditor’s Office have indicated that irregularities have developed over the decades that are now found to be inconsistent with modern concepts of public financial accounting and personnel management and with volunteer firefighter retirement system laws; and

WHEREAS, the Council has determined that it is in the public interest to update, clarify, and set forth an up-to-date legislative policy to preserve and protect the integrity of the operational practices, human resources, and public financial assets of the fire department and its emergency medical services (EMS) division;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF Cathlamet AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Cathlamet Municipal Ordinance No. 170, of February 1, 1932, is hereby repealed in its entirety.

Section 2. Chapter 2.55, Section 2.55.010(2) of the Cathlamet Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

Chapter 2.55

PERSONNEL POLICIES

2.55.010(2) These personnel policies shall apply to all town employees. They shall not apply to elected officials, independent contractors and, except as provided in Chapter 2.70 (Cathlamet Fire Department), to volunteers.

Section 3. New Chapter 2.70 of the Cathlamet Municipal Code is enacted as follows:

Chapter 2.70

Cathlamet FIRE DEPARTMENT

Sections:

2.70.010 Definitions

2.70.020 Membership

2.70.030 Officers

2.70.040 Officers’ duties

2.70.045 Discipline

2.70.050 Equipment

2.70.060 Safety Meetings

2.70.070 Special officers

2.70.080 Pension and relief

2.70.085 Firefighters’ Board of Trustees

2.70.090 Personnel policies and standard

operating procedures

The full text of this ordinance is available for reading at the Town Hall and will be mailed upon request. Requests should be directed to the Town of Cathlamet, P.O. Box 68, Cathlamet, WA 98612.

Passed first reading: 02/21/2012.

Passed second, third and final reading: 03/19/2012.

ATTEST: Tina Schubert, Clerk-Treasurer

Approved As To Form: Thomas M. Doumit

   Town Attorney, WSB No. 28209

Publish March 22, 2012