Organizational and Monthly Meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners

• Author: Raymond S. DiRaddo
• Pages: 109-138

Chapter 2

Organizational and Monthly

Meetings of the Board of Fire

Commissioners

New York Fire District Officers’ Guide

§2:10 2-2

§2:10 THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

§2:10.1 DATE

Every Fire District in New York State must hold an organizational meeting during the first fifteen days of

January in each year. Town Law §174 (2). This meeting is absolutely necessary in order to make the required

appointments and designations.

§2:10.2 DATE CHOSEN

The organizational meeting date should be designated by the Board of Fire Commissioners by the second

week in December so that the media can be timely informed, all in accord with the Open Meetings Law. Public

Officers Law §94.

The Secretary should notify the media of the date, time and place of the organizational meeting no later than

December 15th. Such notification should be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, so that the records

of the District can substantiate the fact that such notification was given. (See Form 2-1)

Notification of the organizational meeting should be posted on the public bulletin board of the Fire District

or in a public place. Town Law §175 (2).

The Secretary should also duly notify the newly elected member or members of the Board, as well as

the newly elected Treasurer, if one was elected at the December election, of the date, time and place of the

organizational meeting.

§2:10.3 PRESIDING OFFICER

Since the position of chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners expires on December 31st, there is no

one to act as chairman to open the organizational meeting. The treasurer shall preside at such meeting until

a chairman has been elected. In the case of a fire district where the position of treasurer is appointive, the

commissioners designate one of themselves to act as temporary chairman until such time as the chairman of the

board is chosen.

§2:10.4 OATH

After the meeting has been opened, the newly-elected member or members of the board and the newly-

elected treasurer, if there is one, should be sworn in, usually by the attorney for the fire district. (See Form 1-1

& Form 1-2)

§2:20 APPOINTMENT OF FIRE DISTRICT OFFICERS

§2:20.1 CHAIRMAN

The Board of Fire Commissioners should now elect the chairman of the board who will act in such capacity

for the balance of the year. If, during the year, the chairman is not present at any particular meeting, the other

members may designate one of the members of the board to act as temporary chairman. The chairman should, as

his first item of business, place in the minutes of the organizational meeting the notification of the meeting sent

to the media, together with the return receipts from the media.