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CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS
CONCERING THE
PENNINGTON GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE 1: Constitution
Section 1: This organization will be known as the Pennington Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
Section 2: The object of this organization is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Pennington Gap and the surrounding areas in the event of an emergency.
Section 3: This organization will meet each Monday night. Monthly business meetings will be on the first Monday night of each month. Meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Section 4: Special meetings may be called by the Chief, or upon the request of at least five members of the department. After approval by the Chief, each member of the department will be notified of such meetings. A majority of the members os this department will constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE 2: Membership
Section 1: The members of this department will be composed of three classes: Active, Inactive, and Honorary.
Section 2: The active members of this department will not exceed 25.
Section 3: No person will be eligible to election to active membership in this organization unless thay are over 18 years in age and of unquestionable character.
Section 4: Any member will have the privilege of presenting the name(s) of candidates for membership. All applicants will submit an application to the membership in person. After review of the membership, the applicant will be voted on for a six-month trial membership at the next business meeting ( by a majority of the members present).
Section 5: The officers of this department will consist of a Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant, Second Lieuteneant, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain. They will be elected at the first business meeting in January and take office the first Monday night in February. Their term will be for one year. Should there occur a vacancy in any of the above offices, the members of this department will decide at the following business meeting the disposition of the office.
Section 6: To be eligible to become an officer of this department, member must have served no less than three years on this department.
Section 7: No alterations or amendments will be made to this Constitution and By-Laws, or any part repealed, except the same be proposed in writing at a regular meeting and tabled for on month, then receive the concurrence of the majority of the active members present.
BY-LAWS
CHIEF
Section 1: It will the duty of the Chief to call all regular meetings and all spcial meetings as provided by the Constitution; to preside at all meetings; to preserve order; to decide all points of order that mey arise, subject to an appeal from his dicision to the members of the department; but on such an appeal, a majority of all members will be necessary to reverse the Chief's decision.
Section 2: Impose and see that all fines and penalties are properly paid, and in all the affairs of the department the Chief will exercise a general supervision.
Section 3: To se that each subordinate officer does their duties.
Section 4: To give a casting vote in case of a tie, and to carry out and enforce the Constitution and By-Laws of this department, to the best of their ability.
Section 5: It will be the Chief's duty to be present at all emergencies, if possible, and to plan the attack and to direct the actions of all apparatus upon their arrival.
ASSISTANT CHIEF
Section 1: It will be the duty of hte Assistant Chief to assist the Chief in the performance of the Chief's duties and to perform the duties of the Chief during times of the Chief's absence.
Section 2: It will be the duty of the Assistant Chief to keep a strict watch for any negligence or carelessness on the part of the fire fighters; to assist the Chief in the discharge of all duties and that all orders given by the Chief will be implicitly obeyed.
CAPTAIN
Section 1: It will be the duty of the Captain to assist the Chief and Assistant Chief in the performance of their duties and to perform the duties of the Assistant Chief during times of the Assistant Chiefs absence.
Section 2: The Captain will be in charge of all interior fire ground attacks, according to the standards set forth by the department. All orders given by the Captain will be implicitly obeyed.
FIRST LIEUTENANT
Section 1: It will be the duty of the First Lieutenant to command the actions of all members on an interior attack. All orders given by the First Lieutenant will be implicitly obeyed.
Section 2: The First Lieutenant will obey all orders of the Chief.
SECOND LIEUTENANT
Section 1: It will be the duty of the Second Lieutenant to command the actions of all members on an exterior attack. All orders given by the Second Lieutenant will be implicitly obeyed.
Section 2: The Second Lieutenant will obey all orders of the Chief.
SECRETARY
Section 1: It will be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all proceedings of the department; to call the roll; to record all absences and to preserve the records of the department. The Secretary will give each member at least one days notice of a special meeting; will notify each person elected a member of the fire department of such elections, and will furnish them a copy of the By-Laws. The Secretary will submit the books and official documents to the department for examination.
TREASURER
Section 1: The Treasurer will keep the Treasurer's book and preserve the records of the department.
Section 2: The Treasurer will keep a regular account of all money received and paid out on the order of the department; to give a monthly account to the department; to make an annual itemized report of the sums received, the sums paid out, and the balance on hand. The Treasurer will deposit all money received belonging to the department with their financial institution of choice.
CHAPLAIN
Section 1: It will be the duty of the Chaplain to hold prayer before each meeting and to assist all the members of this department.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
Section 1: The Grievance Committee will consist of two elected fire fighters, one officer, and the Chief.
Section 2: It will be their duty to investigate all grievances brought to their attention and act accordingly per the By-Laws set forth by this department and bring forth a recommencation for the department to decide.
ARTICLE 2: Drivers
Section 1: The drivers will be under the supervision of the Chief, and have the same rights and privileges as all other members.
Section 2: They will have control of all apparatus and see that it is kept in proper condition at all times.
Section 3: When driving, they will obey all traffic laws and make every effort to avoid accidents to persons and property.
Section 4: They will see that all equipment is on the truck so as not to be lost, and perform such other duties as may be required.
Section 5: All drivers must obtain certification to operate vehicles within one year of appointment.
ARTICLE 3:
Section 1: All Active Members will be punctual at meetings and drills of the department. For no-attendance at three consecutive business meetings, except for legitimate excuses, member will be brought before the department.
Section 2: Amy member that will be leaving town for more than one day or night will notify one of the officers.
Section 3: All resignations will be made in writing and all equipment assigned to that member must be returned immediately. Any member resigning and wishing to become a member again will be admitted only as a new member.
Section 4: Any member disclosing any of the business transactions of this department to any other person(s) not a member will be expelled.
Section 5: No member will appear at the meetings of the department or on duty in a state of intoxication; or shall be guilty of using insulting, indecent, of improper language; or be guilty of conduct umbecoming a gentleman/woman; or otherwise bring disgrace upon the department without a penalty of expulsion.
Section 6: No persons except members shall wear or use the equipment of the department.
Section 7: No persons except members of the department shall be allowed to ride in the fire trucks to or from emergencies.
ARTICLE 4:
Section 1: All members answering alarms are required to report to the commanding officer that will assign them to their duties.
Section 2: Any active member leaving the fire ground must report to the officer in charge before doing so.
Section 3: There will, at no time, be more members allowed to ride the passenger compartment of the apparatus then specified by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Section 4: Seat belts will be worn at all times when apparatus is in motion.
ARTICLE 5:
Section 1: Any active member of the department, having faithfully performed his duties for ten years, will be eligible for honorary membership.
Section 2: Honarary members will be entitled to all the special functions of the department.
Section 3: All active and honorary members must be present for two-thirds of all business meetings for the previous year to acquire the privilege to vote on major issues. A review will be held in December for eligibility to vote on the election of officers in January.
ARTICLE 6: Order of Business
Section 1: Opening of meetings:
1. Prayer and Roll Call
2. Reading of minutes from previous meeting.
3. Secrretary and Treasurer's reports.
4. Report of Committees.
5. Presentation of bills and action on the same.
6. Nomination of candidates for membership.
7. Election of Officers and Members.
8. Unfinished Business.
9. New Business.
10. For benefir of the department.
11. Adjournment.
Section 2: Before newly elected officers or members shall enter upon the discharge of their duties, they will repear in concert with the Chief the Following:
"I_________, do solemnly promise that I will discharge the duties of __________to the best of my ability; that I will support the Constitution, By-Laws, and regulations of the Pennington Gap Volunteer Fire Department; that I will constantly strive to promote the welfare of the Department and its Members; that I will safely keep all property of the Department that may be assigned to my care and to deliver it to my successor in office; to all of which I pledge my sacred honor."
ARTICLE 7: Rules of Order
Section 1: Only one member will hold the floor at any one time.
Section 2: Any member desiring the privileges of the floor, shall raise their hand and be called upon before approaching the floor.
Section 3: Any member may call for the yeas and nays on any question, when each member shall be required to answer to their name on the roll unless excused by the chair.
Section 4: All questions, unless otherwise decided by the By-Laws, shall be settled by a majority of the votes cast.
Section 5: No member shall speak more than five minutes on any one subject at one time or more than twice on the same subject, except by permission of the chair.
Section 6: When any member raises a question, the person having the floor shall take their seat until the chair decides the point, when, if proposed they may resume.
Section 7: When a motion is proposed before the department, it must be disposed of before another one can be entertained, not shall a motion be made subject to more than two amendments.
Section 8: No subject laid on the table shall be taken up again during the meeting unless it was so understood when thus disposed of.
Section 9: All resolutions offered must be given in writing.
Section 10: No member shall leave the room during the meeting unless the chair gives permission.
Section 11: Any member refusing to conform to the Constitution and By-Laws of this department will be liable to suspension.
Section 12: The Chief will have power to call for an inspection any time they may deem it necessary, which will include all property of the Department, worn or in the possession of a member of this department.
Section 13: If any traffic violation, misdemeanor or felony is charged against a member, that member will be responsible to report to the Chief such charges. The Department and/or grievance Committee will then discuss this for futher action, if deemed necessary.
Section 14: These By-Laws will be revised once every three years or as deemed necessary by the members of the Pennington Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
ARTICLE 8: Chain of Command
Section 1: The Chain of Command will be as followed:
1. Chief
2. Assisant Chief
3. Captain
4. First Lieutenant
5. Second Lieutenant
Section 2: In the event that none of the above officers are present at a fire or emergency, the highest senior member will be in charge. | 
