The name of this organization shall be the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department, doing business as the Hampton-Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department, herein referred to as the Department or HVFVFD.

1. Formed as a non-profit organization to offer fire protection at no cost. Other than donations, no charge will be levied upon any household that calls upon our services.

2. To abide by the rules and regulations set up by the Carter County Volunteer Fire Association as long as they do not conflict with these Bylaws.

Section a - Active Members

1. The active members of the Department shall consist of active firefighters and dispatchers in good standing with duties and rights specified herein.

2. The active members shall consist of no more than fifty (50) active firefighters and eight (8) dispatchers.

Section B - Other Members

The Department shall also include such members designated as apprentice and life members with duties and rights specified herein.

1. The HVFVFO shall be governed by a board of Directors that shall consist of the Officers of the Department that shall be: the Chief, the Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; herein referred to as the Directors/Officers.

2. The Directors/Officers shall be elected, as stated herein, from the active members in good standing and shall serve in their elected offices until their successor is elected.

3. The Directors/Officers function shall be to set policies and to conduct the business of the Department.

4. The Director:;/Officers shall set the Rules of Operation and Safety for the Department in accordance with the Bylaws. Shall publish same and shall provide same to all members of the Department.

5. The Directors/Officers shall receive proposed amendments to the Bylaws from the active membership for consideration.

6. The Directors/Officers may reiect or accept any proposed amendment. If they accept the proposed amendment, they shall follow the procedure set herein.

7. Any active member in good standing who desires to become a Director/Officer shall have at least two (2) years experience as an active firefighter or dispatcher immediately prior to the election for which they are running for office before they can be elected to the office.

8. The active members may remove one or more Directors / Officers with cause. A Director / Officer may be removed only if the number of votes cast to remove him/her is one more than the number of votes cast at the election to elect said Director / Officer. A Director / Officer maybe removed only at a meeting called for removing him/her; and the meeting shall state that the purpose or one of the purposes of the meeting is removal of the Director / Officer.

 

No Officer shall hold more than one elected office.

a. Shall serve as Chairperson of the Officers and the Department and as President of the Board of Directors.
b. Shall call meetings of the Directors/Officers and/or the Department, as necessary.
c. Shall have general oversight of the Department and its functions.
d. Shall receive and investigate all complaints on any Department member.
e. Shall have the power to suspend any Department member for a period of not more than sixty (60) days as to the charges described herein.
f. Shall be chief officer at the fire scene.
g. Shall be the representative or shall designate someone to be his/her representative to the Carter County Volunteer fire Association and shall vote in the Association the desires of the Department.
h. Shall appoint the necessary committees not provided for herein to carry on the functions of the Department.
i. Shall appoint a Parliamentarian who shall have general oversight of all meetings as pertaining to parliamentary procedure and interpretation of the Bylaws.

a. Shall serve as vice-president of the Directors/Officers and the Department.
b. Shall have the right to call meetings of the Directors/Officers and/or the Department, as necessary.
c. Shall fulfill the duties of the Chief in the event of his/her absence or inability to perform the duties of the office.
d. Shall be the Chairperson of the Membership Committee and shall appoint three (3) other active members in good standing who are not Officers to serve as the Membership Committee. This is to be done at the next regular scheduled meeting of the Department following the Assistant Chiefs election.
e. Shall receive and investigate any complaint against the Chief only.
f. Shall be the chief officer at the fire scene if the Chief is absent.

a. Shall have oversight of the building and grounds at Hampton.
b. Shall be the Training Officer and shall see that training described herein is achieved by all active members.
c. Shall see that the members receive Firefighter I or equivalent training and EVOC or defensive driving training as is necessary.
d. Shall keep an update training record on all active and apprentice members, and shall give a copy to the Secretary and Chief.
e. Shall ascribe to the state requirements as to training for all members.
f. Shall serve as chief officer at the fire scene if the Chief or Assistant Chief is absent.

a. Shall have oversight of the building and grounds at Valley Forge.
b. Shall serve .as purchasing Agent of the Department of which all purchases, except for Department vehicles, of over one hundred dollars ($100.00), or of over five hundred dollars ($500.00) in an emergency: and of Department vehicles of over five hundred dollars ($500.00) must be approved by a simple majority of the active members in good standing present and voting.
c. Shall· serve as the chief officer at the fire scene if the Chief or Assistant Chief is absent

a. Shall be over the maintenance and upkeep of all Department vehicles.
b. Shall serve as chief officer at the fire scene if the Chief. Assistant Chief, or the Captains are absent

a. Shall be over the maintenance and upkeep of all equipment of the Department other than Department Vehicles. Equipment to include such as communications (radios, pagers, etc.), turn-out gear, etc
b. Shall assign equipment to the members in consultation with the Chief and Assistant Chief.
c. Shall keep a list of all assigned equipment to the members and shall give a copy to the Secretary and the Chief.
d. Shall be the chief officer at the fire scene if the Chief, Assistant Chief, or the Captains are absent.

1. Shall serve as the Secretary of the Directors/Officers and the Department and maintain the official records, which shall consist of:
2. Equipment inventory.
3. Current membership roster, which shall consist of the name, address, phone number and pager number (if assigned) of all active and apprentice members.
4. Minutes of all official meetings.
5. Records of calls, which shall include personal mileage, Department mileage, and man hours.
6. Financial records ru1d reports.
7. Corporate documents.
8. All other records as deemed necessary by the Directors/Officers.
9. Shall prepare and dispatch all correspondence of the Department as directed.
10. Shall call or take the membership role at all Department functions.
11. Shall not serve as an officer at the fire scene.
12. Official records shall be maintained for a period of not less than five (5) years.

a. Shall receive and deposit all monies into a local bank.
b. Shall pay all authorized depts.
c. Shall notify the Secretary of all contributions in a timely manner
d. Shall provide the Department with a complete financial report on a monthly basis. This report is to be in written form and filed with the Secretary.
e. Shall not serve as an officer at the fire scene.

a. Shall receive and deposit all monies into a local bank.
b. Shall pay all authorized depts.
c. Shall notify the Secretary of all contributions in a timely manner
d. Shall provide the Department with a complete financial report on a monthly basis. This report is to be in written form and filed with the Secretary.
e. Shall not serve as an officer at the fire scene.

Nominations may also be made from the floor after the report of this committee.

a. Shall be nominated by the Nominations Committee and from the floor and elected by secret ballot by the active members in good standing at the date set herein.
b. Shall consist of 5 active members in good standing.
c. Shall not be Directors/Officers of the Department
d. Shall be in charge of all building fund projects.
e. Shall check prices on the following: fuel, insurance, major maintenance on buildings or grounds, radio equipment, and other major purchases as directed by the Department.
f. Shall be over all fund raising activities.
g. The elected Trustees shall meet prior to the next scheduled regular monthly meeting following their election and elect from their number a chairperson. The chairperson or his/her designate shall have the floor at any meeting for the discussion of trusteesi­business. The chairperson shall have the right to call a meeting of the Directors/Officers or the Department, as necessary.
h. All decisions of the Trustees must be voted on by the active members of the Department for final approval.
i. Shall be over all major finances, selling, and pricing.

The Chief and the Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Trustees.
Article 4, Section A, Subsection 7 of these Bylaws does not apply to the Nomination Committee or Trustees.

a. Shall receive and screen all applications for membership in the Department and report to the Department as to the applicant's qualification for membership.
b. Shall inform any member when they have been dismissed from the Department and shall pick-up said member's assigned equipment
c. Shall contact any applicant refused membership and give them the reason for the refusal.
d. Shall contact any member who is suspended as to why and how long their suspension is for

Any member of this Committee releasing any information concerning the Committees function shall be dropped from this Committee and will be suspended from the Department by the Chief for a period of not less than seven (7) days or more than sixty (60) days.

1. Election of Directors/Officers shall be held on October 31 of each year.
2. The chairperson of the Nomination Committee shall set the time for absentee balloting, not to be less than seven (7) days before October 31. and the voting time for October 31. Absentee voting shall be allowed only for the election of Directors/Officers.
3. Election of the Trustees shall be held at the regular scheduled meeting in November of each year
4. Elected Directors/Officers and Trustees shall take office immediately upon their election and shall serve for one year unless specified otherwise herein
5. All elections shall be by secret ballots. even the election of new members into the Department.
6 Other elections shall take place as specified herein.

ln the event a vacancy shall occur on the Directors/Officers or Trustees, the vacancy, if more than ninety (90) days before the regular scheduled election, shall be filled by a special election of the Departments members in good standing at the next regular scheduled meeting. Should a vacancy occur within ninety (90) days of the regular scheduled election of the Directors/Officers or Trustees, the vacancy may be filled by appointing an individual to fill the unexpired term. This appointment shall be made by the remaining members of the appropriate governing body.

Any person wishing to obtain membership in HVFYFD shall:

a. Complete and sign an application form.
b. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age and reside in the Departments service area.
c. Be of good character.
d. Be in good health.
e. Not have been convicted of a felony.
f. Be present when their application is presented to the Departments members by the Membership Committee.
g. Must pass drug screen and take random drug test as requested by the Chief.

Applicants for membership may be granted apprentice status following a vote by secret ballot in which a simple majority of the active members in good standing present and voting shall decide to accept or reject any application. Pm apprentice Member shall meet the following requirement5 and shall be subject to the following restrictions:

1. Shall serve as an Apprentice Member for a Period of not less than two (2) months or more than (6) months
2. Shall have no vote in Departments business or functions.
3. Shall have a choice of being an active firefighter or a dispatcher as described herein.
4. Shall receive a pager (if available), a copy of the Bylaws, and a copy of the Departments Rules of operation and safety.
5. Shall ride on trucks if space is available, but full member has priority.
6. Shall be responsible for all equipment assigned to then.
7. Shall be able to go on fire calls but may not ride in or on Department vehicles.
8. Shall achieve at least fifteen (15) hours of training as given by the Training officer or his/her designate.
9. Shall abide by and uphold the objectives, regulations, and Bylaws of the HVFVFD.
10. Shall be responsible for all assigned duties from the Officers.
11. Any apprentice or active member who solely desires to be a dispatcher only in the Department shall not:

1. Receive any turn-out gear
2. Go on any fire calls as a firefighter.
3. Drive any of the Departments vehicles
4. Have to take any training that is related to fire fighting.
5. Hold the office of lieutenant, captain, assistant chief. or chief.
The above shall apply as long as said member is classified solely as a Dispatcher in thfl Department.

 

After completion of the apprentjceship period and requirements, the Apprentice Member may be voted by secret ballot into the Department as an Active Member by a simple majority vote of the active members in good standing present and voting. An Active Member in good st..mding shall:

a. Have full voting privileges.
b. Make all fire calls as is reasonably possible.
c. Be responsible tor all assigned duties from the Directors/Officers.
d. Are the only ones allowed to ride in or on Department vehicles while going to or from a fire scene
e. Hold a valid State of Tennessee driver's license if driving a Department vehicle.
f. Not drive any Department vehicle unless they are twenty-one (21) years of age and have had either EVOC or defensive driving.
g. Obtain Firefighter I status or its equivalent and EVOC or defensive driving as directed by the Training Officer or the Department within a reasonable time not to exceed two (2) years from their acceptance into active membership.
h. Receive a key to the buildings be responsible for all equipment assigned to them.
i. Have a choice of being an active firefighter or a dispatcher as described herein.
j. Maintain good he9Ith to remain an active firefighter. It health warrants, an active firefighter may revert to dispatcher status. An active firefighter may be required to produce a doctor's statement as to health if so directed to do so by a simply majority of the Directors/Officers.
k. Be able to use an emergency tag on said vehicle in accordance with state law. If, for any reason, the member is dismissed or leaves the Department, they must surrender the tag to the County Court Clerk.
l. Obey all orders given them at a fire scene by the officer or person-in-charge as long as personal injury and life are not involved.
m. Abide by and uphold the objectives. regulations. and Bylaws of the HVFVFD.
n. Must abide by all traffic laws.

1. An Active Member may take Life Membership after:

a. Having completed ten (l0) consecutive years as an Active Member in the HVFVFD.
b. Personally deciding to take Life Membership.

2. When Life Membership is taken, the following shall apply:
a. Shall be classified as an inactive member.
b. Shall have no vote in Departments business or elections.
c. Shall receive a certificate of appreciation for ten (10) years of active service.
d. Shall have his/her name on the Life Membership Plague with the number of years of active service.

It a member takes Life Membership with fifteen (15) or more years of active service in the Department, they will also receive a plaque of appreciation with the number of years of service.

 

Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years may become a Junior Member of the Department by following paragraphs a, c, d, e, and f of Article 7, section A of the Bylaws.

Upon being granted Junior Membership, a Junior Member:

a. Shall help the Department on clean-ups, fund drives, functions, and general maintenance of the fire hail.
b Shall be able to have voice but no vote in matters of the Department pertaining to them.
c. Shall abide by and uphold the objectives, regulations, and Bylaws of HVFVFD.
d. May take the Departments training.
e. Shall be responsible for all assigned duties from the Officers.
f. May receive equipment from the Department as is available and be responsible for the same.
g. Shall be able to go on fire calls and may ride in department vehicles to or from the scene as long as space is available.
h. Shall help at the fire scene but shall not man the fire-line, hose, or entry to the scene or actively fight the fire witl1 the exception of a brush fire where the commanding officer determines there is minimal risk to the junior member.
i. May, at the age of eighteen (18) years after having completed at least one (1) year as a Junior Member and upon recommendation of the Departments Membership Committee to the full Department meeting in a regular schedule session, be elected into the
Department as a Full Member without having to fulfill the requirements of Article 7, section B of the Bylaws.
j. The Departments Chief shall appoint a Full Member of the Department to oversee the
Junior Member program.
k. Must maintain a C average and show proof to a HVFVFD Officer.

 

 

1. Members shall maintain current training status as stated in Article 7, Section C, Subsection f and g of these Bylaws and as set forth by the State Volunteer Fire Training.
2. Members failing to maintain training status shall automatically revert to apprentice status until they have met the requirements of active membership.
3. Failing to meet active membership requirements, after reverting to apprentice status, within twelve (12) months shall result in automatic dismissal without notification.
4. Members shall attend all functions of the Department unless reasonable excuse applies. A member may be excused from a function by making an oral or written request prior to or during a function The request must be made by the member who is to b.e excused to a Director/officer who shall notify the Chief of its receipt.
5. Any member missing three (3) consecutive functions unexcused shall be automatically dismissed without notification.
6. Any member in good standing may request a leave of absence for a period not to exceed six (6) months The request must be made in writing and must specify the reason for the leave and the period for which the leave is requested A simple majority vote of the members in good standing present and voting shall be required to grant a leave of absence.
7. Must remain drug free and pass random drug test administered as the Chief see fit.

1. The Chief has the right to suspend any member for a period of not more than sixty (60) days as specified herein and for the following:

a. Driving the Department vehicles in a reckless manner.
b. Driving the Departs vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or
• drugs.
c. Possession of, drinking or taking alcohol or drugs on Department grounds or at Department functions.
d. Allowing non-active members or non-members to ride in or on Department vehicles while going to or from a fire scene.
e. Using excessive profanity or conduct that will discolor the image of the Department.
f. Causing internal conflict within the Department.
g. Disorderly conduct on Department grounds or at Department functions.

2. A suspended member shall not have the right to vote on Department business or in Department elections, hold office, or ride in or on Department vehicles while suspended.

3. A member suspended three (3) times within a two (2) year period shall be dismissed from the Department without notification.

1. Any member convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude shall automatically be dismissed from the Department without notification.
2. Any member found to be misusing, abusing, or stealing Department property will be
3. Any Director/Officer accused of malfeasance of office shall be subject to dismissal
4. The Secretary shall notify any person whose membership may be terminated, except as stated otherwise, herein, of the intended action of the Department by registered mail.
5. The accused me􀁙.t:ier may within twenty-eight (28) days of the registered notice appear before the members at a regular scheduled meeting to defend himself/herself of the charges outlined.
6. A vote for dismissal shall not take place un􀃵I twenty-eight (28) days after written notification has been made. A dismissal may be made by a simple majority vote of the active members In good standing present and voting unless specified otherwise herein.
7. Failure of random drug test will result in immediate termination from the department.

1. Any member resigning from the Department in good standing may be readmitted to the HVFVFD by a simple majority vote of the active members in good standing present and voting at a regular scheduled meeting.
2. Any individual who has been dismissed from the Department may, after one (1) year, be readmitted only by a two thirds 10) vote of the active members in good standing present and voting by secret ballot at a regular scheduled meeting.

An Active Firefighter shall be an apprentice or active member who works on the fire scene doing all duties necessary to extinguish the fire as ask to do by the officer or person-in-charge. This also includes all duties after the fire is out.

1. A Dispatcher shall be any apprentice or active member who wishes not to be an Active Firefighter provided there are no more than eight (8) Dispatchers.
2. The duties of a Dispatcher shall be to man radios and telephones at the station during fires and any other time as needed; to run call list when necessary or any other
assignment that is not directly related to firefighting.
3. Any dispatcher will have first choice when a firefighter's position becomes available.

The person-in-charge at the 'tire scene shall be the highest ranking Officer at the scene a5 specified herein. If no officer is at the scene, then the person driving the primary pumper will be the Person-in-charge.

A Function shall be any regular or called meeting, fund drives, fund raisers, road blocks, drills,·called work sessions, or training.

Reasonable excuse shall be personal sickness, immediate family sickness, and work, and family death, vacation from regular work place, school, and work with other volunteer organizations, court duty, or military functions.
Excuses must be given as specified herein to the Chief who shall see that they are not abused.

1. The Hampton-Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department shall have one (1) regular meeting on the first thursday of each month at 7:00pm.
2. The Director/Officers of the HVFVFD shall meet on the second Saturday of each month at 7:00pm.
3. The Trustees of the HVFVFD shall meet on the second Saturday of each month at 6 30pm.
4. The Chief, Assistant Chief, or the Chairperson of the Trustees shall have the right to call a special meeting of the Directors/Officers, Trustees, or Departments members, as is deemed necessary by them.
5. Only the business for which a special meeting is called may be discussed and acted upon.

1. No meeting shall be conducted without a quorum present.
2. A quorum for a regular scheduled meeting shall consist of the active members in good standing who are present
3. A quorum at a special called meeting of-the Departments active members shall consist of a simple majority of all active members in good standing.
4. A quorum at a special called meeting of the Directors/Officers or the Trustees shall be a simple majority of their membership.

1. Any active member in good standing may present in writing a proposed Bylaw amendment to the Directors/Officers for their consideration.
2. Any proposed amendment presented to the Departments membership by the Directors/Officers shall be read and copies distributed to all members by the Secretary. The amendment shall lay over for a minimum of twenty-eight (28) days and at least three
(3) meetings before a vote is taken on it. The vote shall be by secret ballot.
3. A two thirds of majority vote of all active members in good standing is required before adoption of an amendment to the Bylaws.

The rules in Roberts Rules of Order, Revised shall govern HVFVFD in all cases to which they are applicable, except for those items specifically addressed by these Bylaws

1. The Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon the acceptance of them by the Department and the date of approval as noted below.
2. Officers elected before adoption of these Bylaws shall continue to serve in their respective offices until the next election of Officers as specified herein and shall function .under the guideline of these Bylaws.