ARTICLE I

Duties of the Board of Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors has the care, custody and control of all property belonging to the Corporation. May adopt rules for the suspension, removal and discipline of members, and may prescribe their powers and duties. Has control and supervision of the members, officers and employees of the Corporation..

Section 2: Shall purchase all uniforms (except Company Badges) and may elect an active member of the Corporation as Commissioner of Uniforms, who shall have full charge of all uniforms. Uniforms shall be as provided in Article IX, Section 1 of the Rules and Regulations.

                All instruments and equipment of the Drum Corps shall remain the property of the Corporation and under the custody of the Board of Directors.

                Inspection and review will be one day in the month of  June.

                Shall designate all parades in which the Corporation, Firemens Auxiliary (Ladies) and Firemens Drum Corps will participate unless such parades are selected at a Corporation meeting by a majority vote of the members present at such meeting.

                May make and prescribe By-Laws for the proper management of the affairs and the disposition of the funds of the Corporation.

                A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3: Shall cause each member within one (1) year after his election to active membership in the Corporation to start to attend the approved fire school of the Corporation, and must complete said school within eighteen (18) months of application date. Failure to do so will result in the immediate expulsion from the Corporation.

ARTICLE II

Duties of the President, Vice President, Chief and Assistants

Section 1: Duties of the President - It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the organization in accordance with parliamentary procedure.

                Shall call special meetings when, in his judgement, they are necessary, or upon the written request of five (5) active members of the Corporation.

                Unless otherwise provided, he shall appoint all committees.

                Shall enforce the observance of the by-laws, sign all vouchers for bank withdrawals and install newly elected officers and members.

                Shall not vote on any question, except in the case of equal division, when his vote shall decide.

Section 2: Duties of the Vice President: It shall be the duty of the Vice President to preside at all meetings of the organization in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.  Will be in charge of notifying corporation members of anyone being sick or hospitalized, and order flowers or other items to be sent to sick member.

Section 3: Duties of the Chief - The Chief shall have command of the organization at fires and schools of instruction, and shall see that members perform their duties. He shall be responsible for the proper maintenance of the engine rooms and shall see to it that the apparatus and appliances of the organization are in good condition and ready for service at all times. He shall have the power to suspend any member

refusing to do his duty, subject to the action of the Board of Directors at its next regular or special meeting. The Chief shall report at the next regular meeting all fires, emergencies, and so forth, and give nearly as possible the following data which shall be recorded upon the minutes for the meeting; the location of emergency, discovery, date and hour started, cause, any delays, and general remarks. A copy of this report shall also be sent to the Village Board of trustees. The Chief shall also complete all required Federal, State, County & Village forms and ensure that forms are filed properly and timely. The Chief shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Duties of the Assistant Chiefs - In case of the inability or absence of the Fire Chief, the First Assistant Chief, and in the case of the inability or absence of both the Fire Chief and First Assistant Chief, the Second Assistant Chief, and in the case of the inability or absence of the Second Assistant Chief, and no Chiefs available then the Captain present shall perform and have all the powers of Fire Chief.

ARTICLE III

Duties of the Corporation Secretary

Section 1: The Secretary shall attend punctually all meetings, keep in proper order for inspection all records and minutes of the meetings, to keep and call the roll when required, to notify Officers, committees, and delegates of the appointments, and furnish all Delegates with credentials, and to conduct all correspondence. Shall send a semi-annual newsletter to all active members, newsletter to include proper notice of all regular meetings, drills and special events of the Corporation.

Section 2: He shall in case of his inability or absence send the books and records in time for the meeting, and Presiding Officer shall appoint a member to take his place.

Section 3: The Secretary shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

Duties of the Corporation Treasurer

Section 1: The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies, pay all orders when signed by the President, shall keep a book containing a correct account of all monies received and paid out by him, shall make a report of all finances at each meeting.

Section 2: The Treasurer shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

Section 3: The Treasurer shall be the Collector. The Collector shall collect all fines imposed by the Corporation, and perform such other duties as may be directed.

Section 4: The treasurer shall have the accounts audited by an outside party as per the board of directors.

ARTICLE V

Expense Accounts

Section 1: Expense Accounts: The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall each be allowed and expense account of One Hundred Eighty dollars ($180.00) ($15 monthly), paid annually or at the time of change in office.

Section 2: The Chief shall be allowed an expense account of Two Hundred Forty dollars ($240.00)  ($20 monthly) paid annually or at the time of change in office.

Section 3:The First, Second Assistant Chiefs shall each be allowed an expense account of One Hundred  Sixty Two dollars ($162.00) ($13.50 monthly) paid annually or at the time of change in office.

ARTICLE VI

Duties of Captains and Lieutenants

Section 1: The Captain shall attend all fires possible, and, under the direction of the Chief, see that the streams are properly directed, that an ample supply of water is furnished, and upon extinguishment of a fire, see that equipment is properly taken care of.

Section 2: Upon return of the members to respective Fire Houses, no roll shall be called until after all equipment shall be properly taken care of. No member shall be marked present unless he answers said roll call or is excused by the Fire Chief, Captain or Lieutenant.

Section 3: In case the inability or absence of the Captain, the First Lieutenant, or in the case of the inability or absence of both the Captain and First Lieutenant, the Second Lieutenant shall have full control of the Company.

Section 4: The officer in charge shall check attendance at fires and all Company meetings and drills and turn this in to the Chief or Assistant chief.

Section 5: The captain shall turn in yearly an inventory list of equipment under their command to the Chief or Assistant.

ARTICLE VII

Duties of the Fire Police

Section 1: It shall the be the duty of the members of the Corporation who are certified as Fire Police to act as Fire Police to protect the Firemen in the discharge of their duty at fires, to regulate traffic at fires, to protect fire apparatus and equipment while in use at fires, to discourage abuses of law while apparatus is travelling to fires and emergencies and to enforce the laws of New York State concerning fires. They shall allow only Firemen, Village Officials, Insurance Agents and Owners of the property within the same, and to protect in like manner, property which may be removed from such fires. Members of the Corporation who are Certified Fire Police are to go to the fire and are under the charge of the Fire Police Captain or in the event of his inability or absence the Fire Police First Lieutenant, or in the event of the inability or absence of both the Fire Police Captain and First Lieutenant, the Fire Police Second Lieutenant shall have full control of the Fire Police Squad.  Register with the village clerk on or before March 1^st yearly, and be sworn in at the April corporation meeting.

Section 2: The Corporation shall provide a laminated picture ID for all members of the Fire Police listing the following information:

                1. Full color picture

                2. Full name of member

                3. Full address of member

                4. Phone number of member

                5. Date of Birth

                6. Emergency notification information

                7. Allergies

                8. Weight

                9. Height

                10. Hair color

                11. Eye color

                12. Members signature

                13. Rank, if any

                14. Expiration date

Picture ID shall be carried while Fire Police Personnel are on duty as Fire Police and at all fires.

Section 3: Members of the Corporation who are Certified as Fire Police shall posess the following equipment:

                1. Flashlight with RED traffic cone.

                2. Reflective traffic vest with Fire Police logo on same.

3. Helmet or hat with Fire Police and reflective material on same. 

                4. Raincoat (color orange) with Fire Police and reflective material on same.

NOTE: The above materials, necessary to discharge their duties without needing to report to the rescue van to receive same.

Fire Police Squad members are to keep this equipment in their personal vehicles, and in an operational manner at all times.

ARTICLE VIII

Duties of the Members

Section 1: The members are to obey all orders from the Officer in Charge at a fire, to attend all meetings of their respective Companies and of the Corporation, to be orderly and circumspect in their conduct at all times.

Section 2: When at an alarm or ordered out for a drill by the Fire Chief or Captain, or at a meeting, inspection or parade each member shall remain until excused by the Officer in Charge.

Section 3: All active members will be required to appear at the annual inspection in the uniform adopted by the Corporation.

Section 4: Once a year, at the January Corporation meeting,  read over and review the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. and ensure each member understands them.

Section 5: Each new applicant is to sign a receipt that said applicant has read, knows and understands the full contents of the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. Such receipt shall be signed within sixty days (60) of acceptance in the Corporation and such receipt shall be attached to members record kept by the Corporation Secretary.

ARTICLE IX

Honorary Members

Section 1: Every member having served five (5) years as an active member of the Corporation shall be entitled to Honorary Membership, providing he is clear on the books and no charge against him for disorderly conduct is pending.

Section 2: An Honorary Member, after having his name placed on the Honor Roll, shall relinquish all privileges of the Corporation excepting clubroom and social privileges, and shall be exempt of all fines and contributions except for improper conduct and social events.

Section 3: Any Honorary member who wishes to be placed on the active membership roster must request in writing, via an application, to the Corporation at which time it will be voted upon by a majority vote at a Corporation meeting.

ARTICLE X

Committees

Section 2: Investigating Committee - The investigating committee shall consist of two directors and three other active members, to be appointed annually by the President upon his election. Such committee shall investigate each proposal for membership and report thereon promptly to the meeting of the members held next following the receipt of proposal from the secretary. A favorable report of three members of the committee endorsed on the proposal shall be required before the proposal shall be voted upon at a meeting.

Section 3: Special Committees - Special committees may be appointed pursuant to resolution adopted at any meeting of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XI

Suspensions and Expulsions

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Section 7: At any suspension or expulsion hearing, a representative from each company must be present

ARTICLE XII

Resignations

Section 1: The resignation of an officer or member must be in writing, accompanied by a certificate from the Secretary that such member is in no arrears in the Company.

Section 2: Resignations shall be presented in writing or in person, but shall not be accepted if the member is under charges or is indebted to the Corporation or has not turned over to the Corporation all property belonging to it in the possession of the member. Property shall be collected by the director of the respective company.

ARTICLE XIII

Excuses

Section 1: The excuses acceptable are work, military service, education, illness or death in the family and receiving the approval of a majority of those present at a Corporation meeting.

Section 2: Semi-Annual excuses for the following six months may be submitted anytime.

ARTICLE XIV

Quorum

Section 1: Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum for doing business, nor shall a company be dissolved while there are five (5) active members willing to continue it.

ARTICLE XV

Auxiliary

Section 1: The Auxiliary shall be activated by the sound of alarm, whether it be an emergency or social function, and shall perform only such duties and functions ordered by the Officer in Charge.

ARTICLE XVI

Bureau of Training

Section 1: The GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. shall have a bureau of training with a maximum authorized strength of one (1) training officer and five (5) assistant training officers. There shall be one (1) assistant training officer from each fire company in the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC.

Section 2: The activities of the Bureau shall be under the direction of the Training Officer who will be under the direct command of the Fire Chief.  The department training officer shall be nominated by the companies and voted upon at the annual April corporation elections.

Section 3: The training officer shall be an active fireman with the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. for no less than ten (5) years. The training officer shall have held a line officer position in the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. The training officer shall have knowledge and attended the approved fire schools in:

                             Basic Firefighter I

                                Firefighting Essentials

                                Pump Operator

                                Ladder Company Operations

                             Rescue Operations

                            Or equivalent certified training

Section 4: The assistant training officers shall be active members of the GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. for no less than five (3) years.  Assistant training officers will be elected by each individual company on a yearly basis.

ARTICLE XVII

Impeachment

Section 1: Any Officer of the Corporation who abuses his authority, misconducts himself or fails to carry out his duties, may be impeached and removed from office provided the charges against him are made in writing, filed with the Secretary of the Corporation and served upon the officer thirty days prior to the Corporation meeting at which the hearing upon said charges is to be held. If, after said hearing, a majority or more of the active members present vote to impeach him from office, he shall be relieved of his duties as such officer and the office shall be declared vacant.

ARTICLE XVIII

Amending the By-Laws

Section 1: The By-Laws shall not be amended unless the amendments be proposed in writing and posted at a regular Corporation meeting. The proposed amendments shall then be voted upon at a Corporation meetings for that purpose, one (1) month thereafter and adopted by consent of a majority of the members present.

AMMENDED AND ACCEPTED  12/15/2003, 9/20/2004, 4/2006, 1-21-2008