Constitution

BLOOMSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT  CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1

I.     Name

The organization shall be known as the “Bloomsburg Fire Department, Inc.”, herein after, “Department”.

II.    Organization

        A.    The Department shall be organized and operated as required by the laws, statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a not for profit corporation.

        B.    In addition to the above, all Department activities shall comply with the following:

                1      The Constitution of the Bloomsburg Fire Department

                2      The By-laws of the Bloomsburg Fire Department

                3      Roberts Rules of Order

                4      The Department Safety, Training and Operational Procedures Manual, herein after, “SOP Manual”

      C.   The Department shall not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE 2

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the Department shall be to provide, as manpower and resources permit, emergency services which include, but are not limited to, fire suppression services and disaster assistance to the Town of Bloomsburg and mutual aid as requested.

In addition, the Department may provide other public related services, as manpower and resources permit, that are approved by the officers or membership as appropriate.

The Department may also provide revenue for the operation of the Department through fund raising activities allowed under law, as manpower and resources permit.

ARTICLE 3

ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

Any person 18 years of age or older shall be eligible for membership in the Department, provided that, in the opinion of the general membership, the prospective member is in good standing in the community and is of good moral character.

ARTICLE 4

DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

The elected officers of the Department shall consist of the following:

President                                                                                                Chief

Vice-President                                                                                      Deputy Chief

Recording Secretary                                                                           Assistant Chief

Assistant Recording Secretary

Financial Secretary

Treasurer

Seven Member Board of Trustees

Additional Line & Company Officers in accordance with the Department By-laws.

ARTICLE 5

DEPARTMENT MEETINGS

 I.    Regular Meetings

The Department shall hold a regular meeting monthly for the purpose of conducting Department business. Regular meetings shall be held on the date and time in accordance with the Department By-laws.

II.    Special Meetings

        Special meetings shall be held in accordance with the Department By-laws.

ARTICLE 6

ELLECTION OF OFFICERS

Election of officers shall be held in accordance with the Department By-laws.

ARTICLE 7

RELIEF ASSOCIATION

There shall be organized and operated a Firefighter’s Relief Association under its own Constitution and By-laws, in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and shall be separate and distinct from the Department.

ARTICLE 8

FIRE POLICE

There shall be Fire Police within the Department, as manpower and resources permit.

ARTICLE 9

MANDATORY ORGANIZAIONAL STATEMENT

This Department is organized exclusively for charitable public service purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.

No part of the net earnings of this Department shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the department shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of Section 501(c)(3) purposes.  No substantial part of the activities of the Department shall participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the Department shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation/organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by a corporation/organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.

If this Department is ever dissolved or otherwise ceases to exist, upon it’s dissolution the assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code, or shall be distributed to the Federal Government, or to a state or local government for public purposes.

END OF CONSTITUTION