COVER SHEET
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE MT. PLEASANT FIRE
DEPARTMENT, MT. PLEASANT,
TEXAS
ORGANIZED 1904
Otis Falls - - - - Chief
Vance Plum - - - - Ass't Chief
Oland McAuley - - - Secretary-Treasurer
Sam (Pete) Irvin - - - - Capt. Engine Co. No. 1
Vernon Bailey - - - Lieut. Engine Co. No. 1
A. D. Redfearn - - - Capt. Engine Co. No. 2
O. H. Smith - - - - Lieut. Engine Co. No. 2
R. E. Crooks - - - Drill Instructor
F. E. Kenchtel- - - Chaplain
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
of the MOUNT PLEASANT
FIRE DEPARTMENT, MT.
PLEASANT, TEXAS
ADOPTED May 4, 1949
ORGANIZED 1904
CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP
HALL of Mt. Pleasant Fire
Department, Mt. Pleasant,
TEXAS
Mt. Pleasant, Texas _______ 1949
SIR - At a regular meeting of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department held on _____________, you were duly elected a member, and assigned to:
Engine and Hose Company No. 1
Engine and Hose Company No. 2
I beg to direct your attention to the annexed copy of the constitution and By-Laws.
Respectfully,
____________________, Secretary
To Mr. ________________________________
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ROSTER
MT. PLEASANT FIRE DEPARTMENT
Otis Falls - - - - Chief
Vance Plum - - - - Assistant Chief
Sam Irvin - - - - Captain Engine Co. No. 1
Vernon Bailey - - - Lieut. Engine Co. No. 1
A.D. Redfearn - - - Captain Engine Co. No. 2
O.H. Smith - - - - Lieut. Engine Co. No. 2
Olin McAuley - - - Secretary-Treasurer
F.E. Kenchtel- - - Chaplain
R.E. Crooks - - - Drill Instructor
William Preddy
Clarence Sanders
Bob Simpson
Ernest Swafford
Weldon Redfearn
Marvin Byram
Earl Taylor
Ollie Hughes
Harry Steenson
Hubert Hardy
Ben Kennedy
Joe Phillips
Otis McMinn
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ARTICLE 1. NAME AND SEAL.
SECTION 1. The name of this organization shall be THE MT. PLEASANT FIRE DEPARTMENT composed of Engine & Hose Company No. 1, and Engine & Hose Company No. 2, and its motto shall be: "When duty calls Tis Ours to Obey," and shall have a common seal with suitable inscription.
ARTICLE 2. Members-Election.
SECTION 1. Any male white person of good moral character who has attained the age of 21 years and resides within the City Limits of Mt. Pleasant.
SECTION 2. The initiation fee into the Department shall be Two ($2.00) Dollars. Persons wishing to become members of this Department must apply by letter, accompanied by the initiation fee, addressed to the officers and members of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department of Mt. Pleasant Texas, bearing their proper signatures and recommended by three members as a man of good moral character.
The applicant shall then be balloted for and if no more than three black balls appear, shall be declared duly elected a member of this department.
ARTICLE 3. Officers-Election.
SECTION 1. The officers of this Department shall consist of a Chief and an Assistant Chief, Secretary-Treasurer, and the Captain, and Lieutenant of each company, and a Chaplain, who shall be elected from the membership of the Department or the resident ministers.
SECTION 2. The election of officers shall be held on the first regular meeting night in April of each year, by ballot, and determined by a majority of the votes cast and the officers shall serve for one year, except in case of resignation or removal.
SECTION 3. Any vacancy occurring among the officers shall be filled by ballot at the first monthly meeting thereafter, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
DUTIES
SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of the Chief to have supervision at all alarms, to preside at all meetings, appoint all committees and maintain good order, enforcing such rules as have been established by Parliamentary usage, sign all orders drawn by the Secretary-Treasurer when approved by the Department and be accountable for the strict enforcement of the Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 5. It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief, in the absence of the Chief, to perform all the duties of the Chief.
SECTION 6. The Secretary-Treasurer, before entering upon the discharge of his duties of office, shall give such security as the Department may deem necessary and satisfactory. He shall attend all meetings of the Department and keep a correct record of all the proceedings, keep a tabular statement of all fires, alarms, meetings, etc., conduct all correspondence pertaining to the Department, shall have charge of all finances of the Department, shall collect all money due the Department and shall deposit same in some suitable depository in the name of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. He shall make monthly reports of all money received and expended, with attached vouchers and accompanying statement of the financial condition of the Department.
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He shall pay no order unless attested by the Chief or in his absence the assistant Chief, and the seal of the Department affixed thereon. He shall furnish each member, active or honorary, a certificate of his election; furnish on the First of January and June (Provided it does not fall on Sunday, and then the next day thereafter, to the Clerk of Titus County and to the City Council of Mt. Pleasant, Texas a certified list of active members; have his books ready for examination at all times, subject to examination by any active member of the Department who may be authorized by the Chief, and for the discharge of his duty he shall receive $6.00 per year and shall be exempt from all monthly dues. He shall transfer to his successor, all books, papers and money pertaining to his office, within one week after his removal or resignation.
SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the Captain of each Company to command at all fires, fire drills and parades; make all details he may deem proper and shall be responsible for the discipline of his company; see that the implements are in their proper places and to be responsible for any such that are lost, misused by negligence. It shall be his duty to see that all necessary orders are executed with dispatch; to see that apparatuses are kept in good order and report condition and quantity of same at each regular meeting. He shall be under the control of the Chief or in his absence, the first officer in command, he to be subject to such fines and penalties as are prescribed in Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 8. It shall be the duty of the Lieutenants of each company to aid the Captains in the performance of their duties and to enforce their orders, and in their absence shall have control of apparatus and perform their duties as set forth in Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 9. In case of absence of Chief and Assistant Chief, order of commanding Officer shall be as follows: Captain Engine & Hose Company No. 1, Captain Engine & Hose Co. No. 2, Lieutenant Engine & Hose Co. No. 1, Lieutenant Engine & Hose Co. No, 2.
ARTICLE 4. MEETINGS:
SECTION 1. This Department shall hold regular monthly meetings at which time all regular business may be transacted, provided seven members are present who shall constitute a Quorum.
SECTION 2, The Anniversary meeting of this Department shall be held on the _____ Day of ________ of each year, except when that day falls on Sunday, then it shall take place on the day preceding or the day following.
ARTICLE 5. AMENDMENTS:
SECTION 1. This Constitution shall not be altered or amended unless notice is given in writing at a monthly meeting of the Department, stating the alteration or amendment to be made at the next regular monthly meeting, by a majority vote of two-thirds of the members present unless otherwise provided for by the Department.
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BY - LAWS
ARTICLE 1. MEETINGS:
SECTION 1 The regular monthly meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday night in each month (from the first of September to the first of March), the meeting to be called at 7:00 P.M., and from the first of March to the First of September at 7:30 P.M. provided 8 members are present, who shall constitute a quorum, when the meeting shall be called to order.
SECTION 2. Practice meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday night of each month, at same time as regular meetings.
ARTICLE 2. REVENUES-FINES AND DUES:
SECTION 1. Each member shall pay monthly the sum of 25 cents for dues unless exempt as otherwise provided for in constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Any member failing to answer first roll call at regular and call meetings shall be fined 10 cents, unless excused by sickness or absence from City.
SECTION 3. Any member failing to answer first or second roll call at regular or called meetings shall be fined 25 cents, unless excused by sickness or absence from city.
SECTION 4. Any member who fails to obey his superior officer shall be fined 50 cents for the first offense, $1.00 for second offense and expelled for third offense.
SECTION 5. No fireman shall use the uniform in his charge or allow the same to be used for any purpose not belonging to or connected with parade duty (except by consent of the Chief of the Fire Department), and whomsoever shall be guilty of said offense shall be fined not less than one ($1.00) Dollar.
ARTICLE 3. DISBURSEMENTS:
SECTION 1. All demands against the Department shall be presented at a monthly meeting of the Department, and if sanctioned by two-thirds of the members present, voucher for payment of same shall be prepared by Secretary-Treasurer and counter signed by Chief, to be paid out of Department's general funds.
SECTION 2. All bills must be certified by officer or member ordering the articles for which they may be rendered.
ARTICLE 4:
SECTION 1. All persons who are or may become members of this Department shall receive a copy of this Constitution and By-Laws with certificate of membership, signed by the Secretary-Treasurer, which shall confer upon him all the rights and privileges of membership, except in case of forfeiture under this Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 2. It shall be the duty of every member on the alarm of fire to repair at once to place of fire and there remain until ordered away on duty or permission is granted him to leave by the officer in command. They shall strictly obey all orders of their commanding officer, attend all parades or other assembly of the Department called by the Chief.
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SECTION 3. All excuses from non-attendance at parades, fires, practices, alarms, and meetings must be made to the Department at its next regular meeting by the defaulter in person, unless unable to attend by absence from City, sickness or some other unavoidable cause, in which case a written excuse may be received and acted upon by the Department.
SECTION 4. No private shall undertake to give any orders whatsoever except under the direction of the officers, and no officer shall assume any authority beyond that which strictly belongs to him according to the Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE 5. RESIGNATIONS-EXPULSIONS:
SECTION 1. No resignation shall be accepted until all fines and dues have been paid and any effects in his possession belonging to the Department, returned to the Secretary.
SECTION 2. All expulsions shall be by ballot and by a majority of the members present voting.
SECTION 3. Any member not square upon the books at the regular meeting of January and July shall be without notice dropped from the roll.
SECTION 4: Any member whose name shall be dropped from the rolls shall deliver up to the Secretary-Treasurer any property he may have in his possession belonging to the Department.
SECTION 5: Any member being absent from three consecutive regular meetings shall be dropped from the roll without notice, except he be prevented by personal sickness from attending third meeting.
SECTION 6: Any member not living within the City Limits will be automatically dropped from the roll.
SECTION 7: Any member who shall appear at a fire, parade, drill or any meeting in the state of visible intoxication or who shall appear at any disorderly house or house of ill fame, wearing any part of the uniform of this Department shall for such offense be expelled.
SECTIOH 8: Any officer or member who may neglect to report the same, if aware of the fact, shall be fined in the sum of Five ($5.00) dollars. No officer or member shall be excused from the above penalty unless by unanimous vote of the members present.
SECTION 9: If any officer or member of this Department be charged with improper conduct, the charge shall be made in writing and signed by the members making the same. The Secretary-Treasurer shall then furnish the member accused with a copy of the charge or charges and require his defense before the Department, which, if he refuses to make in one month after such notice, unless prevented by sickness or some other unavoidable cause, he shall be expelled from the Department. Upon conviction by two-thirds majority, he shall be assessed such punishment as the Department may prescribe. Neither the accuser nor the accused shall be allowed a vote upon the subject.
SECTION 10: For gross or repeated neglect of duty, any officer may be accused before a regular meeting of the Department, after being heard in his defense and if found guilty by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, he shall be immediately removed from office and the same declared vacant.
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ARTICLE 6:
Re-instatements, Retirement, Presentation of Badges:
SECTION 1. Any member so affected by Art. 5, Section 1 and Sec. 5, desiring to be placed on inactive list shall state the same and should he desire to re-instate his membership in the Department, he must make application in regular form, said applications to have preference over all applications pending.
SECTION 2: Any member becoming incapacitated for active service shall be placed on the retired list with honor and the Department shall present such member with a gold plated badge with suitable inscription thereon.
SECTION 3: The Department shall present each retiring Chief with a gold plated badge showing last year of service as Chief.
ARTICLE 7:
FUNERAL BENEFITS:
SECTION 1: This Department shall set aside from the General Fund and maintain a sum of One Hundred ($l00.00) dollars, which amount shall be kept separate and apart from the General Funds and which shall be used as Funeral Benefits as hereinafter provided.
SECTION 2: If at any time the funds of this Department are not sufficient to provide for this amount as set forth in Section 1, the remainder, or all, shall be provided for by an equal assessment of all active firemen.
SECTION 3: If above assessment becomes necessary and if at any time before a second assessment, the General Fund is of such amount as to replace such assessment, each member shall receive a refund of the amount assessed.
SECTION 4: Upon the death of an active member in good standing, a Funeral Benefit of One Hundred ($100.00) dollars shall be paid to his nearest dependent relatives, provided such death was not the result of misconduct on his part.
SECTION 5: Upon the death of wife, mother, father or children of any active Fireman, the Department shall send flowers, limit cost $5.00.
ARTICLE 8:
Sick Benefits:
Substitute work "may" for work "shall" in line l, Sec. 1, and words Secretary-Treasurer where ever Secretary appears.
ARTICLE 9:
POWER OF CHIEF:
SECTION 1: It shall be in the power of the Chief to remove any building or buildings, with dynamite or otherwise, to prevent spreading of fire.
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ARTICLE 10:
RULES OF MEETING: ORDER OF BUSINESS:
SECTION 1: No amendment, resolution, or communication shall be received unless submitted in writing and signed by the person or persons offering sane.
SECTION 2: No member shall be excused from serving on any committee upon which he may be placed unless by consent of the Department.
SECTION 3: No member shall be excused from voting or balloting, except in cases affected by Art. 5, Sec. No. 9.
SECTION 4: A motion to adjourn shall be out of order when business is pending.
SECTION 5: The order of Business shall be as follows:
1. Roll Call
2. Minutes of regular and call meetings read and approved.
3. Arrear list and collection of fines and dues.
4. Bills read and acted upon.
5. Applications for and resignations of membership.
6. Report of Committees.
7. Report of Secretary-Treasurer.
8. Report of Captain Engine & Hose Co. No. 1.
9. Report of Captain Engine & Hose Co. No. 2.
10. Communications submitted and acted upon.
11. New business and good of the Department.
12. Roll Call.
ARTICLE 11:
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1: Standing committees shall consist of the committees on finance and Charity, each to be composed of three members.
SECTION 2: It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to examine and report at the regular meetings in June of each year upon the condition of the books of the Treasurer, the amount of funds received and expended and remaining on hand, and to exercise a general supervision over the financial affairs of the Department.
SECTION 3: The committee on Charity shall in case of sickness or death of a member inquire into his circumstances, and if in need and worthy, shall report same to the Chief, who shall draw upon the Treasurer for such amount as they may think absolutely necessary; and if further assistance should be required, the committee shall report the same at its next meeting thereafter, or call for that purpose.
SECTION 12:
AMENDMENTS:
These By-Laws shall not be altered or amended unless notice is given in writing at a monthly meeting of the Department, stating the alteration or amendment to be made, and determined upon at the next regular meeting, by a majority of two-thirds of the members present, unless otherwise provided for by the Department.
