N.Y. Village Law § 10-1018: Duties of chief and assistants

§ 10-1018 Duties of chief and assistants. The chief shall be president

of the council and of the meetings of the fire department. He shall,

under the direction of a separate board of fire commissioners, if any,

have exclusive control of the members at all fires, inspections and

reviews, the supervision of the engines, hose and other apparatus owned

by the village for the prevention or extinguishment of fires, of all

property owned by the fire department, and of all officers and employees

thereof elected or employed by the council or by a separate board of

fire commissioners, if any. He shall, whenever required by the board of

fire commissioners, report to the board the condition of the property of

the department and such other information respecting the department as

may be required. He shall hold the members, officers and employees of

the department strictly to account for neglect of duty, and may, in a

village in which separate fire commissioners are not appointed, suspend

or discharge them at any time, subject to the approval of two-thirds of

the members of the council at the next meeting. He shall, upon

application, and if authorized by the council, or a separate board of

fire commissioners, if any, issue through the secretary of the fire

department a certificate of the time of service of a member of the fire

department, and shall give to each officer of the department immediately

after his election a certificate thereof countersigned by the secretary.

In case of the inability or absence of the chief, the first assistant

and in case of the absence or inability of both the chief and first

assistant, the second assistant, and in the absence of the second

assistant, the third assistant, if any, and in the absence of the third

assistant, if any, the fourth assistant, if any, shall perform the

duties and have all the powers of the chief.