USA Statutes : washington
Title : Fire protection districts
Chapter : Commissioners
RCW 52.14.010Number Qualifications Insurance Compensation and expenses Service as volunteer fire fighter.The affairs of the district shall be managed by a board of fire commissioners composed of three registered voters residing in the district except as provided in RCW 52.14.015 and 52.14.020. Each member shall each receive seventy dollars per day or portion thereof, not to exceed six thousand seven hundred twenty dollars per year, for attendance at board meetings and for performance of other services in behalf of the district.  In addition, they shall receive necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the board or when otherwise engaged in district business, and shall be entitled to receive the same insurance available to all fire fighters of the district: PROVIDED, That the premiums for such insurance, except liability insurance, shall be paid by the individual commissioners who elect to receive it.  Any commissioner may waive all or any portion of his or her compensation payable under this section as to any month or months during his or her term of office, by a written waiver filed with the secretary as provided in this section. The waiver, to be effective, must be filed any time after the commissioner's election and prior to the date on which the compensation would otherwise be paid. The waiver shall specify the month or period of months for which it is made.  The board shall fix the compensation to be paid the secretary and all other agents and employees of the district. The board may, by resolution adopted by unanimous vote, authorize any of its members to serve as volunteer fire fighters without compensation. A commissioner actually serving as a volunteer fire fighter may enjoy the rights and benefits of a volunteer fire fighter.[1998 c 121 § 2; 1994 c 223 § 48; 1985 c 330 § 2; 1980 c 27 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 126 § 31; 1973 c 86 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 242 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 67 § 1; 1967 c 51 § 1; 1965 c 112 § 1; 1959 c 237 § 4; 1957 c 238 § 1; 1945 c 162 § 3; 1939 c 34 § 22; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 5654-122. Formerly RCW 52.12.010.]Notes:Purpose -- 1979 ex.s. c 126: See RCW 29A.20.040(1).Terms of commissioners: RCW 52.14.060. RCW 52.14.020Number in district having full-time, fully-paid personnel Terms of first appointees.In a fire protection district maintaining a fire department consisting wholly of personnel employed on a full-time, fully-paid basis, there shall be five fire commissioners. The two positions created on boards of fire commissioners by this section shall be filled initially as for a vacancy, except that the appointees shall draw lots, one appointee to serve until the next general fire district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms, and the other appointee to serve until the second general fire district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms.[1984 c 230 § 29; 1971 ex.s. c 242 § 3. Formerly RCW 52.12.015.] RCW 52.14.030Polling places.The polling places for a fire protection district election may be located inside or outside the boundaries of the district, as determined by the auditor of the county in which the fire protection district is located, and the elections of the fire protection district shall not be held to be irregular or void on that account.[1994 c 223 § 51; 1984 c 230 § 31; 1939 c 34 § 24; RRS § 5654-124. Formerly RCW 52.12.030.] RCW 52.14.050Vacancies.Vacancies on a board of fire commissioners shall occur as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW. In addition, if a fire commissioner is absent from the district for three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings unless by permission of the board, the office shall be declared vacant by the board of commissioners. However, such an action shall not be taken unless the commissioner is notified by mail after two consecutive unexcused absences that the position will be declared vacant if the commissioner is absent without being excused from the next regularly scheduled meeting. Vacancies on a board of fire commissioners shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.[1994 c 223 § 52; 1989 c 63 § 21; 1984 c 238 § 2; 1977 c 64 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 17 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 153 § 1; 1939 c 34 § 26; RRS § 5654-126. Formerly RCW 52.12.050.] RCW 52.14.060Commissioner's terms.The initial three members of the board of fire commissioners shall be elected at the same election as when the ballot proposition is submitted to the voters authorizing the creation of the fire protection district. If the district is not authorized to be created, the election of the initial fire commissioners shall be null and void. If the district is authorized to be created, the initial fire commissioners shall take office immediately when qualified. Candidates shall file for each of the three separate fire commissioner positions. Elections shall be held as provided in *chapter 29.21 RCW, with the county auditor opening up a special filing period as provided in **RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180, as if there were a vacancy. The person who receives the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected to that position. The terms of office of the initial fire commissioners shall be staggered as follows: (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year. The initial commissioners shall take office immediately when elected and qualified and their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day of January in the year following their election.  The term of office of each subsequent commissioner shall be six years. Each commissioner shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with **RCW 29.04.170.[1994 c 223 § 53; 1989 c 63 § 22; 1984 c 230 § 33; 1979 ex.s. c 126 § 33; 1939 c 34 § 27; RRS § 5654-127. Formerly RCW 52.12.060.]Notes:Reviser's note: *(1) Chapter 29.21 RCW was recodified as chapter 29A.52 RCW pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004.  **(2) RCW 29.15.170, 29.15.180, and 29.04.170 were recodified as RCW 29A.24.170, 29A.24.180, and 29A.20.040, respectively, pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.24.170 and 29A.24.180 were subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW 29A.24.170 and 29A.24.180, see RCW 29A.24.171 and 29A.24.181, respectively.Purpose -- 1979 ex.s. c 126: See RCW 29A.20.040(1). RCW 52.14.070Oath of office.Before beginning the duties of office, each fire commissioner shall take and subscribe the official oath for the faithful discharge of the duties of office as required by *RCW 29.01.135, which oath shall be filed in the office of the auditor of the county in which all, or the largest portion of, the district is located.[1989 c 63 § 23; 1986 c 167 § 22; 1984 c 230 § 34; 1939 c 34 § 29; RRS § 5654-129. Formerly RCW 52.12.070.]Notes:*Reviser's note: RCW 29.01.135 was recodified as RCW 29A.04.133 pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004.Severability -- 1986 c 167: See note following RCW 29A.04.049. RCW 52.14.080Chairman Secretary Duties and oath.The fire commissioners shall elect a chairman from their number and shall appoint a secretary of the district, who may or may not be a member of the board, for such term as they shall by resolution determine. The secretary, if a member of the board, shall not receive additional compensation for serving as secretary.  The secretary of the district shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board, shall perform other duties as prescribed by the board or by law, and shall take and subscribe an official oath similar to that of the fire commissioners which oath shall be filed in the same office as that of the commissioners.[1984 c 230 § 35; 1965 c 112 § 2; 1939 c 34 § 30; RRS § 5654-130. Formerly RCW 52.12.080.] RCW 52.14.090Office Meetings.(1) The office of the fire commissioners and principal place of business of the district shall be at some place within the county in which the district is situated, to be designated by the board of fire commissioners.  (2) The board shall hold regular monthly meetings at a place and date as it determines by resolution, and may adjourn its meetings as required for the proper transaction of business. Special meetings of the board shall be called at any time under the provisions of RCW 42.30.080.[1984 c 230 § 36; 1947 c 254 § 8; 1939 c 34 § 31; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-131. Formerly RCW 52.12.090.] RCW 52.14.100Meetings Powers and duties of board. (Effective until July 1, 2006.)All meetings of the board of fire commissioners shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW and a majority constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. All records of the board shall be open to inspection in accordance with the provisions of *RCW 42.17.250 through 42.17.340. The board has the power and duty to adopt a seal of the district, to manage and conduct the business affairs of the district, to make and execute all necessary contracts, to employ any necessary services, and to adopt reasonable rules to govern the district and to perform its functions, and generally to perform all such acts as may be necessary to carry out the objects of the creation of the district.[1984 c 230 § 37; 1939 c 34 § 32; RRS § 5654-132. Formerly RCW 52.12.100.]Notes:Part headings not law -- Effective date -- 2005 c 274: See RCW 42.56.901 and 42.56.902.Open public meetings: Chapters 42.30, 42.32 RCW.