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CA -3: Relating to the Fire Department <br /> This proposal would correct an inadvertent error in previous editions of the <br /> charter. When the provisions provided below were first approved by the electorate, it <br /> was placed in Article VI of the charter. The fire department, however, should be placed <br /> in Article VII because it is a department that serves under a board or commission. No <br /> substantive changes have been made to the existing provisions of this chapter. <br /> CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. <br /> BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: <br /> Section 1. Article VI, chapter 4, Hawai`i County Charter, is repealed. <br /> Section 2. Article VII, Hawai`i County Charter, is amended by adding a new chapter <br /> to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: <br /> "CHAPTER _ <br /> HAWAII FIRE DEPARTMENT <br /> Section 7 - Organization. <br /> There shall be a Hawai`i fire department consisting of a fire chief, a deputy fire <br /> chief, a fire commission and the necessary staff. The fire chief shall be the administrative <br /> head of the Hawai`i fire department. <br /> Section 7 -_ .2. Statement of Policy. <br /> It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this chapter to establish in the county a <br /> system of fire protection and prevention and emergency services which shall be based on <br /> qualified and professional leadership and personnel. In order to achieve this purpose, the <br /> Hawaii fire department shall be operated in accordance with the following: <br /> (a) Standards for recruitment shall be designed to attract into the department <br /> persons with high degrees of education, intelligence and personal stability. <br /> (b) Promotions and other personnel actions shall be based upon fair and <br /> appropriate standards of merit, ability and work performance. <br /> (c) Appropriate training shall be provided to the maximum extent possible <br /> and practicable. <br /> Section 7 -_ .3. Fire Chief. <br /> The fire chief shall be appointed by the fire commission and may be removed by <br /> the fire commission at its sole discretion. Any motion for removal of the fire chief must <br /> contain a statement of reasons, and the fire chief must be allowed to respond to the <br /> statement of reasons before being removed. The fire chief shall have had a minimum of <br /> 8 <br />