BC 1986 04 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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410 and financially aid in the equipment, maintenance, and government of fire departments in the county in order that these departments can more adequately and efficiently protect life, public buildings, homes and other property in Cabarru$ County, (b) to establish a fire protection organization to work with and supplement the Cabarrus County Emergency Management organization, (c) to employ a fire marshal to coordinate fire fighting and fire prevention activities under the County's supervision and control, (d) that an annual contract for fire protection is required between Cabarrus County and the fire departments. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commis- sioners of Cabarrus County, North Carolina: SECTION 1. Cabarrus County will offer financial assistance for the maintenance and operation of any fire department of a fire district or municipality, qualifying for financial assistance under the terms of this resolution, in the amount of $250.00 monthly, payable on or before the tenth day of each month, and by revenue collected from the fire district tax, provided a tax district has been established in accordance with General Statute Chapter 69, Article 3A for the area served. SECTION 2. A fire department desiring financial assistance under this resolution shall file a budget with the fire marshal of Cabarrus County by the first day of April each year for the following fiscal year. SECTION 3. The county fire marshal shall make regular inspec- tions of each fire department receiving payments under this resolution. At least one inspection shall be made annually but the fire marshal may make other such inspections as deemed necessary. During the course of such inspections, the fire marshal shall determine whether the depart- ment is continuing to meet the minimum standards as herein specified, and the findings reported to the Board of Commissioners. SECTION 4. If during any inspection the fire marshal deter- mines that the fire department is not meeting the minimum standards as set forth in this resolution, a notice of deficiency must be given in writing by the fire marshal to the fire chief and at least two officers of the corporation of the fire department. This notice shall specify the period of time within which the deficiencies must be corrected, provided that the length of said period of time shall be reasonable and in any event shall not be less than fifteen days. At the end of the specified period, an inspection shall be made by the fire marshal to determine if the deficiencies have been corrected. If the deficiencies have not been corrected, the fire marshal shall notify the Board of County Commissioners and the monthly payments may cease until such time as the department shall meet the minimum standards of the resolution. SECTION 5. Each fire department desiring to qualify the financial assistance under this resolution shall meet the following minimum standards: (a) The fire department shall be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the General Statutes of North Carolina. A copy of the department's charter and current bylaws shall be on file in the fire marshal's office. Elections of at least a portion of the board of directors for the incorporated fire department shall be held at least every year by the voting membership of the corporation. The voting membership must include but is not limited to either (1) residents of the fire tax district which have registered with the Cabarrus County Board of Elec- tions and are eligible to vote in a general election, or (2) all resi- dent property owners of the district. No absentee or proxy votes will be allowed, nor shall such election be conducted by mail.