Guest Steven Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:12 PM Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:12 PM Our fire department has elections every two years which are spelled out in our By Laws. We are at the spot where we may have a resignation of an officer. Do we hold another election for that spot or how do we go about filling that spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:16 PM Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:16 PM First check your bylaws. They may set out how to fill a mid-term vacancy; if so do it that way. Otherwise hold an election "as if" it was a regular 2-year election, notice and all, filling the vacancy for the remainder of the term in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:21 PM Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 at 04:21 PM The issue we may have is that it may trickle down as far as election of officers. Chief resigns, Assistant chief is voted in thus leaving the assistant chief open or our Lieutenant is voted in thus leaving his spot open..do we have another full election until the spots are filled? Our election is in December this year for term starting January 20'. Would you recommend a new By-Law spelling out the procedure if this were to happen again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted April 5, 2019 at 05:06 PM Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 at 05:06 PM A common system is that the Board of Directors fills vacancies, except that of the Chief, or President, if there is a vice-chief or vice-president defined in your bylaws. Those "vice-" positions fill upward automatically without any necessary steps. See RONR p. 575. Then the Board fills the now vacant "vice-" position(s). An "assistant chief" may, or may not, be equivalent to a vice-chief - that is all up to your bylaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted April 5, 2019 at 05:10 PM Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 at 05:10 PM (edited) 49 minutes ago, Guest Steve said: The issue we may have is that it may trickle down as far as election of officers. Chief resigns, Assistant chief is voted in thus leaving the assistant chief open or our Lieutenant is voted in thus leaving his spot open..do we have another full election until the spots are filled? Our election is in December this year for term starting January 20'. Would you recommend a new By-Law spelling out the procedure if this were to happen again? So far as RONR is concerned, a vacancy is filled by the same body which filled the position in the first place holding an election to fill the vacancy, unless the bylaws provide otherwise. Additionally, if the bylaws provide that the board has “full power and authority” between meetings of the membership, that includes the power to fill vacancies, unless the bylaws provide otherwise. In either case, notice of the election to fill the vacancy is required. Since there appears to be a concern that there will be a cascade as officers move up, it would be prudent to specify in the notice “That elections shall be held at the meeting on (DATE) to fill the vacancy in the office of Chief, and to fill any other vacancies which arise during the meeting.” If the society wishes for some other method to fill vacancies, that would need to be specified in the bylaws. Edited April 5, 2019 at 05:11 PM by Josh Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFS1970 Posted April 8, 2019 at 11:43 AM Report Share Posted April 8, 2019 at 11:43 AM I have dealt with this in two fire departments. and both had similar provisions for vacancies. If your Bylaws don't have one they probably should. In my old department for line officers, everyone moved up one rank and the vacancy was filled by special election to the lowest rank. For Executive officers the vice president moves up and the special election is for vice president. My current department is basically the same, except that due to increasing requirements for higher ranks (among the line officers) it specifically says all officers move up to the next position they are qualified for and the lowest opening is filled by special election. Most departments I have seen have some similar provision to these. However ultimately it will be up to your VFD to address this in accordance with your bylaws or your parliamentary authority (usually RONR) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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