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Constitution of Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade

as amended 17 August 1999

This Constitution superceded on 01 July 2001.
(See Current Constitution)

GENERAL.
1. Scope.
  
  This Constitution shall be subservient to appropriate Federal, State and Local Government Legislation and directives.
2. Definitions.
  
  In this constitution unless the context clearly determines otherwise the following definitions shall hold.
  1. The masculine shall imply the feminine and vice versa.
  2. The singular shall also imply the plural, and vice versa.
  3. The Brigade shall mean Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
  4. Member shall mean a member of Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
  5. Financial member shall mean a member of Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade who has paid fees as defined in this constitution
  6. Field Active Member shall mean a member of the Brigade who has attended a specified number or Percentage of predefined Brigade activities in a given period. This period shall be from the beginning of the third week in May until the end of the second week in May of the following year. The number or percentage and the type of activities and the administrative procedures shall be as defined in the Brigade's Standing Orders.]
  7. Fees shall mean the appropriate subscription determined by the Brigade from time to time to be paid to establish financial membership of the Brigade.
  8. AGM shall mean the Annual General Meeting of Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
  9. FCO shall mean the Fire Control Officer of the City of the Blue Mountains.
  10. "OH & S Officer shall mean the elected Occupational Health and Safety Officer of the Brigade"
  11. Field Offices shall be those of Captain and Deputy Captains.
  12. Support Offices shall be those of Station Officer and Assistants, Equipment Officer and Assistants, and O. H. & S. Officer.
  13. Executive Offices shall be those of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
  14. The Returning Officer shall mean that independent and impartial person appointed to assist with and oversee elections held within the Brigade.
  15. The Executive Committee shall be that constitutionally defined committee charged with the management of the Brigade.
  16. The Relief Fund Committee shall be that constitutionally defined committee charged with the rendering of aid to injured or deceased members of the Brigade and/or their families as determined by this committee.
  17. Standing Orders shall be those instructions and directions issued from time to time by the Captain and the President and published as Brigade Standing Orders. These Standing Orders shall not contravene the content of the Constitution.
  18. Active Crew shall be as defined in Brigade Standing Orders.
NAME

The name of the organisation shall be Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
OBJECTS

The objects of the Brigade shall be to meet together and maintain an efficient emergency service oriented primarily toward bushfire fighting, by regular training, fund-raising and other means such as will be ready and equipped to:

i) Organise preventive measures against bushfires

ii) Check and extinguish any fire as directed by appropriate persons

iii) Minimise loss of life and property

iv) Perform other activities of an emergency or support nature as directed by appropriate authorities.
PATRON

The members at an AGM may appoint a distinguished citizen as Patron of the Brigade.

MEMBERSHIP
1. Ordinary Member.
  
  ((4.1.1 Membership of the Brigade shall be open to all persons who have attained the age of 17 years, and who are not members of any other bushfire brigade within the City of the Blue Mountains Honorary and Life members of other Brigades are excluded from this restriction. ))
  1. Membership of the Brigade shall be open to all persons who have attained the age of 17 years.
  2. Unless suspended or terminated as otherwise determined elsewhere in this constitution, membership shall extend as follows:-
    
    i) New membership from the payment of initial fees until the start of the next AGM.
    
    ii) Renewal fees from the start of the next AGM to which fees have already been paid, up to the start of the next following AGM.
    
    This expiry shall always be the start of an AGM unless member-ship is terminated as elsewhere defined.
  3. Membership may NOT be back-dated by payment of fees in arrears.
  4. Membership shall at all times be subject to the approval of the Brigade.
  5. Application for membership shall be processed as set down in Brigade Standing Orders.
    
    ((4.2 Cadet Members
    Persons aged 14 years to their 17th birthday may be granted Cadet membership.
    Cadet members shall only attend activities as defined in the Brigade standing orders.
    The number of cadet members admitted to the Brigade shall be at the discretion of the Captain. ))
2. Classification of Members
  1. All members must be financial
  2. Field Active members are those who attain this status according to the requirements of the Brigade Standing Orders.
  3. Active members are those who do not reach the criteria for being Field Active but do participate in Brigade Training HR preparation and Hazard Reductions.
  4. Members are those who attend Social Functions, Public Relations exercises and Brigade Meetings, thus showing interest in Brigade activities.
  5. Cadet Members, persons aged between 14 years and 17 years, shall only attend activities as defined in Brigade Standing Orders, the number of cadets admitted to the Brigade shall be at the discretion of the Captain.
  6. Honorary membership may be conferred at the discretion of the Executive Committee and ratified at the next General Meeting of the Brigade, such membership to extend for such period as defined by the Executive Committee and ratified by the General Meeting.
  7. Life membership may be conferred at the discretion of the Brigade at a General Meeting upon any member considered by the meeting to have given significant service to the Brigade.
3. Deleted
4. Deleted
5. Voting/Election Rights.
  1. Only financial members have the right to move or second motions, vote, or elect persons at any meeting of the Brigade. This right is qualified and limited at AGMs. (refer para 6.5)
  2. Voting right is by membership and not by position held within the Brigade.
  3. With the exception of the Chairman of a meeting exercising a casting vote or voting rights under proxy, or a member exercising voting rights under proxy, no member shall cast more than one vote on any issue.
  4. Suspended and terminated members shall not have voting or election rights.
6. Suspension of Membership.
  At the discretion of the Executive Committee any person's membership of the Brigade may be suspended for a period not exceeding three (3) months.
7. Termination of Membership.
FEES
1. Fee amount.
  
  Membership fees for the Brigade shall be one dollar ($1:00) payable Annually
2. Fees Currency.
  
  Fees are current to the start of the AGM to which they are paid. If a member has not renewed membership by the payment of the subscription by the last day in September following the AGM, that person is presumed to be no longer a member of the Brigade and their name is removed from the Brigade Membership list. Persons removed from the list in this manner may re-apply for membership, but will have lost continuity of membership.
3. Fee payment.
4. Fees due.
5. Patron.
6. Honorary members.
7. Life members.
8. Cadet members.

MEETINGS

Quorum.

Twelve (12) financial members shall form a quorum for the transaction of business at any General or Special Meeting and five (5) Committee Members at any Executive Committee Meeting. Refer to paragraph 16 for Dissolution of the Brigade.

General Meeting.

General Meetings of the Brigade will be held monthly normally at the Fire Station and normally on the third Friday of the month.

Executive Committee Meetings.

This Committee shall meet at any time when summoned by the President.

Special Meeting.
1. Calling of a Special Meeting
2. Date of Special Meeting
3. Notification of Special Meeting.
4. Scope of Special Meeting.
5. Returning Officer for Special Meetings
  
  In the event that the meeting is for the election of any office-bearer, the Secretary shall arrange that a Returning Officer be present to conduct elections.
Annual General Meeting.
1. The AGM shall be held in June each year at a venue, date and time to be notified and shall be deemed to fulfil the requirements of a General Meeting (see 6.2).
2. The appropriate Executive Office Bearers and Executive Committees shall present written reports to the President seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
3. The President will submit a written summary of these reports to the Meeting.
4. The appropriate Field Officers and Support Officers shall present written reports to the Captain seven days prior to the Meeting.
5. The Captain will submit a written summary of these reports to the Meeting.
6. The Executive and Field Reports will be made available to members at the AGM, annexed to the President's or Captain's reports as appropriate and included in the Minutes of the meeting.
7. The activities of the Brigade shall be reviewed and such office bearers elected as provided by this constitution.
8. At least twenty-one (21) days written notice of the AGM shall be given to financial members by the Secretary who will notify of the venue, its date and time and the intention to elect the Brigade's office bearers.
9. Inclusion in the Brigade's periodic newsletter will suffice for this written notice.
10. In addition, an advertisement will be lodged in a local newspaper at least seven (7) days before the Meeting. The Brigade shall also invite an impartial person to attend the Meeting, conduct the ballots for the various positions and act as Returning Officer.
Election of Officers at the AGM.

i) Eligibility to Stand.

A person may not stand for any office unless they have been continuously financial for the six calendar months immediately prior to the AGM at which they stand for office and are financial until the next AGM.
To stand for any field office the nominee must fulfil the criteria of a "Field Active member."
A member standing for OH & S Officer shall have attended the training session for this position presented by the Rural Fire Service, or shall do so as soon as possible after nomination for this position.
A person may not stand for the position of Captain unless they have previously held the position of Deputy Captain or higher field rank, within the Blue Mountains Group, for at least twelve consecutive months within the three years prior to the meeting at which they are nominated.
Following termination of membership for any reason a person may not stand for office until they have been financial with the Brigade for the six months prior to the AGM at which they wish to stand.

ii) Eligibility to nominate or Second.

A person may not nominate or second a nomination unless they have been continuously financial for the previous six calendar months and are financial until the next AGM.

iii) Eligibility to partake in an Election.

A person may not take part in an election unless they have been continuously financial for the previous six calendar months and are financial until the next AGM.

iv) Invitation to Nominate.

The Secretary shall, when informing members of the impending AGM, also invite nominations in writing for the following positions:

President,	Equipment Officer,
Vice-President,	Assistant Equipment Officers,
Secretary,	Station Officer,
Assistant Secretary,	Assistant Station Officers,
Treasurer,	O. H. & S. Officer
Captain,	Auditor
Deputy Captains,	Executive Committee members

v) Definition of Written Nomination.

Nominations shall be in writing specifying the position nominated, the nominee, the person nominating, and the seconder. They must be SIGNED by the nominator and the seconder, and must be countersigned by the nominee to indicate willingness to accept nomination.

vi) Validity of Written Nominations.

Nominations in writing in advance shall not be deemed invalid in terms of 6.5.1 i), 6.5.1 ii) and 6.5.1 iii) above provided the nominee, the nominator and the seconder have all been financial members of the Brigade for the six calendar months immediately prior to the AGM and all are or become financial for the next twelve months, prior to commencement of the AGM for which the nominations are pertinent. Further, the death of the nominator and/or seconder of such nominee between the closing date for nominations and the date of the AGM shall not invalidate such nomination, all other conditions being fulfilled.

vi) Requirement for Written Nominations.

All nominations except those for the "six other members"(refer section 9.2.2) shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the Secretary no later than 14 days prior to the AGM for which they are pertinent. These nominations will be published in the Brigade newsletter.

Nominations for the "six other members" to serve on the Executive Committee, being dependant upon the outcome of other elections, will take place at the AGM but this shall not preclude nominations in writing in advance for any or all of these six positions.

Voting.

i) Field Officers

Election will ALWAYS be by secret ballot in writing for every position.

Election shall only be upon a majority vote of financial field active members present at the AGM.

For the purpose of determining the number of financial field active members present, proxy votes will count as the member being present, provided that the conditions of 6.5.1 i), 6.5.1 ii) and iii) are met.

ii) All other positions.

Election will be by secret ballot where more nominations are received than there are positions vacant. In the event of there being no more nominations than positions vacant, no vote will be held but the positions will be declared filled by the nominees.

iii) Tied votes.

In the event of a tied vote preventing the filling of a position, the returning officer shall advise the meeting of this fact and will call for another ballot immediately to fill the remaining position(s).

In the event that the votes for Captain not returning the required 50%, and there being more than one nominee, this shall be treated as a tied vote for ALL nominees.

iv) Confidentiality.

The returning officer shall keep secret the contents of all ballot papers, and shall arrange for their destruction immediately after the AGM.

Unfilled positions.

Refer to Vacancies in section 9.5 .
Proxy Votes.

A member eligible to vote may appoint another eligible voting member of the Brigade to act as their proxy. All such appointments shall be in writing and must be presented to the Chair-man of the meeting prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Proxies appointing the Chairman of the meeting are to clearly state the proxy's voting intention. The Secretary shall record, in the minutes of the meeting, both the names of the appointing member and the appointee.

FUNDS

Funds Permitted.

The Brigade may operate the following funds.

a) General Fund

b) Relief Fund

c) Social Fund

Use of Funds.

The Funds of the Brigade shall be used solely as follows
1. General Fund
2. Relief Fund
3. Social Fund
  
  For the promotion of Brigade social functions. This fund shall be managed by the Brigade but the assets thereof shall be raised solely within the Brigade by personal efforts of Brigade members and shall belong to the Brigade MEMBERS and not to the Brigade.
Transfer of Funds in the event of Dissolution of the Brigade.
1. General and Relief Funds
2. Social Fund.
  
  This fund, belonging to the members of the brigade, shall be disbursed as determined by the members.
Banking:
1. Deposits and withdrawals
2. Investment.
  
  Surplus in any Fund shall be placed in appropriate deposits bearing interest in recognised financial institutions selected by the Executive Committee provided sufficient amounts remain in the appropriate working accounts of the Funds to meet the day to day operating requirements of the Funds
Expenditure:
1. General Fund.
  1. The Executive Committee shall not pay from the Brigade's General Fund, for any one item or activity, any amount exceeding a previously determined maximum authorised by a Special or General Meeting of the Brigade, without the sanction of a Special or General meeting.
  2. Previously approved expenditure and accounts of a routine nature may be paid by the Treasurer during the month. These amounts are to be presented at the next General Meeting for ratification.
  3. In the event of emergency the Captain may authorise such expenditure as he deems necessary for the continuing active operation of the Brigade.
2. Petty Cash.
3. Relief Fund
  
  The Relief Fund Committee (refer 7.9.1) shall be permitted to pay from the Relief Fund any amount up to but not exceeding the full balance of the account(s).
4. Social Fund.
  
  The Social Fund shall be used as determined by the Social Committee except as defined in section 7.3 .
Borrowing:
1. Authorisation
  
  The Executive Committee, at the authorisation of a Special General Meeting, shall be permitted to borrow funds to the amount specified by the meeting, from a recognised financial institution to further the aims and objectives of the Brigade.
2. Restriction
  
  Only the General Fund of the Brigade may be supplemented by such borrowing.
Financial Year.

For auditing purposes the Financial year shall be concluded as at the last Brigade Meeting in April of each year. For this purpose Extra-ordinary Meetings are excluded.

Audit.
1. Election of Auditor
2. Duties of Auditor
  
  The Auditor shall audit all the accounts of the Brigade not less than seven (7) days before each AGM and shall certify to their apparent correctness or otherwise and present a written report to this effect through the President's Annual Report at the AGM
Relief Fund

Committee

The Relief Fund Committee shall consist of Brigade President, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain or nominated Deputy and three (3) other financial members who shall be nominated by the Executive Committee when it is necessary to convene the Relief Fund Committee.

Reporting

The Relief Fund Committee shall report to the Brigade monthly and prepare an annual financial statement for submission to the Brigade through the President's annual Report at the Brigade's AGM

TRAINING
1. Training Parades:
  
  Training Parades shall be held at least once a month
2. Training Co-ordinator:
  
  A Training Co-ordinator may be appointed by the Captain to assist the Captain in planning and executing the Brigade's training .
OFFICE BEARERS
1. Officer Bearers
  
  Office Bearers of the Brigade shall fall into two categories Executive Committee and Field/Support Officers.
  1. The Executive - Charter, Composition and Election.
    1. Charter
      
      The Executive Committee shall be charged with the management of the Brigade and shall meet for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit.
    2. Composition
      
      The Executive Committee of the Brigade shall consist of fourteen (14) officers constituted as follows.
    3. Election.
      
      Each Office Bearer shall be elected by ballot at each AGM of the Brigade and, unless such Office-bearer be removed from office as provided for elsewhere in this Constitution, shall hold office until positions are declared vacant at the next AGM where they shall be eligible for re-election.
  2. Field and Support Officers - Charter, Composition and Election.
    1. Charter.
      
      The elected Field and Support Officers shall, by leadership, be charged with meeting the Objects of the Brigade as defined in Para 2.1 (i) to 2.1 (iv) inclusive.
    2. Composition - Field Officers.
      
      Elected Field Officers shall consist of Captain and sufficient complement of Deputy Captains to supply two Deputies per Active Crew plus one Senior Deputy Captain
    3. Composition - Support Officers.
      
      Elected Support Officers shall consist of the following
      
      Equipment Officer
      
      Station Officer
      
      Two Assistant Equipment Officers per Brigade vehicle
      
      Two Assistant Station Officers per active crew.
2. Special Appointments.
  
  The Brigade may appoint special duties officers to meet Brigade requirements. Such appointments may be made at the AGM or at a Special Meeting of the Brigade, and such appointments shall be for a defined period.
3. Election.
  1. At the AGM the members of the Brigade shall elect by ballot
    
    a Captain, and such complement of Deputy Captains as defined in section 9.3.2 .
    an Equipment Officer and Assistant Equipment Officers, as defined in 9.3.3,
    a Station Officer and Assistant Station Officers defined in 9.3.3 .
  2. These Officers shall hold Office until the next AGM at which they shall be eligible for re-election or election to another office.
  3. A member shall not hold two or more field offices simultaneously.
    
    A member shall not hold two or more support offices simultaneously.
    
    A member shall not hold field and support offices simultaneously.
4. Appointment of Senior Deputy Captain.
  
  The incoming Captain shall appoint from the elected deputies, one to serve as Senior Deputy for the term until the next AGM. This appointment shall take place within seven days of the date of election of the Captain and shall be advised at the next General meeting of the Brigade.
5. Officer Bearers - Suspension and Removal from Office.
  1. Suspension from Office
    
    If, in the opinion of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Constitutionally defined membership of the Executive Committee, any Office Bearer is not performing his duty satisfactorily, then the Executive Committee shall suspend that Office Bearer pending a decision on his removal from Office by the Brigade.
    
    If an Officer Bearer is suspended from Office, a Special Meeting of the Brigade shall be called within one calendar month of the date of suspension, to consider removal of that Office Bearer from Office in terms of 9.4.2. Any Executive Member who is absent without leave, from three (3) consecutive meetings, Executive and/or General, shall be liable to suspension from Office if so determined by the Executive Committee.
    
    A Captain who is absent from three (3) Consecutive Training Parades without leave from the Executive shall be liable to suspension from Office if so determined by the Executive Committee.
    
    Excluding the Captain, any other Field or Support Officer who is absent from three (3) Consecutive Training Parades without leave from the Captain shall be liable to suspension from Office if so determined by the Executive Committee.
  2. Removal from Office
    
    Any Executive Member or Field or Support Officer may be removed from office by a resolution of two-thirds of the members present at a Special Meeting called for such Purpose.
    
    Removal from Office of any Office Bearer shall also include removal from the Executive Committee if that position holds Executive Committee status.
    
    For Members holding more than one position as an Office-bearer, removal from Office for one position shall mean removal from Office for all positions held.
6. Vacancies.
  1. Unfilled Positions at AGM.
    
    In the event that the required complement of Officers is not elected at the AGM, then the next meeting shall be deemed a Special Meeting for the purpose of filling the unfilled positions. All nominations for these vacant positions shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the Secretary no later than 7 days prior to the Special Meeting called to fill these positions. These nominations shall be published on the Brigade notice-board no later than three days prior to the Special Meeting to which they pertain.
  2. Vacancies occurring at other times.
    
    In the event of vacancies occurring throughout the year, in the position of Office Bearers of any category, a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be called by the President to determine whether the position shall be filled or remain vacant until the next AGM.
    
    If it is determined that the position shall be filled, a Special General Meeting shall be called as provided for in paragraph above. This meeting shall be conducted in terms of the election of officers, and voting, as laid down in paragraph 6.5 for an AGM. Anyone so elected shall hold office until the next AGM and at such time shall be eligible for re-election or election to another position.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. President.
  
  The President shall preside at all formally constituted meetings and perform all acts and duties usually required of an Executive and Presiding Officer. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside and perform the duties of the President. In the absence of both, such meeting shall elect its own chairman.
2. Secretary.
  
  The Secretary shall keep a correct Minute and account of the proceedings of the Brigade in a book which shall be open for inspection by members at any reasonable time, shall answer correspondence and keep a copy of all correspondence received by and issued on behalf of the Brigade, and shall send out all necessary notices of Meetings. The Secretary shall maintain an up to date record of all financial members of the Brigade and such other documents as defined in Standing Orders.
  
  Such documents shall be recognised as the only official record of the Brigade's membership.
  
  The Secretary may receive subscriptions, donations and any other monies on behalf of the Brigade and shall remit same to the Treasurer at least once a month.
3. Assistant Secretary.
  
  The Assistant Secretary is required to carry out such duties as directed by the Secretary, and shall deputise for the Secretary in the Secretary's absence.
4. Treasurer.
  
  The Treasurer shall receive subscriptions and donations and deposit same forthwith to the credit of the Brigade's account in the bank. The Treasurer shall pay accounts when authorised to do so by the Executive Committee or the Brigade, keep a correct record of all monies received and payments made, prepare an annual balance sheet for submission to the Brigade through the President's Annual Report at the Brigade's AGM and be custodian of all monies of the Brigade.
  
  He shall regularly supply the Secretary with the names of members who have paid their subscription fees. Annually at least seven days prior to the AGM the Treasurer shall pass all appropriate documents to the honorary Auditor
5. Captain.
  
  The Captain shall have full control over members whilst engaged in fire fighting, drills, training, hazard reductions, etc., and shall issue instructions as to the methods to be adopted by the firefighters. The Captain or appointed Deputy shall enter into the Station Log Book a record of fires attended showing the numbers present and description of damage and estimation of damage. Further, he shall report on the Brigade's activities at each General Meeting.
6. Senior Deputy Captain.
7. Deputy Captains.
  
  In the absence of both the Captain and the Senior Deputy Captain, a Deputy Captain shall perform the duties and exercise the powers and authorities of the Captain.
8. Equipment Officer.
  
  The Equipment Officer shall control the storage, issue and return of fire-fighting equipment and shall be responsible for its maintenance.
  
  He shall ensure that in the log book, drivers keep an accurate log of vehicles' mileage and that drivers also advise the Equipment Officer of repairs and maintenance required to any fire-fighting equipment.
  
  He shall ensure that all this equipment be kept at the Fire Station if not actually required for fire fighting work.
9. Assistant Equipment Officers.
  
  These shall assist and support the Equipment Officer in the duties of this office and in the absence of the Equipment Officer the nominated Assistant Equipment Officer shall perform the duties of the Equipment Officer.
10. Station Officer.
  
  During the course of any Brigade activity, the Station Officer shall be in charge of the Fire Station, under the jurisdiction of the senior field officer in attendance. The Station Officer shall keep an accurate log of radio and telephone messages, a list of persons engaged in such activities, shall arrange for the call- out of crews, the procurement of necessary supplies and do any other act as the duties require.
  
  Within the confines of the Fire Station property, in order to carry out the duties herein, the Station Officer shall assume the authority, but not the rank, of Deputy Captain.
11. Assistant Station Officers.
  
  These shall assist and support the Station Officer in the duties of this office and in the absence of the Station Officer the nominated Assistant Station Officer shall perform the duties of, and assume the authority of the Station Officer.
12. Occupational Health & Safety Officer.
  
  Throughout the year the OH & S Officer shall monitor the activities of the Brigade members and the environment in which they perform their duties with a view to identifying possible hazards and to recommend to the captain such action as is considered necessary and appropriate to remove or reduce such hazards
EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES
1. Equipment.
  
  Brigade firefighting equipment shall not, under any circumstances, be used for a member's private use. Other equipment may only be borrowed with the permission of the Captain.
2. Vehicles.
  
  Use of all vehicles under the control of the Brigade shall be restricted to pursuing the objects of the Brigade. Such vehicles shall only be driven by suitably-licenced drivers as laid down in the current Act relating to the licencing of drivers of motor vehicles.
SECURITY
1. Keys.
  
  Keys will be issued and returned as stated in Brigade Standing Orders.
2. Alarm.
  
  Keyholders will be issued with alarm access codes which they will customise to their own desire and which they will keep personal and secret from all other persons.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
1. The Brigade will adopt a procedure to handle complaints by one member against another that effect the efficient conduct of the Brigade. The complaints procedure will have as its primary aim the reconciliation of any complaint to the satisfaction of all members affected.
2. Any financial member of the Brigade may make such a complaint.
3. Any such complaint must be made in writing and three signed copies will be directed to the Secretary of the Brigade.
4. The Secretary, within seven (7) days of receiving the written complaint, will:-
5. The President, upon receiving the written complaint will:-
6. The Arbitrator will attempt to conciliate the complaint in a manner beneficial to the Brigade and all persons concerned, as soon as practicable.
7. Upon successful conciliation, the Arbitrator and all persons concerned, will acknowledge same by signing and dating, and make a notation to that effect on the Secretary's copy of the complaint.
8. Upon successful conciliation, the Arbitrator will inform the President or person acting in his place the result of his arbitration.
9. The President or person acting in his place will forward the President's copy of the complaint to the Secretary for filing.
10. Upon successful conciliation the Secretary shall, for the purposes of privacy and confidentiality, lodge all documents held by the Brigade relating to the complaint in a sealed package at the Brigade's bank.
UNSUCCESSFUL CONCILIATIONS.
1. In the event that the Arbitrator cannot obtain a successful conciliation the following procedure will be adopted.
2. The Arbitrator will inform the President or person acting in his place of the outcome of his conciliation efforts.
3. The President or person acting in his place, will within seven (7) days of receiving advice from the Arbitrator of the unsuccessful conciliation call a meeting of the Executive to attempt to resolve the matter.
4. The President or person acting in his place, will request the complainant and other person/s concerned with the matter to attend such meeting(s) as outlined in sect 14.3.
5. If the complaint is successfully resolved at any meeting as outlined in sect 14.3. all parties will acknowledge successful resolution of the complaint as defined in section 13.7 .
6. The President or person acting in his place will forward the original complaint to the Secretary to be dealt with as defined in sect 13.10.
7. If the complaint cannot be resolved at any meeting as defined in sect 14.3. the President or person acting in his place shall, within 21 days, call a special meeting of the Brigade to discuss the matter.
8. At the special meeting as defined in sect 14.7, the President or person acting in his place shall:-
9. In the event that no successful resolution can be reached (as defined in sections 14.7 and 14.8), to ensure the well being of the Brigade, the complainant and other person/s concerned will have their membership in the Brigade terminated, by the meeting as defined in 14.8).
10. The President or person acting in his place, will ensure that the Secretary records into the minutes of the Brigade, the proceedings of any such special meeting called to resolve the complaint, and append to such minutes all documents held by the Brigade pertinent to the complaint.
ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
1. Amendments.
  
  This constitution may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any AGM, or Special Meeting called for that purpose, provided that no such resolution shall have been deemed to be passed unless it be carried by a majority of the members voting thereon. The chairman shall have the right of the casting vote. No Special Meeting shall be called within three (3) months of the date of a change to the Constitution to rescind that previous motion concerned with the Constitution.
2. Amplification.
  
  This Constitution may be amplified by Standing Orders not inconsistent with this Constitution. Such Standing Orders are to be authorised by the Captain for operational or training matters and by the President for administrative matters. A copy of all Standing Orders shall be displayed in the Fire Station. Such orders shall become effective as of the date of their promulgation at a Brigade meeting.
DISSOLUTION OF THE BRIGADE.
1. Requirement for dissolution.
  
  The Brigade shall be dissolved in the event that the financial membership falls to the number of persons required for a quorum at a Special Meeting, or upon the vote of a three-fourths majority of members present at a Special Meeting called for such purpose.
2. Procedure for dissolution.
  
  Upon a situation occurring in accordance with 16.1 above, all non-cash assets under the control of the Brigade, being the property of the City of the Blue Mountains, shall revert to the control of the Council, and all funds of the Brigade shall, after the payment of all expenses and liabilities, be handed over to such registered or exempted charity which holds similar aims to this Brigade as shall be selected by a simple majority of members at a Special Meeting convened to deliberate upon the disposition of the Brigade's assets. Should the financial membership have fallen below the quorum defined in 16.1) then the remaining membership shall constitute a quorum for this final meeting.

Adopted by the Brigade at a Special Meeting held at Attunga Road Fire Station on
21st April 1995.

Amended 15th March 1996

Amended 19th July 1996

Amended 20th September 1996

Amended 18th July 1997

Amended 20th February 1998

Amended 17th August 1999

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This Constitution superceded on 01 July 2001. (See Current Constitution)

This Constitution superceded on 01 July 2001.
(See Current Constitution)