§ 6. Officers; qualifications and elections
(a) At the annual meeting, the Williamstown Fire District shall choose from its legally qualified voters the following Fire District officers, who shall serve until the next annual meeting and until successors are chosen, unless otherwise provided:
(1) a Moderator to be elected by paper ballot;
(2) a Clerk/Treasurer who shall also serve as a member of the Prudential Committee and also serve as Clerk to the Prudential Committee to be elected by paper ballot;
(3) one member of the Prudential Committee for a term of three years who shall be elected by paper ballot;
(4) one member of the Prudential Committee for a term of one year who shall be elected by paper ballot; and
(5) one Auditor for a term of three years who shall be elected by paper ballot.
(b) The Prudential Committee shall be a five-member Committee, three of whom shall hold three-year terms, one for a one year term, and the Clerk/Treasurer. The Auditing Committee shall be a three member Committee.
(c) The offices of the Prudential Committee member, Fire Chief, First Assistant Chief, and Second Assistant Chief shall be considered incompatible offices, meaning that one individual may not be elected to more than one of these offices.
(d) A Fire Chief for the Williamstown Fire District shall be appointed for one year as follows:
(1) Not less than 15 nor more than 30 days prior to the annual meeting, one nominee each for the position of Fire Chief shall be selected by majority vote of the Prudential Committee and by the members in good standing of the fire company. A third nominee for the position of Fire Chief shall be selected by majority vote at the annual meeting by paper ballot.
(2) Not more than 14 days following the annual meeting, the Prudential Committee shall appoint, from among the three nominees selected pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Fire Chief for the District. In the event that no nominees are selected through the nominating process set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Prudential Committee shall, within 14 days following the annual meeting, appoint a Fire Chief to serve until a successor Fire Chief is appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(3) A Fire Chief may be removed from office prior to the expiration of his or her term only by the unanimous vote of the Prudential Committee. In the event the Fire Chief resigns or is removed from office prior to the expiration of his or her term, the Prudential Committee shall appoint an interim Fire Chief to serve for the remainder of the term.
(4) A Fire Chief or any interim Fire Chief shall appoint a First Assistant Fire Chief and a Second Assistant Fire Chief, both to serve at the pleasure of the Fire Chief or interim Fire Chief.