The classified civil service of the said city or town shall comprise all members of the fire department. Persons in the classified civil service shall hold their respective positions and be graded according to their competency, which shall be the same for all persons having like duty; except that the members of any paid fire department holding positions on the same at the time said city or town adopts the provisions of this part 2 shall retain their respective positions until removed after a public hearing for good cause shown, as provided in this section. They shall be removed or discharged only upon written charges which shall be filed by the head of the department or by any citizen of the city or town acting for the good of the service, to be promptly acted upon by the commission. All hearings before the commission shall be open to the public. No person shall be discharged for a political or religious reason. In case of emergency, the commission shall authorize the temporary appointment of members to the fire department without competitive tests for a period of not to exceed ninety days.
Source: L. 75: Entire title R&RE, p. 1214, § 1, effective July 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 31-30-204 as it existed prior to 1975.