Board Membership:

• Comprised of two members appointed by each participating governing body (City and Township), plus by resolution, an additional at large member.
• Members serve 6-year terms, staggered for continuity, initial appointments include 4-year terms.
• Members must be residents of the participating jurisdiction and cannot be employees of the fire department.
• Annually the board elects a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer.

Fiscal Oversite and budget:

Responsible for preparing and approving the annual fire department budget, and approves major capital expenditures before commitment. 

Operational Authority:

The board oversees fire department operations, including hiring and firing of the Fire Chief, the Fire Chief hires staff with board approval. It sets department policies, rules, operational standards and monitor compliance as well as maintains responsibility for the use, maintenance, and replacement of real property and equipment.

Meetings:

The board holds regular meetings the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Watervliet Fire Department, 217 W. Pleasant St. Watervliet, MI 49098. It adopts its own procedure rules, documents meeting minutes, and requires most of its members (a quorum) to conduct business. It operates under the Open Meetings Act and must make its records publicly accessible.