I. Upon receipt of a petition under RSA 154:30-a, I, the state fire marshal shall call the first or organizational meeting of the system. Upon receipt of a petition under RSA 154:30-a, II, the state fire marshal may call such a meeting. The state fire marshal shall give written notice to the chief of each fire department in the system and may invite private fire departments within the designated area to join in the meeting by giving similar notice to them. Each fire department shall send one delegate to the organizational and subsequent meetings and shall be entitled to one vote in all proceedings. The delegate shall be the chief of each fire department or such alternate as the chief may designate. At the organizational meeting, the members of the system shall adopt articles of association and bylaws and regulations for the future government and operation of the system which shall be effective upon submission to and approval by the attorney general, who shall cause the same to be recorded by the secretary of state. The system shall be deemed to have been formally established upon such recording. The organizational meeting shall also elect a board of directors consisting of such number as they may determine. Delegates and directors need not be residents. The board of directors shall be the governing body of the system and shall serve for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualify, provided that the organizational meeting, or any subsequent meeting, may vote to elect its directors for varying terms. If a meeting shall so vote for the first election under said vote one director shall be elected for a term of one year, one for a term of 2 years, one for a term of 3 years, one for a term of 4 years, and one for a term of 5 years, and thereafter there shall be elected at each annual meeting one director for a term of 5 years and until a successor is elected and qualified.
   II. The directors shall choose from their number the officers of the system, who shall have such duties and powers as the bylaws provide. Within the limits of available funds, the directors may employ and fix the compensation of agents and other necessary personnel, who shall serve at their pleasure and have and exercise such powers and authority as they may delegate to them.
Source. 1957, 277:1. 1959, 198:1. 1992, 154:21. 1998, 318:30, eff. Aug. 25, 1998.