Commissioners weigh charter fixes to clarify fire services after conflict between local ordinance and state law

Butte-Silver Bow — The Charter Study Commission examined a recurring legal issue over the governance of fire services after staff identified conflicts between a local ordinance that centralizes command and state law that preserves volunteer fire departments’ independence. Matt, the staff presenter, told the commission that ordinance 2‑16040 (referred to in the meeting as “ordinance 2 dash 1 6 dash 0 4 0”) attempts to centralize command of fire services under a county director, but state statutes — cited verbally during the meeting — include provisions preserving volunteer departments unless the charter specifically provides otherwise. “2‑1604 attempts to centralize the command of all fire services,” Matt said. “However, 07/2010 explicitly…