§ 10-1018 Duties of chief and assistants. The chief shall be president of the council and of the meetings of the fire department. He shall, under the direction of a separate board of fire commissioners, if any, have exclusive control of the members at all fires, inspections and reviews, the supervision of the engines, hose and other apparatus owned by the village for the prevention or extinguishment of fires, of all property owned by the fire department, and of all officers and employees thereof elected or employed by the council or by a separate board of fire commissioners, if any. He shall, whenever required by the board of fire commissioners, report to the board the condition of the property of the department and such other information respecting the department as may be required. He shall hold the members, officers and employees of the department strictly to account for neglect of duty, and may, in a village in which separate fire commissioners are not appointed, suspend or discharge them at any time, subject to the approval of two-thirds of the members of the council at the next meeting. He shall, upon application, and if authorized by the council, or a separate board of fire commissioners, if any, issue through the secretary of the fire department a certificate of the time of service of a member of the fire department, and shall give to each officer of the department immediately after his election a certificate thereof countersigned by the secretary. In case of the inability or absence of the chief, the first assistant and in case of the absence or inability of both the chief and first assistant, the second assistant, and in the absence of the second assistant, the third assistant, if any, and in the absence of the third assistant, if any, the fourth assistant, if any, shall perform the duties and have all the powers of the chief.