15-5-106. Commissions; classification of positions; working hours; salaries; exceptions; examinations.

(a) The commissions shall classify the various positions in the departments into classes or schedules based upon the nature of the service to be rendered or duties to be performed. The governing body shall then establish uniform working hours and wages for all employees in each class or schedule and may regulate the rate of wages and the number of employees in any class or schedule as necessary. Notwithstanding any other general law fixing salaries or granting authority to fix salaries, the minimum salary for full-time policemen and full-time firemen in any city or town having a population of more than four thousand (4,000) is four hundred twenty-five dollars ($425.00) per month, with an increase of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per month for each year of service rendered until a monthly salary of five hundred twenty-five dollars ($525.00) is reached. Any city or town may pay a salary in excess of five hundred twenty-five dollars ($525.00) per month. Persons holding positions of higher grade or rank in these departments shall be compensated in accordance with the responsibility of the position held, but shall receive a total salary of not less than six thousand six hundred dollars ($6,600.00) per year.

(b) The commission shall examine the qualifications of all applicants for eligible ratings in any class or schedule. The examinations shall be supervised by the commission and may be conducted by any member or a person designated by the commission. All examinations shall be impartial and relate only to matters which test the fitness of the persons examined to perform the services required in the class or schedule covered by the examination. The percentage of proficiency and rating based upon examination are those approved by the commission.

(c) The salary provisions of this section do not apply to a special fireman or policeman temporarily employed, nor to firemen or policemen employed in a department having three (3) men or less.