[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope
11-30-1993 as Ord. No. 1993-16. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish an emergency management
office that will ensure the complete and efficient utilization of all of the
borough's resources in responding to emergency situations involving disasters,
natural or otherwise, and enemy attack.
The following definitions shall apply in this chapter.
The Borough of Stanhope, New Jersey.
The Emergency Management Coordinator of the Borough of Stanhope.
The person(s) appointed to assist the Emergency Management Coordinator
in the performance of the emergency management mission within the Borough
of Stanhope.
An unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural causes which
endangers the health, safety or resources of the residents of this borough
and which is or may become more than can reasonably be handled in its entirety
by regular borough operating services.
Includes "disaster" or "war emergency" as defined in this section.
The employees, equipment and facilities of all borough departments,
agencies, commissions and institutions as well as all volunteer personnel,
equipment and facilities contributed by or obtained from volunteer persons
or agencies.
Any person(s) duly registered, identified and appointed by the Coordinator
and assigned to participate in local emergency management.
Includes any disaster, or the imminence thereof, resulting from natural
or man-made causes, other than enemy attack, and limited to the extent that
action by the Governor under the New Jersey Emergency Management - Disaster
Control Act is not required.
[1]Includes plans, programs and other emergency procedures deemed essential
to civil defense.
The act of contributing a service, equipment or facility to the emergency
management effort of the borough without remuneration.
Includes any disaster occurring anywhere within the borough as the
result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 (Title 58 volume).
A.
Membership.
(1)
The Mayor, with the consent of Council, shall appoint
not more than 15 members to an Emergency Management Council, whose membership
shall be comprised of but not limited to the following positions:
(a)
Emergency Management Coordinator.
(b)
Fire Chief.
(c)
Police Chief.
(d)
Ambulance Squad Captain.
(e)
Council Public Safety Committee Chair.
(f)
Hopatcong Police Dispatch Supervisor.
(g)
Public Works Superintendent.
(h)
Local Red Cross representative.
(i)
Local press representative.
(j)
Mayor.
(k)
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.
(2)
The Emergency Management Council shall be chaired by
the Coordinator and shall assist the borough in establishing various types
of local volunteer support needed to meet the requirements of all emergency
management and disaster control activities in accordance with rules and regulations
established by the Governor in pursuance of the provisions of P.L. 1942, c.
251, as amended, and this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 (Title 58 volume).
B.
With Council concurrence, the Mayor shall appoint an
Emergency Management Coordinator who shall serve a term of three years. The
Coordinator shall become trained and certified in Emergency Management in
accordance with federal and state requirements and shall continue relevant
educational requirements accordingly.
C.
The Coordinator shall establish, administer and operate
an emergency management organization that utilizes to the fullest extent possible
the available resources of the various municipal departments and agencies
and volunteer organizations within the borough. The employees, equipment and
facilities of all borough departments and agencies shall be available for
emergency management operations upon request.
D.
The Coordinator shall designate for Mayoral appointment
and Council concurrence a Deputy Coordinator who shall assume the duties of
the Coordinator in his absence or inability to act. The intent is to ensure
the availability of someone at all times to operate borough emergency management
activities.
A.
The Coordinator shall be responsible, ultimately, to
the Mayor and Council for all phases of emergency management within the borough.
Under the supervision of the Borough Administrator, the Coordinator shall
be responsible for the planning, activation and coordination of emergency
management operations. The Coordinator shall maintain liaison with federal,
state, county and nearby municipal authorities to ensure the most efficient
operation of the borough's emergency management plan. Duties shall include
but not necessarily be limited to the following:
(1)
Coordinating the recruitment of volunteer personnel and
agencies to augment borough emergency management resources. All such volunteers
shall enjoy the same immunities and privileges provided by law to municipal
employees engaged in emergency management and disaster control activities.
(2)
In the event of an emergency, the Coordinator may obtain
vital supplies and equipment and conclude agreements for the use of buildings
or other property deemed necessary for the protection of life, health and
property, and bind the borough for the fair value thereof.
(3)
The Coordinator shall cause to be prepared the basic
plan hereinafter referred to as the "Emergency Operations Plan."
(4)
Development and coordination of all plans for the immediate
use of all the facilities, equipment, manpower and other resources of the
borough for the purpose of minimizing or preventing damage to persons or property
and protecting and restoring to usefulness the governmental services and public
utilities necessary for the public health, safety and welfare.
(5)
Through public education programs, educating the civilian
population as to actions necessary and required for the protection of persons
and property in cases of emergency.
(6)
Conducting public practice alerts to ensure the efficient
operation of emergency management forces and to familiarize residents with
regulations and procedures.
B.
The Coordinator may exercise the emergency power and
authority necessary to fulfill his general powers and duties as defined in
this chapter, and his judgment shall be the sole criteria necessary to invoke
said emergency powers. Nothing in this chapter, however, shall be construed
as abridging the power or authority of the Mayor or Council.
C.
Emergency regulations.
(1)
During any period when disaster threatens or strikes
the borough, the Mayor may promulgate such regulations as deemed necessary
to protect life and property and preserve critical resources. The Coordinator
shall ensure the implementation of such regulations, including:
(a)
Regulations restricting or prohibiting the movement of
vehicles in order to facilitate the mass movement of people from critical
areas within or without the borough.
(b)
Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons from
areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(c)
Such other regulations necessary to preserve public peace,
health and safety.
(2)
Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority
above will be publicized in accordance with the Emergency Operations Plan.
A.
A comprehensive emergency management plan known as the
"Emergency Operations Plan" (EOP) shall be maintained by the Coordinator.
In the preparation of the EOP, as it pertains to the borough, it is the intent
that the services, equipment, facilities and personnel of all departments
and agencies, including volunteer fire companies and ambulance squads, shall
be utilized to the fullest extent to protect the peace, health and safety
of residents. It shall be the duty of all municipal departments to perform
the functions assigned by the EOP and to maintain their portion thereof current.
The EOP shall be consistent with state and county plans and considered supplementary
to this chapter, having the effect of law whenever a disaster has been proclaimed.
B.
All persons assigned responsibility within the EOP shall
carry out all the duties and functions assigned therein.
C.
When a desired competency or skill for an emergency management
function is not available within the borough government, the Coordinator is
authorized to seek assistance from outside persons or agencies. The assignment
of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also grant authority for the
persons so assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during and after the
occurrence of a disaster. The services from persons outside borough government
shall be accepted on a volunteer basis. Such persons shall be enrolled as
emergency management volunteers in cooperation with the affected department
heads.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions
of this chapter or of any of the regulations or plans issued pursuant to the
authority contained herein, or to willingly obstruct, hinder or delay any
member of the emergency management organization as herein defined in enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter or by any regulation or plan issued thereunder.
[Amended 6-30-1998 by Ord.
No. 1998-8]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction,
be punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days,
or any combination thereof.