There is hereby established in the Township
of Hamilton, County of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, the Hamilton
Township Emergency Services Advisory Board.
[Amended 11-3-2003 by Ord. No. 1479-2003]
The Mayor, in his discretion, shall appoint
the members of the Hamilton Township Emergency Services Advisory Board,
which shall consist of the following members:
A. The Chief or Chief's designee in each of the five
fire departments.
B. The Chief or the Chief's designee of the dive team.
C. The Emergency Management Coordinator.
D. The Township Committee Liaison of Public Safety.
E. Up to three residents of the Township.
G. The Chief or Chief's designee in each of the rescue
squads.
Except for the initial year, all members of
the Board shall be appointed for a one-year term, commencing January
1 and ending December 31 of said year. Any vacancy may be filled for
the expiration of the said year.
[Amended 11-3-2003 by Ord. No. 1479-2003]
To advise the Township Committee as a formal
Board and in a formal manner regarding the requisite needs of the
Township regarding emergency services (i.e., apparatus, equipment,
SOPs, budget, manpower, etc.). In voting upon any matter to come before
the Board, no fire chief shall vote on any issue coming within the
sole purview of the Police Department or Rescue Squad. Similarly,
no member of the Police Department may vote upon any matter coming
within the sole purview of the Fire Department or Rescue Squad. Lastly,
no member of the Rescue Squad may vote upon any issue coming within
the sole purview of the Fire Department or the Police Department.
[Amended 6-5-2012 by Ord. No. 1720-2012]
The duties of the Board shall be to advise the Township Committee
on the following matters:
A. Elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from within
the Committee.
B. Ensure each local government agency is aware of and
carries out its responsibilities associated with emergency services
management and fire prevention and control.
C. Review requests for the purchase of new equipment
and other matters and make recommendations on same.
D. Evaluate funding levels and budget allotments for
replacement of small equipment, personal protective equipment, pagers,
radios, and the repair of equipment, apparatus and sirens.
E. Coordinate recruitment drives.
F. Review and evaluate the impact of incentive programs,
such as pension programs, on recruitment and retention of volunteer
personnel.
G. Administer and coordinate the Township fire prevention
programs in conjunction with the Fire Official.
H. Settle jurisdictional disputes.
I. Review and approve Township and adjacent area mutual
aid plans.
J. Evaluate the need for ancillary emergency response
programs, such as hazardous materials management, confined space rescue
and water, fire and rescue services.
K. Justify, endorse and recommend funding levels to the
Township Committee to accomplish the objectives of those programs
deemed valuable to the Township's citizens.
L. Evaluate, review and modify Fire Protections and Control
Master Plan on an as-needed basis, in accordance with changing Township
conditions.
The Emergency Services Advisory Board shall
have no power to purchase its own real estate or to enter into any
contracts.
It is the intent of this chapter that the Board
shall be solely advisory, consisting of those members appointed by
the Mayor. The Board shall have no authority to expend any funds,
and no funds shall be appropriated in any budget for the Board.
Should there be any conflict between the terms
and provisions of this chapter and any existing emergency management
ordinances in the Township of Hamilton, such conflict shall be resolved
liberally towards the end of carrying out the express salutary purpose
and intent of this chapter and any existing emergency management ordinances.