[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Hillsborough 12-10-1985 by Ord. No. 85-19 (Ch.
80 of the 1977 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 172.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
and referred to as the "Emergency Management Ordinance."
A.
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to establish
an emergency management organization that will allow the local government
and the community to coordinate their activities during emergency
operations.
B.
The Emergency Management Council will be the coordinating
unit for all activity in connection with local emergencies and as
required by New Jersey Statutes, P.L. 1942, c. 251, as amended by
P.L. 1953, c. 438.[1] The Emergency Management Council will provide planning
guidance to the departments and agencies of the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-41.
C.
This chapter does not relieve any Township department
or agency of the responsibilities or authority given by state statute
or by local ordinance, nor is it intended to adversely affect the
work of any volunteer agency organized for relief in emergencies.
A.
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FORCE
LOCAL EMERGENCY
MAYOR
REGULATIONS
VOLUNTEER
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretations
of this chapter:
A determination by the Emergency Management Coordinator or
his authorized deputy, upon consultation with the Mayor, that an emergency
has occurred or is imminent, requiring activation of all or part of
the Township's emergency management services, from which determination
a proclamation of a state of local disaster emergency shall issue,
signed by the Emergency Management Coordinator.
Any unusual set of circumstances which endangers the health,
safety or resources of the residents of the Township of Hillsborough
and which is or may become too large in scope or is unusual in type
to be handled in its entirety by normal operating Township services.
The person appointed by the Mayor to plan, activate, coordinate
and conduct the emergency operations of the Township in accordance
with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.4.
The emergency service unit of local government formed to
help carry out the basic governmental functions of maintaining the
public peace, health and safety during an emergency in accordance
with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-41. This shall include plans and preparations
for protection from and relief, recovery and rehabilitation from the
effects of any emergency.
The employees, equipment and facilities of all Township departments,
boards, commissions and agencies, and, in addition, all volunteer
persons, entities or agencies organized by the Council to assist in
supervising and coordinating the emergency control activities of the
municipality.
Any emergency or the imminence thereof which affects the
Township but is not so severe as to require action by the Governor
of New Jersey or the County Emergency Management Coordinator as described
in the Emergency Management Act (N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et seq.).
The Mayor, Deputy Mayor or the active executive member of
the Township Committee.
Includes plans, programs and other emergency procedures promulgated
in accordance with this chapter.
Any person duly appointed by the Township Committee and/or
the Emergency Management Coordinator with the assistance of the Emergency
Management Council and assigned to participate in emergency management
activities serving without remuneration.
B.
Gender, as used in this chapter, is interchangeable
with the opposite gender.
A.
The Mayor and Township Committee are hereby authorized
to create an organization for emergency control, utilizing, to the
fullest extent, the existing agencies within the Township.
B.
The organization shall consist of the following:
(1)
The Emergency Management Coordinator, who shall be
appointed by the Mayor from among the residents of the municipality.
The Emergency Management Coordinator, subject to fulfilling the requirements
herein, shall serve for a term of three years. As a condition of his
appointment and his right to continue for the full term of his appointment,
each Emergency Management Coordinator shall have successfully completed,
at the time of his appointment or within one year immediately following
his appointment, the current approved Civil Defense Director/Coordinator
course. The failure of any Emergency Management Coordinator to fulfill
such requirement within the time period prescribed shall disqualify
the Director from continuing in the office of Director, and, thereupon,
a vacancy in said office shall be deemed to have been created. Each
Emergency Management Coordinator shall appoint a Deputy Emergency
Management Coordinator with the approval of the Mayor. Wherever possible,
such Deputy shall be appointed from among the salaried officers or
employees of the municipality.
(2)
The Emergency Management Council, which shall be composed
of not more than 15 members who shall be appointed by the Mayor and
shall hold office at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall be a member and shall serve
as Chairman of the Emergency Management Council. The Emergency Management
Council shall assist the municipality in establishing the various
local volunteer agencies needed to meet the requirements of all local
emergency control activities and shall establish an adequate organization
and emergency management force to assist in supervising and coordinating
the civilian defense and emergency management control activities of
the local municipality.
(3)
The employees, equipment and facilities of all Township
departments, boards, agencies and commissions which will participate
in emergency management activities.
(4)
Volunteer persons, organizations or agencies offering
service to and accepted by the Township without remuneration.
A.
The Emergency Management Coordinator. The powers and
duties of the Emergency Management Coordinator shall be as follows:
(1)
The Emergency Management Coordinator, upon consultation
with the Mayor, shall issue a written proclamation that a state of
local emergency exists in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.5.
The proclamation, duly witnessed, will be filed with the Township
Clerk.
(2)
During the period that the emergency proclamation
remains in force, the Emergency Management Coordinator, in accordance
with regulations promulgated by the State Emergency Management Director,
shall be empowered to issue and enforce such orders, rules and regulations
as may be necessary to implement and carry out emergency control operations
and to protect the health, safety and resources of the residents of
the municipality in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.5. Orders,
rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with this authority
will be given as widespread circulation as possible by available means
of communications. Violations will be subject to the penalties provided
hereinafter in this chapter.
(3)
The orders, rules and regulations issued by the Emergency
Management Coordinator may include but shall not be limited to the
following:
(a)
Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement
of vehicles or persons to facilitate the work of emergency service
forces and to facilitate the movement of persons, emergency vehicles
and equipment to and from critical areas within and outside the Township.
(b)
Regulations pertaining to evacuation of persons
from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable.
(c)
Such other regulations as necessary to preserve
public peace, health and safety and to conserve critical resources.
(4)
The Emergency Management Coordinator may request aid
from contiguous municipalities and from noncontiguous municipalities
when such aid has been directed by the County Emergency Management
Coordinator when the emergency is beyond the capabilities and resources
of local emergency management forces, in accordance with N.J.S.A.
App. A:9-40.6. The state statutes and mutual aid agreements shall
govern such request for aid outside local resources.
(5)
During the emergency, the Emergency Management Coordinator,
with authorization from the Township Committee, shall recommend expenditures
to the governing body of Township funds and resources in order to
obtain vital supplies, equipment and other properties found lacking
and needed for the protection of health, life and property of the
people.
(6)
The Emergency Management Coordinator, upon consultation
with the Mayor, may, during the emergency, require the services of
any Township officer, employee or official to assist him or the Emergency
Management Council. All such duly authorized persons rendering emergency
services shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities as may
be provided by state law for other registered and identified emergency
management workers.
(7)
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall cause to
be prepared the plan hereafter referred to.
(8)
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall be a person
well versed and trained in planning operations involving the activities
of many different agencies which will operate to protect the public
health, safety and welfare in the event of an emergency. The Coordinator
shall be responsible to the Mayor and the Township Committee in regard
to all phases of emergency-control activity. He shall be responsible
for the planning, coordination and operation of the emergency-control
activity in the Township. He shall maintain liaison with state and
federal authorities and the authorities of other nearby political
subdivisions so as to ensure the most effective operation of the plan.
Additional duties shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a)
Coordinating the recruitment and training of
volunteer personnel and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities
of the Township.
(b)
Development of an emergency operating center
and coordination of plans for the immediate use of all the facilities,
equipment, manpower and other resources of the Township for the purpose
of minimizing or preventing damage to persons and property and protecting
and restoring to usefulness governmental services and public utilities
necessary for the public health, safety and welfare.
(c)
Keeping a file of the resources available within
the Township, both public and private.
(d)
Overseeing any agreement by which owners, agencies,
boards or organizations of buildings may allow the use for sheltering
persons in an emergency.
(e)
Conducting practice operations to determine
if emergency plans are efficient and adequate.
(f)
Coordinating all public and volunteer private
agencies, boards or organizations in their planning for emergency
operations.
(g)
Through public informational programs and educational
programs, educating the civilian population as to actions necessary
and required for the protection of their person and property in an
emergency.
(h)
Assuming such authority and responsibilities
as permitted by law and as may be required to promote and develop
the plan.
B.
The Mayor.
(1)
During any emergency, the Mayor, with the advice and
consent of the Township Committee, may obtain vital supplies, equipment
and other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of
health, life and property of the people and bind the Township for
the fair value thereof.
(2)
The Mayor may, during any emergency, require emergency
services of any Township officer or employee. All duly authorized
persons rendering emergency services shall be entitled to such privileges
and immunities as may be provided by state law for regular Township
employees and other registered and identified emergency management
workers.
(3)
The Mayor will require the Township Committee members
to assemble for a special meeting within 24 hours of the proclamation
declaring the emergency in the Township.
(4)
The Mayor will review for the Committee the status
of the emergency and the measures taken to restore the public peace.
The Mayor or Township Committee may request a verbal report from the
Emergency Management Coordinator and the Chief of Police.
A comprehensive emergency operations plan (the
plan) shall be adopted and maintained by resolution of the Township
Committee. The plan shall be prepared by the Director and submitted
for approval by the Township Committee and will outline the duties
and responsibilities under this chapter and all other applicable regulatory
requirements. In preparation of the plan, the Director will consult
with all municipal department heads whose departments will be assigned
duties and responsibilities under the plan, and said department heads
will assist the Director in preparation or modification of the plan.
In the preparation or any modification of the plan as it pertains
to the Township organization, it is the intent that the services,
equipment, facilities and personnel of all existing departments and
agencies shall be utilized to the fullest extent. When the plan is
approved, it shall be the duty of all municipal departments and agencies
to perform the functions assigned by the plan and to maintain their
portion of the plan in a current state of readiness at all times.
The plan shall be considered supplementary to and an implementation
of this chapter and N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et seq.
This chapter is an exercise by the Township
of its governmental function for the protection of the public peace,
health and safety. During an emergency, neither the Township nor agents
and representatives of said Township nor any individual, receiver,
firm, partnership, corporation, association or trustee nor any of
the agents thereof, in good faith carrying out, complying with or
attempting to comply with any order, rule or regulation promulgated
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be liable for any
damage sustained to persons or property as the result of said activity.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any
provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder,
upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than
$500 or imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than
90 days, or both.
At all times when the orders, rules and regulations
made and promulgated pursuant to this chapter shall be in effect,
they shall supersede all existing ordinances, orders, rules and regulations
insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith. This chapter
is adopted to complement the New Jersey Emergency Management Act (N.J.S.A.
App. A:9-33 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder and must
be read and interpreted in conjunction therewith.
[Added 11-27-2012 by Ord.
No. 2012-33]
A.
A CERT
Team is hereby established in the Township of Hillsborough. The CERT
Team shall be within the Office of Emergency Management and shall
be under the supervision and control of the Township Emergency Management
Coordinator or his designee.
B.
Mission,
organization and purpose. The mission, organization and purpose of
the CERT Team is to provide volunteer services for natural and other
disasters under the direction of the Office of Emergency Management
to supplement and assist police, fire and Emergency Management Services
response to a disaster.
C.
Membership.
CERT Team members shall be volunteers appointed by the Township Committee
upon recommendation of the Emergency Management Coordinator. To be
considered eligible, a volunteer must be 18 years of age and reside
or work within the Township of Hillsborough.
D.
Training.
All CERT Team members will receive approximately 20 hours of initial
basic-level training as required by the Federal Emergency Management
Administration and will include:
E.
Other.
Other volunteers, who are not members of CERT, may volunteer to assist
the Office of Emergency Management. These volunteers shall perform
tasks as assigned by the Coordinator of Emergency Management. They
shall be appointed by the Township Committee upon the recommendation
of the Emergency Management Coordinator. During emergencies, other
volunteers may assist the Emergency Management Coordinator. All volunteers
shall be under the control and direction of the Emergency Management
Coordinator, or his or her designee.
