The Mayor shall appoint not more than 15 members to an Emergency Management Council. Members shall hold office at the will and pleasure of the Mayor. 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 township in establishing the various 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,[1] and this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et seq.
The Manager shall appoint an Emergency Management Coordinator, who 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 danger from emergencies as defined in this chapter.
The Coordinator is hereby authorized and directed to create an organization for emergency management, utilizing to the fullest extent the existing agencies within this township. The coordinator, as executive head of the Mount Laurel Office of Emergency Management, shall be responsible for its organization, administration and operations.
The organization shall consist of the following:
A. 
An Office of Emergency Management will be designated by the Township Manager. He shall appoint an executive head of the Office of Emergency Management, who shall be known as the "Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management," and such assistants and other employees as are deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the organization. On some occasions, the Coordinator may be referred to as the Director, Office of Emergency Management.
B. 
The employees, equipment and facilities of all township departments, boards, institutions, authorities and commissions will participate in emergency management activity when requested.
C. 
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to and accepted by the township.
The Coordinator shall designate and appoint, with the approval of the Manager, a Deputy Coordinator to assume the emergency duties of the Coordinator in the event of his absence or inability to act, the intent being that there will always and at all times be a Coordinator in charge of emergency management operations.
A. 
The Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management shall be responsible to the Manager in regard to all phases of the emergency management activity. Under the supervision of the Manager, he shall be responsible for the planning, activation, coordination and operation of the emergency management activity in the township. Under the supervision of the Manager, he shall maintain liaison with the county, state and federal authorities and the authorities of other nearby political subdivisions so as to ensure the most effective operation of the emergency management plan. His duties shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) 
Personnel. He shall coordinate the recruitment of volunteer personnel and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the township for emergency management purposes. The Coordinator may require emergency services of any township officer or employee. If regular forces are determined to be inadequate, the Coordinator may require the services of such other personnel as he can obtain that are available, including citizen volunteers. All duly authorized persons rendering emergency services shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities as are provided by state law, the Charter and ordinances for regular township employees and other registered and identified emergency management workers.
(2) 
The Coordinator 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.
(3) 
He shall negotiate and conclude agreements with owners or persons in control of buildings or other property for the use of such buildings or other property for emergency management purposes.
(4) 
The Coordinator will cause to be prepared the Basic Plan, herein referenced to as the "Mount Laurel Emergency Management Basic Plan."
(5) 
He shall develop and coordinate 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 the governmental services and public utilities necessary for the public health, safety and welfare.
(6) 
Through public information programs, he shall educate the civilian population as to actions necessary and required for the protection of their persons and property in case of emergency as defined herein, either impending or present.
(7) 
He shall conduct public practice alerts to ensure the efficient operation of the emergency management forces and to familiarize residents with regulations, procedures and operations.
(8) 
The Coordinator, with the approval of the Township Manager, shall order emergency management forces to the aid of other communities when required only in accordance with the statutes of the state, and he may request the state, county or a political subdivision of the state to send aid to the Township of Mount Laurel in case of disaster when conditions in the township are beyond the control of the local emergency management organization and/or resources.
(9) 
He shall assume such authority and conduct such activity as the Township Manager may direct to promote and execute the emergency management plan.
(10) 
The Coordinator shall be the Chairman of the Emergency Management Council.
B. 
The Coordinator may exercise the emergency power and authority necessary to fulfill his general powers and duties as defined in this chapter. The judgment of the Coordinator shall be the sole criteria necessary to invoke emergency powers indicated in this chapter and other appropriate authorities. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as abridging or curtailing the powers or restrictions of the Manager or Council (as defined in the Administrative Code of the township).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 4, Administration of Government.
C. 
During any period when disaster threatens or when the township has been struck by disaster within the definition of this chapter, the Manager may promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary to protect life and property and preserve critical resources. The Coordinator shall assist in implementing such regulations as the following:
(1) 
Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement of vehicles in order to facilitate the work of emergency management forces or to facilitate the mass movement of persons from critical areas within or without the township.
(2) 
Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(3) 
Such other regulations necessary to preserve public peace, health and safety.
D. 
Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority above will be given widespread circulation by proclamations published and uttered by newspaper and radio. These regulations will have the force of ordinance when duly filed with the Clerk, and violations will be subject to the penalties provided in § 20-12B of this chapter.
A. 
A comprehensive Emergency Management Basic Plan shall be maintained by the Coordinator. In the preparation of this plan as it pertains to township organization, it is the intent that the services, equipment, facilities and personnel of all existing departments and agencies, including volunteer fire companies and first aid squads (said department, agencies and companies hereinafter referred to as "departments"), shall be utilized to the fullest extent to protect the peace, health and safety of citizens. When approved, it shall be the duty of all municipal departments 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 Basic Plan shall be considered supplementary to this chapter and have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as defined in this chapter, has been proclaimed. The plan shall be compatible with county and state plans.
B. 
The Coordinator shall prescribe in the Basic Plan those positions within the disaster organization, in addition to his own, for which lines of succession are necessary.
C. 
Each Coordinator and/or department head assigned responsibility in the Basic Plan shall be responsible for carrying out all duties and functions assigned therein. Duties will include the organization and training of assigned township employees and volunteers. Each Coordinator shall formulate an operation plan for his service which, when approved, shall be an annex to and a part of the Basic Plan.
D. 
When a required competency or skill for a disaster function is not available within the township government, the Coordinator is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government. 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. Such services from persons outside of government may be accepted by the township on a volunteer basis. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers in cooperation with the heads of departments affected.