Pursuant to § 28-7 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as
amended, there is hereby created an Office of Emergency Management, consisting
of a Director appointed by the Town Manager and an Advisory Council consisting
of the Mayor, the Town Manager, the Superintendent of Schools, the Director
of Public Works, the Director of the Eastern Highlands Health District, the
Senior Resident Trooper, the Chief of the Mansfield Volunteer Fire Company,
Inc., the Chief of the Eagleville Fire Department, Inc., Emergency Service
Administrator, and two other persons to be appointed by the Town Manager who
are representative of various interests which are important to the emergency
management program in the Town of Mansfield. Such Advisory Council members
shall serve for two-year terms which are concurrent with the terms of the
office of the members of the Town Council.
The Director shall be responsible for the organization, administration
and operation of the Office of Emergency Management, subject to the direction
and control of the State Director. The Town Manager may remove the local Director
for cause.
The Office of Emergency Management shall be responsible for the development
and maintenance of current plans and programs which may be needed in response
to an emergency caused by an "attack," or by a "civil preparedness emergency,"
or a "local civil preparedness emergency," as those terms are defined in § 28-1
of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended. The Office of Emergency Management
shall also perform such civil preparedness and emergency management functions
within the Town of Mansfield as the State Director prescribes, and, in addition,
shall conduct such functions outside such territorial limits as are prescribed
by the State Emergency Management program or by the terms of any mutual aid
agreements to which the Town of Mansfield is a party.
The Director of the Office of Emergency Management may, with the approval
of the State Director, collaborate with other public and private agencies
within the State of Connecticut and develop, or cause to be developed, mutual-aid
agreements for emergency management aid and assistance in case of a disaster
too great to be dealt with unassisted.
The Director of the Office of Emergency Management may, with the approval
of the State Director and the Town Manager, enter into mutual-aid agreements
with emergency management agencies or organizations in other states. Such
agreements shall be consistent with the state's emergency management
plan and program, and, in time of emergency, the Office of Emergency Management
shall render assistance in accordance with the provisions of such agreements
to which it is a party unless otherwise ordered by the State Director.
The Office of Emergency Management may request funds from the Town Council
to obtain needed equipment and supplies to fulfill its responsibilities.
In the event of a serious natural or man-made disaster affecting the
Town of Mansfield, the Town Manager is in full charge of all personnel and
equipment, and the Director of the Office of Emergency Management shall act
as his or her advisor in directing the Town's emergency response activities.
The Town Manager may declare a state of emergency or disaster for the
Town of Mansfield if in his or her opinion a declaration is necessary. He
or she shall file such declaration with the Town Clerk, and it will remain
effective for up to 30 days unless voided earlier by the Town Manager or action
by the Town Council.
The Director of the Office of Emergency Management will advise the Town
Manager on all matters pertaining to emergency management, and he or she will
coordinate the activities of the Town agencies, but will not assume control
over any agency or department of the Town of Mansfield other than the Office
of Emergency Management, unless directly ordered to do so by the Town Manager.
In an emergency situation, the Town Manager is empowered
to apply to the state and also, through the state, to federal agencies for
any appropriate disaster assistance which may be available.