[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of High Bridge 2-9-2006 as Sec. 2-62 of the 2006 Code of the Borough of High Bridge.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited and referred to
as the "Emergency Management Ordinance of the Borough of High Bridge."
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to establish an
Emergency Management Office that will ensure the complete and efficient
utilization of all of the Borough's facilities to combat disaster
resulting from major emergencies, natural, man-made or nuclear disasters
or enemy attack.
The High Bridge Office of Emergency Management will be the coordinating
agency for all activity in connection with emergency management; it
will be the instrument through which the Mayor may exercise the authority
and discharge the responsibilities vested in him in the New Jersey
Civilian Defense Act of 1942, P.L. 1942, c. 251, as amended and supplemented,[1] and this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33.
This chapter will not relieve any Borough department of the
responsibilities or authority given to it in the Administrative Code
or by local ordinance, nor will it adversely affect the work of any
volunteer agency organized for relief in disaster emergencies.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
of this chapter:
The Coordinator of the High Bridge Office of Emergency Management,
appointed as prescribed in this chapter.
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 too large in scope or unusual
in type to be handled in its entirety by regular Borough operating
services.
Includes "disaster" and "war emergency" as defined in this
section.
The employees, equipment and Borough facilities of all departments,
boards, institutions and commissions; and, in addition, it shall include
all volunteer personnel, equipment and facilities contributed by or
obtained from volunteer persons or agencies.
Any person duly registered, identified and appointed by the
Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management and assigned to
participate in the emergency management activity.
Includes any disaster, or the imminence thereof, resulting
from natural or unnatural 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.
Includes plans, programs and other emergency procedures deemed
essential to civil defense.
Contributing a service, equipment or facilities to the emergency
management organization without remuneration.
Includes any disaster occurring anywhere within the Borough
as the result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
A.
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 Borough 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:9-33.
B.
The Mayor 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.
C.
The Coordinator is hereby authorized and directed to create an organization
for emergency management utilizing to the fullest extent the existing
agencies within this Borough. The Coordinator, as executive head of
the High Bridge Office of Emergency Management, shall be responsible
for its organization, administration and operations.
D.
The organization shall consist of the following:
(1)
An Office of Emergency Management will be designated by the Mayor.
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."
(2)
The employees, equipment and facilities of all Borough departments,
boards, institutions, authorities and commissions will participate
in emergency management activity when requested.
(3)
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to and accepted by
the Borough.
E.
The Coordinator shall designate and appoint, with the approval of
the Mayor, 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 Mayor in regard to all phases of the emergency management activity.
Under the supervision of the Mayor, he shall be responsible for the
planning, activation, coordination and operation of the emergency
management activity in the Borough. Under the supervision of the Mayor,
he shall maintain liaison with the county, state and federal authorities
and the authorities of other nearby political subdivisions 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. Coordinating the recruitment of volunteer personnel and
agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the Borough for
emergency management purposes. The Coordinator may require emergency
services of any Borough officer or employees. 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 ordinances for regular Borough 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 Borough for the fair value thereof.
(3)
Negotiating and concluding 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 referred
to as the "High Bridge Emergency Management Basic Plan."
(5)
Development and coordination of 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 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, educating 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)
Conducting 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 Mayor, 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 Borough of High Bridge in case of disaster when conditions
in the Borough are beyond the control of the local emergency management
organization and/or resources.
(9)
Assuming such authority and conducting such activity as the Mayor
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 Mayor and Council.
C.
Promulgation and implementation of regulations.
(1)
During any period when disaster threatens or when the Borough has
been struck by disaster, within the definition of this chapter, the
Mayor may promulgate such regulations, as he deems necessary to protect
life and property and preserve critical resources.
(2)
The Coordinator shall assist in implementing such regulations, including:
(a)
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 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.
(3)
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 an
ordinance when duly filed with the Clerk, and violations will be subject
to the penalties provided in 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 Borough 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 department head and/or annex deputy 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 Borough employees and volunteers. Each department
head and/or annex deputy 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 Borough 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 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 Borough on a volunteer basis. Such citizens
shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers in cooperation
with the heads of departments affected.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions
of this chapter or of the regulations or plans issued pursuant to
the authority contained herein, or to willfully obstruct, hinder or
delay any member of the emergency management organization as herein
defined in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or any
regulation or plan issued thereunder.
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.
