The New York State Defense Emergency Act, in § 29-a thereof, authorizes political subdivisions
of the state to provide for the continuity of their governments in
the event of an actual or imminent attack upon the United States by
an enemy or foreign nation. Section 27 of the Executive Law authorizes
political subdivisions to provide for the continuity of their governments
in the event of other public disasters, catastrophes or emergencies.
Based on the authority contained in such laws, this chapter is adopted
so that on such occasions the government of the County of Saratoga,
New York, may continue to function properly and efficiently under
emergency circumstances.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall mean and
include:
ATTACK
Any attack, actual or imminent, or series of attacks by an
enemy or foreign nation upon the United States causing, or which may
cause, substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons
in the United States in any manner by sabotage or by the use of bombs,
shell fire, or nuclear, radiological, chemical, bacteriological means
or other weapons or processes.
DULY AUTHORIZED DEPUTY
A person authorized to perform all the powers and duties
of a public office in the event the office is vacant or at such times
as it lacks administration due to the death, absence or disability
of the incumbent officer, where such authorization is provided pursuant
to the provisions of any general, special, or local law other than
this chapter.
EMERGENCY INTERIM SUCCESSOR
A person designated pursuant to this chapter for possible
temporary succession to the powers and duties, but not the office,
of a County officer in the event that neither such officer nor any
duly authorized deputy is able, due to death, absence from the County,
or other physical, mental, or legal reasons, to perform the powers
and duties of the office.
PUBLIC DISASTER
A disaster, catastrophe or emergency, actual or imminent,
of such unusual proportions or extent that a substantial number of
the residents of the County of Saratoga either sustain injury, become
ill, are infected with disease, have their lives imperiled, are killed
or die as the result of injury, disease or exposure, or the property
of a substantial number of such residents is imperiled, damaged, or
destroyed, and it is necessary and essential in the interest of public
safety, health and welfare that the continuity of the government of
the County of Saratoga be assured in order that it be enabled to function
properly and efficiently and to exercise its essential powers in meeting
emergency conditions. Such disasters, catastrophes and emergencies
may include, but shall not be limited to, conflagrations, explosions,
earthquakes or other convulsions of nature, floods, tidal waves, pestilence,
riots, insurrections, storms, prolonged failure of electric power
or essential transportation services, or any incident or occurrence
which causes or threatens to cause danger to life, health or property
from exposure to noxious materials or radiation.
If, in the event of an attack or a public disaster, an officer described in §
12-3A or
B of this chapter or his duly authorized deputy, if any, is unable, due to death, absence from the County, or other physical, mental, or legal reasons, to perform the powers and duties of the office, the emergency interim successor of such officer highest in rank in order of succession who is able to perform the powers and duties of the office shall, except for the power and duty to discharge or replace duly authorized deputies and emergency interim successors of such officer, perform the powers and duties of such officer. An emergency interim successor shall perform such powers and duties only until such time as the lawful incumbent officer or his duly authorized deputy, if any, or an emergency interim successor higher in rank in order of succession resumes the office or undertakes the performance of the powers and duties of the office, as the case may be, or until, where an actual vacancy exists, a successor is duly elected or appointed to fill such vacancy and qualifies as provided by law.
The County Director of Emergency Services shall be responsible
for the coordination of all activities and appointments hereunder.
The name, address and rank in order of succession of each duly
authorized deputy and emergency interim successor shall be filed with
the County Clerk and each designation, replacement, or change in order
of succession of any emergency interim successor shall become effective
when the designator files with the County Clerk the successor's
name, address and rank in order of succession. The County Clerk shall
keep an up-to-date file of all such data regarding duly authorized
deputies and emergency interim successors and the same shall be open
to public inspection. The County Clerk shall notify in writing each
designated person of the filing of his name as an emergency interim
successor and his rank in order of succession and also shall notify
in writing any person previously designated who is replaced or whose
place in order of succession is changed. Copies of all such notifications
by the County Clerk shall be filed with the County Director of Emergency
Services.
At the time of their designation, or as soon thereafter as possible,
emergency interim successors shall take such oath and do such other
things, if any, as may be required to qualify them to perform the
powers and duties of the office to which they may succeed.
In the event of an attack or a public disaster, the Chair of
the Board of Supervisors of Saratoga County, New York, or his duly
authorized deputy or emergency interim successor performing his powers
and duties, may suspend quorum requirements for the Board of Supervisors.
If quorum requirements are suspended, any local law, ordinance, resolution,
or other action requiring enactment, adoption or approval by an affirmative
vote of a specified proportion of members may be enacted, adopted
or approved by the affirmative vote of the specified proportion of
those voting thereon.
This chapter shall take effect upon its adoption and the filing
of one certified copy thereof with the County Clerk, one certified
copy in the Office of the State Comptroller and three certified copies
in the Office of the Secretary of State.