[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Northampton 3-7-1991 by Ord. No. 1033 (Ch. 1, Part 11, of the 1993 Code
of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A local emergency management agency is hereby established and
shall be known as the "Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency."
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency is established
pursuant to the provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code
(35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.).
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency shall
have the responsibility for emergency management and disaster response
and recovery within the Borough of Northampton. The Borough of Northampton
Emergency Management Agency shall also provide emergency management
and disaster response and recovery services outside the Borough of
Northampton as required by the terms and conditions of this chapter.
A.
A local disaster emergency may be declared by the Mayor or Borough
Council President. In addition, the appointed coordinator is hereby
authorized to declare a local disaster emergency subject to ratification
by the Northampton Borough Council within 72 hours of such declaration.
B.
A local disaster emergency shall only be declared upon finding by
the Mayor, Borough Council President, or appointed coordinator that
a disaster has occurred or is imminent.
C.
The declaration of a local disaster emergency shall not be continued
or renewed for a period in excess of 72 hours unless approved by the
Borough Council.
D.
Any order or proclamation declaring, continuing or terminating a
local disaster emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity,
and a copy of any such order or proclamation shall be filed promptly
with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
E.
Upon declaration of a local disaster emergency, the applicable response
and recovery aspects of the Borough of Northampton local emergency
management plan shall be activated, and all provisions for aid and
assistance thereunder shall be authorized.
Upon declaration of a disaster emergency, the Borough of Northampton,
pursuant to § 7501(c) of the Emergency Management Services
Code,[1] shall be authorized to exercise the powers granted in
this chapter without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities
prescribed by law (excepting mandatory constitutional requirements)
pertaining to the performance of public work, entering into contracts,
the incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers,
the rental of equipment, the purchase of supplies and materials, the
levying of taxes and the appropriation and expenditure of public funds.
In addition, upon the declaration of a disaster emergency, the Borough
of Northampton is authorized to avail itself of the provisions of
the Act of August 5, 1941, (P.L. 752, No. 286), known as the "Civil
Defense Act,"[2] in connection with the employment of personnel in local
organizations established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A.
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency shall have
a Coordinator who shall be responsible for the planning, administration,
and operation of the agency subject to the direction and control of
the Borough Council.
B.
The Coordinator of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
upon recommendation of the Borough Council. The Borough Council may
recommend to the Governor a candidate for Coordinator for emergency
management activities. The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the Borough Council.
C.
The Coordinator of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency shall:
(1)
Be professionally competent and capable of planning, effecting and
coordinating operations among agencies of government and controlling
coordinated operations by local emergency preparedness forces.
(2)
Attend and successfully complete the first phase of the career development
program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
within one year after appointment.
(3)
Attend and successfully complete the second phase of the career development
program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
within three years after appointment.
(4)
Attend basic and advanced seminars, workshops and training conferences
called by the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
and/or its Director of Training and Education.
(5)
Failure to attend and successfully complete the career development
program phases, as described above, or failure to attend a prescribed
training program for two consecutive years shall be cause for replacement
of the Coordinator of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency.
(6)
Responsibility for the professional in-service training of the Coordinator
of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency shall rest
with the Emergency Management Coordinator of Northampton County.
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency is hereby
directed to:
A.
Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency plan for
the Borough of Northampton for the prevention and minimizing of injury
and damage caused by disaster, for prompt and effective response to
disaster and for disaster emergency relief and recovery in consonance
with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Plan and the Northampton
County Emergency Management Plan.
B.
Establish, equip, and staff an emergency operations center for the
Borough of Northampton.
C.
Establish a warning and communications system for the Borough of
Northampton that will support governmental operations in emergencies.
D.
Provide essential facilities and equipment to those agencies and
organizations that have been assigned emergency functions under the
provisions of this chapter.
E.
Provide individual and organization training programs for police
officers, fire fighters, rescue personnel, ambulance personnel, fire
police, emergency management volunteers and the general public to
insure prompt, efficient and effective disaster emergency service.
F.
Organize, prepare, and coordinate all locally available manpower,
materials, supplies, equipment, and facilities necessary for disaster
emergency readiness, response and recovery.
G.
Adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate the anticipated
effects of a disaster.
H.
Execute and enforce such rules, regulations and orders as the Borough
of Northampton Emergency Management Agency may adopt pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter.
I.
Cooperate and coordinate with any public and private agencies or
entities in achieving any purpose of this chapter.
J.
Have available for inspection at its emergency operations center
all emergency management plans, rules, regulations, and orders of
the Governor and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
K.
Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local disaster
emergencies to appropriate commonwealth and local officials and agencies
and the general public.
L.
Make monthly reports to the Borough Council on the status and programs
of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency, its personnel,
programs, and plan.
M.
Execute and enforce such rules and orders as may be adopted by the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
N.
Make timely recommendations to and secure the consent of the Northampton
Borough Council concerning the development of plans, the acquisition
of materials, supplies, and equipment and the development of a budget
for the agency, except as provided for in disaster emergencies.
O.
Identify areas within the Borough of Northampton that are particularly
vulnerable to disaster.
P.
Upon request of Borough Council or the Borough Manager, assist the
Borough of Northampton and/or its police, fire, rescue, or emergency
medical services in handling and coordinating special, non-disaster
emergencies and situations.
A.
In support of the programs and activities of the Borough of Northampton
Emergency Management Agency, the Borough Council shall appoint, upon
recommendation of the Emergency Management Coordinator, an Emergency
Management Advisory Council consisting not more than 12 members. Members
of the Emergency Management Advisory Council shall include the Mayor,
Council President, Council Vice President, the Chief of Police, the
Captain of the Fire Police, Captain of the Ambulance Association,
the Chief of the Fire Department, Borough Manager, a practicing physician
or nurse, a representative of the Chapter of the American Red Cross
and two at-large residents of the community.
(1)
With the exception of the at-large resident members, the members
of the Emergency Management Advisory Council shall service continuously
during their term of public office except for the physician or nurse,
who shall serve until replaced by the Borough Council.
(2)
Upon initial appointment to the Emergency Management Advisory Council,
all at-large resident representatives shall be appointed for three-year
terms.
(3)
At-large resident members on the Emergency Management Advisory Council
shall serve not more than three consecutive terms.
(4)
Only designated members of the Emergency Management Advisory Council
may vote on matters before the Council.
B.
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Advisory Council
shall:
(1)
Elect its own chairman and other officers as the body may deem appropriate.
(2)
Provide recommendations and assistance to the Coordinator as deemed
appropriate concerning the plans, activities, and role of the Borough
of Northampton Emergency Management Agency.
(3)
Assist in the preparation and maintenance of the Northampton Borough
Disaster Emergency Plan.
(4)
Recruit and assist in the training of emergency personnel and represent
the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency at training
programs, seminars and public meetings.
(5)
Provide whatever other aid or assistance that the Coordinator may
request.
The Coordinator of the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency shall develop and maintain mutual aid agreements with adjacent
political subdivisions for reciprocal emergency assistance. The agreements
shall be consistent with the plans and program of the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency and the Northampton County Emergency Management
Agency. The agreements shall stipulate that direction of emergency
disaster assistance is the responsibility of the lower levels of government
affected, that the County Emergency Management Agency shall provide
coordination and support when more than one political subdivision
within Northampton County is affected, and that the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency or its area organization shall provide coordination
and support when two or more counties are affected. In disaster emergencies,
request for mutual aid assistance shall be referred to the organization,
as outlined above, having responsibility for coordination and, in
time of emergency, it shall be the duty of the Borough of Northampton
Emergency Management Agency to render assistance in accordance with
these mutual aid agreements. In all cases, support services provided
from outside the affected area shall remain under the command and
control of the receiving area.
A.
Northampton Borough Council shall:
(1)
Approve all expenditures of the Borough of Northampton Emergency
Management Agency in advance.
(2)
Approve attendance and participation of personnel of the Emergency
Management Agency at training sessions, seminars, and meetings.
(3)
Review and approve the Northampton Borough Emergency Management Plan.
Any gift or grants of monies made to the Borough of Northampton
Emergency Management Agency or to the Borough of Northampton for the
payment of expenses incurred or to be incurred by or for the Emergency
Management Agency shall be deposited in the treasury of the Borough
of Northampton and shall be appropriated only for the purpose for
which the gift or grant was made.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the
Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Advisory Council from
providing representation to other boards or agencies, as outside emergency
management advisory boards, emergency health services councils, regional
communication committees, that coordinate with or otherwise impact
the delivery of emergency management services.
The Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Agency shall,
with the approval of the Borough Council, adopt such insignia and/or
other identifying marks or markings as are necessary to ensure the
correct, prompt identification of its personnel, equipment and facilities.
The provisions of the Emergency Management Service Code of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act 1978-323 (P.L. 1332)[1] shall govern the emergency management activities of the
Borough of Northampton and the Borough of Northampton Emergency Management
Agency and its Borough of Northampton Emergency Management Advisory
Council except in circumstances where the Emergency Management Services
Code does not address local provisions or conditions provided for
by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.
