[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.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire department — See Ch. 28.
Police department — See Ch. 50.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7501(c).
[2]
Editor's Note: See now 35 Pa.C.S.A § 7101 et seq.
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.
B. 
All mutual aid agreements (§ 19-9) shall be ratified by the Borough Council and by the governing bodies of the other affected municipalities prior to implementation.
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.