[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Chatham 9-9-2013 by Ord. No. 13-17.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted
as Ch. 10 but was renumbered to maintain the organizational structure
of the Code.
The purpose is to formally authorize the execution of the mutual
aid agreement known as the "Morris County Regional Emergency Deployment
System (MCREDS)" with each of the municipalities within the County
of Morris in case of emergency.
A.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156 et seq., in the event of an emergency
the chief or other head of any municipal police department and force
or any park police department or system, municipal fire department
and force, volunteer fire company, or first aid or ambulance squad,
corps or company, or the mayor or chief executive officer of the municipality
may request from the chief or other head of the police department
and force of any other municipality assistance outside the territorial
jurisdiction of the department to which such request is directed for
police aid, in order to protect life and property or to assist in
suppressing a riot or disorder, and while so acting the members of
the police department and force supplying such aid shall have the
same powers and authority as have the members of the police department
and force of the municipality in which such aid is being rendered.
B.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.1 et seq., the governing bodies of
two or more municipalities may by reciprocal ordinances enter into
agreements with each other for mutual police or fire aid in case of
emergency.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.1 et seq., there is hereby established
the mutual aid agreement known as the Morris County Regional Emergency
Deployment System (MCREDS) among and between each of the municipalities
within the County of Morris for the provision of mutual aid in the
event of an emergency. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute such
agreements and the Borough Clerk is hereby authorized and directed
to attest such agreements and affix the municipal seal thereto.
This chapter shall take effect upon final passage and publication
according to law. It shall become effective with respect to the Borough's
agreement with another municipality when such other municipality has
adopted a reciprocal ordinance to provide mutual aid in the event
of an emergency and has entered into a shared service agreement with
the Borough pursuant to law.
A.
The participation by the Borough shall be pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth in the mutual aid agreement, as adopted and executed
by the Borough, in conjunction with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.1
et seq. and as set forth herein. Any future amendments or modifications
to the mutual aid agreement shall not require an amendment to this
chapter, provided that such amended or modified agreement is not inconsistent
with the terms and conditions set forth herein and is authorized by
proper resolution of the Borough.
B.
The mutual aid agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the
following terms and conditions:
(1)
Each party agrees that, in the event of an emergency, disaster or
widespread crisis within the municipal jurisdiction of any other party,
the appropriate services and assistance will be provided upon request
to the extent reasonably possible without endangering persons or property
within the municipality rendering such assistance.
(2)
All mutual aid rendered pursuant to the mutual aid agreement and
the Morris County Regional Emergency Deployment System (MCREDS) shall
be provided without charge or expense to the municipality receiving
such assistance. By executing the mutual aid agreement, each party
acknowledges that it shall be solely responsible for the provision
of any and all salary and other benefits for its personnel, whether
paid or volunteer, rendering assistance within the other municipality,
to the same extent as if such personnel were performing their duties
within the municipality providing the assistance.
(3)
The mutual aid agreement shall have an initial term of one year and
shall be automatically renewed for additional and successive one-year
terms, unless and until one of the parties thereto elects to terminate
the agreement by providing prior written notice to the other parties
to the agreement.
