[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
West Reading 3-18-2008 by Ord.
No. 969 (Ch. I, Part 16, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances).
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A local emergency response team comprised of various Berks County
municipalities is established to provide the residents and citizens
of the respective municipalities and communities with more efficient,
responsive, cost effective and competent emergency response services
consistent with the requirements of applicable laws and with the objectives
of protecting the health, safety and welfare of municipal residents
and landowners.
This chapter is adopted pursuant to authority granted in:
A.
The Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8951
et seq., as amended, or as it may be amended from time to time (the
Jurisdiction Act);
B.
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, Act 177 of 1996
(53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2301 et seq.) as amended, or as it may be
amended from time to time (the Cooperation Act).
The following words or phrases, when used in this chapter, shall
have the meanings indicated:
The Berks County Emergency Response Team created by various
Berks County municipalities and other entities under and pursuant
to this chapter and similar ordinances or resolutions, as appropriate,
under authority of the Jurisdiction Act.
The Borough of West Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Pursuant to and in accordance with the above-referenced authority,
the Borough is hereby authorized to become a member of and to participate
in the Agency.
Pursuant to and in accordance with the above-referenced authority,
the Borough is hereby authorized and directed to enter into the intergovernmental
cooperation agreement which governs the Agency and its affairs, a
copy of which is on file in the office of the Borough and incorporated
herein by reference thereto (the Agreement).
The Agency created and existing under and by virtue of the authority
of the Jurisdiction Act, the Cooperation Act and this chapter shall
be comprised of representatives of the municipalities creating and
participating in the Agency. The participation of the Borough in the
Agency shall be governed and controlled by the terms and conditions
of the Agreement, as duly amended, the provisions of applicable Pennsylvania
laws and regulations, and such other policies as may be duly adopted
by the Agency in accordance with the Agreement.
The Agency and its activities shall be operated with funds provided
by the participating municipalities in accordance with the provisions
of the Agreement referred to above, and such other grants or funding
as may be available.
The Agency and the Agreement governing it shall be for an indefinite
term and dependent upon the continued participation of the various
member municipalities but, in any event, not less than three years.
Thereafter, participating municipalities can withdraw from the Agency
upon reasonable notice as provided for in the Agreement.
A.
The Chief of Police of the Borough or his designee within his department
as determined by the Borough shall serve on the Board of Chiefs of
the Agency.
B.
The governing body of the Borough shall authorize, budget, appropriate
and pay in a timely manner such initial and annual fees and other
necessary charges as provided for under the Agreement to provide the
Agency with fiscal resources for its operational requirements, to
the extent that such goals and objectives are consistent with and
in the best interest of the Borough.
The powers and duties of the Agency, its officials, employees
and representatives, shall be as set forth in this chapter, the Agreement
and the other laws, regulations and instruments governing its organization
and operation.
All property shall be acquired, managed, or disposed of pursuant
to the Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. No
acquisition of real property or real estate is authorized.
Although there is no current authority for Agency employees,
in the event the Agency is subsequently granted authority by the participating
municipalities to hire employees, then the Agency shall be empowered
to enter into contracts for policies of group insurance and employee
benefits for its employees.
