[Added 12-6-1993 by L.L.
No. 8-1993; amended 12-4-2014 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
There shall be a Department of Emergency Response under the
direction of a Commissioner of Emergency Response, who shall be appointed
by the County Executive subject to confirmation by the County Legislature.
He/She shall be appointed on the basis of his/her professional experience
and other qualifications for the responsibilities of his/her office.
He/She shall be directly responsible to, and serve at the pleasure
of, the County Executive. The Department of Emergency Response shall
be the Office of Civil Defense for the County of Dutchess in accordance
with the applicable sections of Title 26, State Defense, Article 3,
Civil Defense, of the New York State Unconsolidated Laws.
(a)
The Emergency Response Commissioner shall also have the title of
"Local Director of Civil Defense" and have power and duties associated
with this title as set forth in New York State Unconsolidated Laws
§ 9122 et seq. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the
Emergency Response Commissioner is authorized to delegate the powers
and duties of the Local Director of Civil Defense to a qualified County
employee.
(b)
The Emergency Response Commissioner shall also have the title of
"County Fire Coordinator" and have the powers and duties associated
with this title as set forth in New York State County Law § 225-a.
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Emergency Response Commissioner
is authorized to delegate the powers and duties of the County Fire
Coordinator to a qualified County employee.
(c)
The Emergency Response Commissioner shall also have the title "EMS
(Emergency Medical Services) Coordinator" and have the powers and
duties associated with this title as set forth in New York State County
Law § 223-b. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the
Emergency Response Commissioner is authorized to delegate the powers
and duties of the EMS Coordinator to a qualified County Employee.
(d)
The Emergency Response Commissioner shall be responsible for the
operation of the Dutchess County Public Service Answering Point (E-9-1-1
Communications Center).
The Commissioner of Emergency Response shall have the power
to appoint such Deputy Commissioners, assistants and employees of
his/her department as shall be authorized by the County Legislature.
All such appointees shall be directly responsible to, and serve at
the pleasure of, the Commissioner, except as otherwise provided by
this Charter, the Administrative Code or applicable law.
The Commissioner of Emergency Response, subject to approval
by the County Executive, shall designate in writing, and in order
of succession, the Deputy Commissioners and assistants who shall be
Acting Commissioner of Emergency Response in the event of his/her
absence from the County or inability to perform and exercise the duties
of his/her office. Such designation shall be filed with the County
Clerk and the Clerk of the County Legislature and may be revoked at
any time by the Commissioner of Emergency Response by filing a new
written designation and order of succession. The Acting Commissioner
of Emergency Response shall have all the powers and perform all the
duties of the Commissioner.
