Dutchess County, NY Article XVIII Department of Emergency Response

[Added 12-6-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993; amended 12-4-2014 by L.L. No. 1-2015]

Section 18.01 Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; term.

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.

Section 18.02 Powers and duties of Commissioner.

(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).

Section 18.03 Deputy Commissioners and staff.

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.

Section 18.04 Acting Commissioner.

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.