[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Chalfont 9-20-1994 by Ord. No. 287-A (Ch. 1, Part 4, of the 2010 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 36.
Police Department — See Ch. 71.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 209.
Hazardous wastes — See Ch. 228.
A local emergency management agency is hereby established and shall be known as the "Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency."
The Borough of Chalfont 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 Chalfont Emergency Management Agency shall have the responsibility for emergency management and disaster response and recovery within the Borough of Chalfont. The Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency shall also provide emergency management and disaster response and recovery services outside the Borough of Chalfont as required by the terms and conditions of this chapter.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326]
A. 
A local disaster emergency may be declared by the Borough Council upon finding a disaster has occurred or is imminent. The Borough Council may authorize the Manager to declare a local disaster emergency subject to ratification by the Borough Council.
B. 
A local disaster emergency may only be declared using the procedure prescribed in Subsection A.
C. 
The declaration of a local disaster emergency shall not be continued or renewed for a period in excess of seven days unless approved by the Borough of Chalfont 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 and Bucks County Emergency Management Agency.
E. 
Upon declaration of a local disaster emergency, the applicable response and recovery aspects of the Municipal Local Emergency Management Plan shall be activated, including, when necessary, the provisions for water rationing and the imposition of a curfew, and all provisions for aid and assistance thereunder shall be authorized.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326]
Upon declaration of a disaster emergency, the Borough of Chalfont, pursuant to § 7501(b) 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 Chalfont is authorized to avail itself of the provisions of Act of August 5, 1941, P.L. 752, No. 286, known as the "Civil Service Act," 71 P.S. § 741.1 et seq., 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(b).
A. 
The Borough of Chalfont 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 of Chalfont Council.
B. 
The Coordinator of the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, upon recommendation of the Borough of Chalfont Council. The Borough of Chalfont Council may, upon agreement by resolution with adjoining municipalities, recommend to the Governor a candidate for Coordinator for emergency management activities in the said political subdivisions. The Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the Borough of Chalfont Council.
C. 
The Coordinator of the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency shall:
(1) 
Be professional, 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 Chalfont Emergency Management Agency.
(6) 
Responsibility for the professional in-service training of the Coordinator of the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Agency shall rest with the Emergency Management Coordinator of Bucks County.
D. 
The Borough of Chalfont will reimburse its Coordinator for actual expenses incurred as the result of his or her attendance at scheduled meetings and training programs.
The Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency is hereby directed to:
A. 
Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency plan for the Borough of Chalfont 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 Bucks County Emergency Management Plan.
B. 
Establish, equip and staff an emergency operations center for the Borough of Chalfont.
C. 
Establish a warning and communications system for the Borough of Chalfont 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 organizational training programs for police officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, ambulance personnel, emergency management volunteers and the general public to ensure prompt, efficient and effective disaster emergency services.
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 Chalfont Emergency Management Agency may adopt pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, including rules and regulations to implement programs such as water rationing and curfews, which are necessary to ensure the public safety.
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 of Chalfont on the status and programs of the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency, its personnel, programs and plans.
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 Borough of Chalfont 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 Chalfont that are particularly vulnerable to disaster.
P. 
Upon request of the Borough of Chalfont Council or designated official, assist the Borough of Chalfont and/or its police, fire, rescue or emergency medical services in handling and coordinating special nondisaster emergencies and situations.
The coordinator of the Borough of Chalfont 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 programs of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency. The agreements shall stipulate that direction of emergency disaster assistance is the responsibility of the lowest level of government affected, that the County Emergency Management Agency shall provide coordination and support when more than one political subdivision within Bucks 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, requests 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 Chalfont 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. 
Except during local disaster emergencies, the Borough of Chalfont Council shall:
(1) 
Approve all expenditures of the Borough of Chalfont 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 Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Plan.
B. 
All mutual aid agreements (§ 27-8) shall be ratified by the Borough of Chalfont 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 Chalfont Emergency Management Agency or to the Borough of Chalfont 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 Chalfont and shall be appropriated only for the purpose for which the gift or grants were made.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency or the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Advisory Council for providing representation to other boards or agencies, such as outside emergency management advisory boards, emergency health services councils, or regional communications committees that coordinate with or otherwise impact the delivery of emergency management services.
The Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency shall, with the approval of the Borough of Chalfont 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 Services Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act 1978-323, P.L. 1332, 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq., shall govern the emergency management activities of the Borough of Chalfont and the Borough of Chalfont Emergency Management Agency and its 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.