[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.]
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.
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.
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.
