In addition to and/or in connection with the exercise of the
powers specified in this chapter, the Mayor shall, in carrying out
the provisions thereof:
A.
Utilize to the maximum extent practicable the services, equipment,
supplies and facilities of existing departments, offices, and agencies
of the Town, including any Community Emergency Response Team (CERT),
and the state, counties and other municipal corporations organized
under the laws of the state consistent with any applicable intergovernmental
agreements (i.e., memoranda of understanding); and
B.
In the event of a disaster and upon the proclamation by the Governor
or the Mayor of the existence of such disaster, command the service
and equipment of as many citizens as the Mayor considers necessary
in the light of the disaster proclaimed, provided that citizens so
commandeered shall be entitled during the period of such service to
all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by this chapter,
and federal and state civil defense regulations for registered civil
defense or emergency services workers; and
C.
The Mayor may at any time appoint or authorize the appointment of
volunteer citizens to augment the personnel of any Town activity in
time of an emergency. Such volunteer citizens shall be enrolled as
emergency management volunteers in cooperation with the heads of the
Town departments affected and shall be subject to any rules and regulations
set forth by the Mayor. Except for Town officials having subscribed
to the oath pursuant to Section 1301 of the Town Charter, each person
serving as a member of the Emergency Operations Committee or similar
advisory council or committee, or as an employee or volunteer in any
capacity in the Town's emergency management or similar organization,
shall, prior to assuming his duties, take an oath which shall be substantially
as follows:
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I, _______________do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
and the Constitution of this state against all enemies, foreign or
domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge
the duties upon which I am about to enter, and I do further swear
(or affirm) that I do not advocate the overthrow of the government
of the United States or of this state by force or violence; and that
during such time, as I am a member of the Town of North Brentwood's
emergency management organization, I will not advocate nor become
a member or an affiliate of any organization, group or combination
of persons or of any political party that advocates the overthrow
of the government of the United States or of this state by force or
violence.
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D.
Emergency management volunteers assigned to duty during a period
of natural disaster or civil emergency in the Town shall be eligible
for the benefits of the State Workers' Compensation Law at a rate
of compensation commensurate with that of persons performing similar
work under conditions of regular employment.
Plans and programs for executing emergency powers, including
a disaster readiness and response plan or emergency management/continuity
of operations plan, shall be prepared and kept current under the direction
of the Mayor, who shall submit such plans and programs and proposed
amendments thereto to the Town Council for review and approval by
resolution. Upon such approval, the Mayor shall be authorized to exercise
in accordance with such plans and programs the powers provided therein.
The Mayor shall cause any proclamation or order issued pursuant
to the authority of this chapter to be delivered to the Governor of
the state and, to the extent practicable, to all news media within
or near the Town, and shall utilize as many other available such means,
including, but not limited to, posting on public facilities, signs,
public address systems, newsletters, newspapers, Town internet websites
or social media accounts as may be practical to use and as shall be
necessary in his judgment, in order to give the widest dissemination
of such proclamations and orders to the public.
A person or business entity's responsible party, owner
or executive is guilty of failure to obey the Mayor's or Council's
emergency order when he or she knowingly violates any order issued
under authority of this chapter. It is unlawful for anyone to fail
or refuse to obey an order proclaimed by the Mayor or Council pursuant
to the provisions of this chapter. Anyone convicted of a violation
of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 180 days,
or both such fine and imprisonment. Pursuant to § 14-114
of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, a
person who willfully violates an order, rule, or regulation issued
under the authority of the Governor pursuant to the Maryland Emergency
Management Agency Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction,
is subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding
$5,000, or both.
