[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township of Howell
by Ord. No. O-80-4; amended in its
entirety by Ord. No. O-94-28 (Ch.
XIX of the 1974 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
and referred to as the "Emergency Services Ordinance of the Township
of Howell."
A.
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to establish
an office that will insure the complete and efficient utilization
of all of the Township's resources to combat disaster resulting from
disasters as defined herein.
B.
The Howell Township Office of Emergency Services will
be the coordinating agency for all activity in connection with civil
defense; it will be the instrument through which the Township Manager
may exercise the authority and discharge the responsibilities vested
in him.
C.
This chapter will not relieve any Township department
of the normal responsibilities or authority given to it by ordinances,
nor will it adversely affect the work of any volunteer agency organized
for relief in disaster emergencies.
The following definitions shall apply in the
interpretation of this chapter:
A direct or indirect assault against the Township, its government,
its environs, or of the nation, by the forces of a hostile nation
or the agents thereof, including assault by bombing radiological,
chemical or biological warfare, or sabotage.
Said person appointed as the Deputy Municipal Disaster Control
Director by the Director defined herein with the approval of the Township
Manager pursuant to N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.3.
The Director of the Howell Township Office of Emergency Services,
who shall fulfill the statutory responsibility of the Municipal Emergency
Management Coordinator as required by N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.1.
Includes, but is not limited to, actual or threatened enemy
attack, sabotage, extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic or other
impending or actual calamity endangering or threatening to endanger
health, life or property or constituted government.
A council of not more than 15 members who shall be appointed
by the Township Manager and shall hold the office at the will and
pleasure of the Township Manager, which Council shall assist the Township
in establishing the various local volunteer agencies needed to meet
the requirements of all local emergency management activities in accordance
with the rules and regulations established by the Governor of the
state pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-41.
In its broad meaning, to carry out the basic government functions
of maintaining the public peace, health and safety during an emergency.
This shall include plans and preparations for protection from, and
relief, recovery and rehabilitation from, the effects of an attack
on the Township by the forces of an enemy nation or the agents thereof,
and it shall also include such activity in connection with disaster
as defined herein. It shall not, however, include any activity that
is the primary responsibility of the military forces of the United
States or of the State of New Jersey.
The employees, equipment and resources of all Township departments,
boards, institutions and commissions; and, in addition, it shall include
all volunteer personnel, equipment and resources contributed by, or
obtained from, volunteer persons or agencies.
Any person duly registered, identified and appointed by the
Director of the Office of Emergency Services and assigned to participate
in the emergency services activity.
Include plans, programs and other emergency procedures deemed
essential to emergency services (civil defense).
Contributing a service, equipment or resources to the emergency
services organization without remuneration.
The Township Manager is hereby authorized and
directed to create an organization for emergency services (civil defense),
utilizing to the fullest extent the existing agencies within this
Township. The Township Manager, as executive head of the municipal
government, shall appoint the Director of the Howell Township Office
of Emergency Services and members of the Emergency Management Council,
and shall be responsible for their organization, administration and
operations in accordance with New Jersey State statutes.
The organization shall consist of the following:
A.
An Office of Emergency Services (civil defense) within
the executive branch of the Township government and under the direction
of the Township Manager. There shall be an executive head of the Office
of Emergency Services who shall be known as the "Director of the Office
of Emergency Services," and such assistants and other employees as
are deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the organization.
B.
The employees, equipment and resources of all Township
departments, boards, institutions and commissions will participate
in the emergency services activity. Duties assigned to a Township
department shall be the same or similar to the normal duties of the
department.
C.
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to
and accepted by the Township.
A.
The Township Manager shall appoint a Director of the
Howell Township Office of Emergency Services, in accordance with the
New Jersey statutes, who shall be a person well versed and trained
in planning operations involving the activities of many different
agencies, which will operate to protect the public health, safety
and welfare in the event of danger from enemy action or disaster as
defined in this chapter. The Director shall be a resident of the Township,
or reside within a reasonable proximity of the municipality to ensure
a prompt response or coordination of municipal resources for an local
incident. The Director shall serve for a term of three years. As a
condition of his or her appointment and his or her right to continue
for the full term of his or her employment, he or she shall have successfully
completed at the time of his or her appointment or within one year
immediately following his or her appointment the current approved
home study course and the basic emergency management workshop. Failure
to fulfill such requirement within the period prescribed shall disqualify
the individual from continuing the office of Director, and thereupon
a vacancy in said office shall be deemed to have been created.
[Amended 2-6-2024 by Ord. No. 24-02]
B.
The Emergency Services Director shall designate and
appoint Deputy Directors, with the approval of the Township Manager,
to assume the emergency duties of the Director in the event of his
or her absence or inability to act. Wherever possible, such Deputy
shall be appointed from among the salaried officers or employees of
the Township.
A.
The Manager may exercise the emergency power and authority
necessary to fulfill his or her general powers and duties as defined
in the ordinances of the Township. The judgment of the Township Manager
shall be the sole criteria necessary to invoke emergency powers provided
in the Charter, the Ordinance Code, and other appropriate authorities.
Wherever practical the Township Manager shall consult telephonically
or in person with members of the Township Council prior to exercising
his emergency powers herein. The Township Council may convene to perform
its legislative and administrative powers, as the situation demands,
and shall receive reports relative to emergency services activities.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as abridging or curtailing
the powers or restrictions of the Township Council as defined in Township
ordinances and statutes of the State of New Jersey.
B.
During any period when disaster threatens or when
the Township has been struck by disaster, within the definition or
this chapter, the Township Manager, or, in his or her absence, the
Emergency Services Director, may promulgate such regulations as he
or she deems necessary, to protect life and property and preserve
natural resources. Such regulations may include, but shall not be
limited to, the following:
(1)
Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement
of vehicles in order to facilitate the work of emergency services
(civil defense) forces, or to facilitate the mass movement of persons
from critical areas within or without the Township.
(2)
Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons
from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(3)
Such other regulations necessary to preserve public
peace, health and safety.
(4)
Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority above will be given widespread circulation by proclamations published and uttered by newspapers and radio. These regulations will have the force of ordinance when duly filed with the Township Clerk, and violations will be subject to the penalties provided in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty, of the Township Code.
C.
The Emergency Services Director shall coordinate the
movement of emergency services forces to the aid of other communities,
when required, in accordance with the statutes of the state, and he
or she may request the state, or a political subdivision of the state,
to send aid to the Township of Howell in case of disaster when conditions
in the Township are beyond the control of the local emergency services
forces.
A.
The Director of the Office of Emergency Services (civil
defense) shall be responsible to the Township Manager in regard to
all phases of the emergency services activity. Under the supervision
of the Township Manager, he or she shall be responsible for the planning,
coordination and operation of the emergency services activity in the
Township. Under the supervision of the Township Manager, he or she
shall maintain liaison with the county, state and federal authorities
and the authorities of other nearby political subdivisions as to insure
the most effective operation of the plan.
B.
His or her duties shall include, but not be limited
to, the following:
(1)
Coordinating the recruitment of volunteer personnel
and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the Township
for emergency services purposes.
(2)
Development and coordination of plans for the immediate
use of all the facilities, equipment, manpower and other resources
of the Township for the purpose of minimizing or preventing damage
to persons and property; and protecting and restoring to usefulness
governmental services and public utilities necessary for the public
health, safety and welfare.
(3)
Negotiating and concluding agreements with owners
or persons in control of buildings or other property, for the use
of such buildings or other property for the emergency services purposes
and designating suitable buildings as public shelters.
(4)
Through public and informational programs, educating
the civilian population as to actions necessary and required for the
protection of their persons and property in case of enemy attack,
or disaster, as defined herein, either impending or present.
(5)
Conducting public practice alerts to insure the efficient
operation of the emergency services forces, and to familiarize residents
with emergency services regulations, procedures and operations.
(6)
Coordinating the activity of all other public and
private agencies engaged in any emergency services activity.
(7)
Assuming such authority and conducting such activity
as the Township Manager may direct, to promote and execute the emergency
services operations plan.
A.
Membership. The Emergency Management Council shall
be composed of not more than 15 members who shall be appointed by
the Township Manager and who shall hold office at the will and pleasure
of the Township Manager. The Director of the Howell Township Office
of Emergency Services shall be a member and shall serve as the Chairman
of the Emergency Management Council. It shall be lawful for the members
of the Emergency Management Council also to be members of other agencies
created because of any emergency.
B.
Duties. The Emergency Management Council shall assist
the Township in establishing the various local volunteer agencies
needed to meet the requirements of all local emergency management
activities in accordance with the rules and regulations established
by the Governor in pursuance of the provisions of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-41
et seq. The Emergency Management Council is authorized to establish
an adequate organization to assist in supervising and coordinating
the emergency management activities of the Township.
A.
A comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan shall be
adopted and maintained by resolution of the Township Council, upon
the recommendations of the Mayor. In the preparation of this plan,
as it pertains to Township organization, it is the intent that the
services, equipment, resources and personnel of all existing departments
and agencies shall be used to the fullest extent. When approved, it
shall be the duty of all municipal departments and agencies to perform
the functions assigned by the plan and to maintain their portion of
the plan in a current state of readiness at all times. The Emergency
Operations Plan shall be considered supplementary to this chapter
and have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as defined in this
chapter, has been proclaimed.
B.
The Director shall prescribe in the plan those positions
within the disaster organization, in addition to his own, for which
lines of succession are necessary. The list of succession will, as
nearly as possible, designate persons best capable of carrying out
all assigned duties and functions.
C.
Each coordinator and department head assigned responsibility
in the plan shall be responsible for carrying out all duties and functions
assigned therein. Duties will include the organization and training
of assigned Township employees and volunteers. Each coordinator shall
formulate the operational plan for his service, which, when approved,
shall be an annex to and a part of the basic plan.
D.
Amendments to the plan shall be approved by the Mayor.
E.
When a required competency or skill for a disaster
function is not available within the Township government, the Director
is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government.
The assigned duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall grant authority
for the persons so assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during,
and after the occurrence of a disaster. Such services from persons
outside of government may be accepted by the Township on a volunteer
basis. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency services volunteers
in cooperation with the heads of Township departments affected.
A.
This chapter is an exercise by the Township of its
governmental functions for the protection of the public peace, health
and safety, and neither the Township nor agents and representatives
of the Township, or any individual, receiver, firm, partnership, corporation,
association, or trustee, or any of the agents thereof, in good faith
carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with any order,
rule or regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter, shall be liable for any damage sustained to persons or property
as the result of said activity.
B.
Any person owning or controlling real estate or other
premises, who voluntarily and without compensation grants the Township
the right to inspect, designate and use the whole or any part or parts
of such real estate or premises for the purpose of sheltering persons
during an actual, impending or practice attack or disaster or emergency,
shall not be civilly liable for the death of or injury to any persons
on or about such real estate or premises under such license, privilege
or other permission, or for the loss of, or damage to, the property
of such person in accordance with New Jersey State statutes.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate
any of the provisions of this chapter, or of the regulations or plans
issued pursuant to the authority contained herein, or to willfully
obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency services organization,
as herein defined, in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
or any regulation or plan issued thereunder.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any
provision of this chapter, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder,
upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than
$500, and costs of prosecution, or imprisonment in the Monmouth County
Jail for a period of not more than 90 days, or both such fine and
imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
