[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Glassboro 10-8-1985 by Ord. No. 85-13. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
and referred to as the "Emergency Management Ordinance of the Borough
of Glassboro."
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter
to establish an Emergency Management Office that will ensure the complete
and efficient utilization of all of the Borough's facilities to combat
disaster resulting from major emergencies, natural, man-made or nuclear
disasters or enemy attack.
The Glassboro Office of Emergency Management
will be the coordinating agency for all activity in connection with
emergency management; it will be the instrument through which the
Mayor may exercise the authority and discharge the responsibilities
vested in him in the New Jersey Civil Defense Act of 1942, P.L. 1942,
c. 251, as amended and supplemented,[1] and this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et
seq.
This chapter will not relieve any Borough department
of the responsibilities or authority given to it in the Administrative
Code or by local ordinance, 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:
The Coordinator of the Glassboro Office of Emergency Management,
appointed as prescribed in this chapter.
An unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural causes
which endangers the health, safety or resources of the residents of
this Borough and which is or may become too large in scope or unusual
in type to be handled in its entirety by regular Borough operating
services.
Includes "disaster" and "war emergency" as defined in this
section.
The employees, equipment and Borough facilities of all departments,
boards, institutions and commissions; and, in addition, it shall include
all volunteer personnel, equipment and facilities contributed by or
obtained from volunteer persons or agencies.
Any person duly registered, identified and appointed by the
Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management and assigned to
participate in the emergency management activity.
Includes any disaster, or the imminence thereof, resulting
from natural or unnatural causes other than enemy attack and limited
to the extent of that action by the Governor under the New Jersey
Emergency Management Disaster Control Act[1] is not required.
Include plans, programs and other emergency procedures deemed
essential to civil defense.
Contributing a service, equipment or facilities to the emergency
management organization without remuneration.
Includes any disaster occurring anywhere within the Borough
as the result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et
seq.
A.
The Mayor shall appoint not more than 15 members to
an Emergency Management Council. Members shall hold office at the
will and pleasure of the Mayor. The Emergency Management Coordinator
shall be a member and shall serve as Chairman of the Emergency Management
Council. The Emergency Management Council shall assist the Borough
in establishing the various local volunteer support needed to meet
the requirements of all emergency management and disaster control
activities in accordance with rules and regulations established by
the Governor in pursuance of the provisions of P.L. 1942, c. 251,
as amended,[1] and this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et
seq.
B.
The Mayor shall appoint an Emergency Management Coordinator,
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 emergencies as defined in this chapter.
C.
The Coordinator is hereby authorized and directed
to create an organization for emergency management utilizing to the
fullest extent the existing agencies within this Borough. The Coordinator,
as executive head of the Glassboro Office of Emergency Management,
shall be responsible for its organization, administration and operations.
D.
The organization shall consist of the following:
(1)
An Office of Emergency Management will be designated
by the Mayor. He shall appoint an executive head of the Office of
Emergency Management, who shall be known as the "Coordinator of the
Office of Emergency Management," and such assistants and other employees
as are deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the organization.
On some occasions, the Coordinator may be referred to as the "Director,
Office of Emergency Management."
(2)
The employees, equipment and facilities of all Borough
departments, boards, institutions, authorities and commissions will
participate in emergency management activity when requested.
(3)
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to
and accepted by the Borough.
E.
The Coordinator shall designate and appoint, with
the approval of the Mayor, a Deputy Coordinator to assume the emergency
duties of the Coordinator in the event of his absence or inability
to act, the intent being that there will always and at all times be
a coordinator in charge of emergency management operations.
A.
The Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management
shall be responsible to the Mayor in regard to all phases of the emergency
management activity. Under the supervision of the Mayor, he shall
be responsible for the planning, activation, coordination and operation
of the emergency management activity in the Borough. Under the supervision
of the Mayor, he shall maintain liaison with the county, state and
federal authorities and the authorities of other nearby political
subdivisions as to ensure the most effective operation of the emergency
management plan. His duties shall include but not be limited to the
following:
(1)
Personnel. Coordinating the recruitment of volunteer
personnel and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of
the Borough for emergency management purposes. The Coordinator may
require emergency services of any Borough officers or employees. If
regular forces are determined to be inadequate, the Coordinator may
require the services of such other personnel as he can obtain that
are available, including citizen volunteers. All duly authorized persons
rendering emergency services shall be entitled to the privileges and
immunities as are provided by state law, the ordinances for regular
Borough employees and other registered and identified emergency management
workers.
(2)
The Coordinator may obtain vital supplies, equipment
and other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of
health, life and property of the people, and bind the Borough for
the fair value thereof.
(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 emergency management purposes.
(4)
The Coordinator will cause to be prepared the Basic
Plan, herein referred to as the "Glassboro Emergency Management Basic
Plan."
(5)
Development and coordination of plans for the immediate
use of all the facilities, equipment, manpower and other resources
of the Borough for the purpose of minimizing or preventing damage
to persons and property; and protecting and restoring to usefulness
the governmental services and public utilities necessary for the public
health, safety and welfare.
(6)
Through public information programs, educating the
civilian population as to actions necessary and required for the protection
of their persons and property in case of emergency, as defined herein,
either impending or present.
(7)
Conducting public practice alerts to ensure the efficient
operation of the emergency management forces and to familiarize residents
with regulations, procedures and operations.
(8)
The Coordinator, with the approval of the Mayor, shall
order emergency management forces to the aid of other communities
when required only in accordance with the statutes of the state, and
he may request the state, county (or a political subdivision of the
state) to send aid to the Borough of Glassboro in case of disaster
when conditions in the Borough are beyond the control of the local
emergency management organization and/or resources.
(9)
Assuming such authority and conducting such activity
as the Mayor may direct to promote and execute the Emergency Management
Plan.
(10)
The Coordinator shall be the Chairman of the Emergency
Management Council.
B.
The Coordinator may exercise the emergency power and
authority necessary to fulfill his general powers and duties as defined
in this chapter. The judgment of the Coordinator shall be the sole
criterion necessary to invoke emergency powers indicated in this chapter,
and other appropriate authorities. Nothing in this chapter shall be
construed as abridging or curtailing the powers or restrictions of
the Mayor and Council.
C.
Promulgation and implementation of regulations.
(1)
During any period when disaster threatens or when
the Borough has been struck by disaster, within the definition of
this chapter, the Mayor may promulgate such regulations as he deems
necessary to protect life and property and preserve critical resources.
(2)
The Coordinator shall assist in implementing such
regulations, including:
(a)
Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement
of vehicles in order to facilitate the work of emergency management
forces or to facilitate the mass movement of persons from critical
areas within or without the Borough.
(b)
Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons
from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(c)
Such other regulations necessary to preserve public
peace, health and safety.
(3)
Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority above will be given widespread circulation by proclamations published and uttered by newspaper and radio. These regulations will have the force of an ordinance when duly filed with the Clerk, and violations will be subject to the penalties provided in § 42-9B of this chapter.
A.
A comprehensive Emergency Management Basic Plan shall
be maintained by the Coordinator. In the preparation of this plan
as it pertains to Borough organization, it is the intent that the
services, equipment, facilities and personnel of all existing departments
and agencies, including volunteer fire companies and first aid squads
(said department agencies and companies hereinafter referred to as "departments"),
shall be utilized to the fullest extent to protect the peace, health
and safety of citizens. When approved, it shall be the duty of all
municipal departments 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 Basic 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. The plan shall be compatible
with county and state plans.
B.
The Coordinator shall prescribe in the Basic Plan
those positions within the disaster organization, in addition to his
own, for which lines of succession are necessary.
C.
Each department head and/or annex deputy assigned
responsibility in the Basic Plan shall be responsible for carrying
out all duties and functions assigned therein. Duties will include
the organization and training of assigned Borough employees and volunteers.
Each department head and/or annex deputy shall formulate an operation
plan for his service which, when approved, shall be an annex to and
a part of the Basic Plan.
D.
When a required competency or skill for a disaster
function is not available within the Borough government, the Coordinator
is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government.
The assignment of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also
grant authority for the persons outside of government. The assignment
of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also 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 Borough on a volunteer
basis. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers
in cooperation with the heads of departments affected.
A.
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 management organization
as herein defined in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
or any regulation or plan issued thereunder.
B.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions
of this chapter, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder,
upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than
$2,000, and costs of prosecution, or imprisonment in the Gloucester
County jail for a period of not more than 90 days or community service
for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof, in the discretion
of the court.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
At all times when the orders, rules and regulations
made and promulgated pursuant to this chapter shall be in effect,
they shall supersede all existing ordinances, orders, rules and regulations
insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith.
