As used in this section, the following terms
shall have the meaning set forth:
The Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator.
An unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural causes
which endangers the health, safety or resources of the residents of
the Township of Springfield, and which is or may become too large
in scope or unusual in type to be handled in its entirety by regular
Township operating services.
The term "emergency" shall include "disaster" and "war emergency"
as defined in this section.
The employees, equipment and Township facilities of all departments,
boards, institutions and commissions. 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
Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator of the Office of
Emergency Management and assigned to participate in the emergency
management activity.[1]
Any disaster, or the imminence thereof, resulting from natural
or unnatural causes other than enemy attack and limited to the extent
that action by the Governor under the New Jersey Emergency Management
Disaster Control Act is not required.
Plans, program and other emergency procedures deemed essential
to civil defense.
Contributing a service, equipment or facilities to the emergency
management organization without remuneration.
Any disaster occurring anywhere within the Township of Springfield
as the result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
There is hereby established an Office of Emergency
Management, under the direction of the Emergency Management Director/Coordinator.
A.
The Manager shall appoint a Township Emergency Management
Director/Coordinator from among the residents of the Township. The
Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator shall serve for
a term of three years, subject, however, to successfully completing
at the time of his/her appointment, or within one year immediately
thereafter, whichever is later, the current approved training requirements.
The failure to fulfill such requirements within the period prescribed
shall disqualify such appointee from continuing in the office of Director/Coordinator,
and thereupon a vacancy in such office shall be deemed to have been
created.[1]
B.
The Director/Coordinator is hereby authorized and
directed to create an organization for emergency management, utilizing
to the fullest extent the existing agencies in the Township. The Director/Coordinator,
as executive head of the Office of Emergency Management, shall be
responsible for its organization, administration and operations.
A.
The Office of Emergency Management shall be the coordinating
agency for all activity in connection with emergency management. It
will be the instrument through which the Township Emergency Management
Director/Coordinator may exercise the authority and discharge the
responsibilities vested in him/her in the New Jersey Civil Defense
Act of 1942, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et seq., as amended and supplemented,
and this section.[1]
B.
The Director/Coordinator shall insure the complete
and efficient utilization of all the Township's facilities to combat
disaster resulting from major emergencies, natural, man-made or nuclear
disasters or enemy attack.
C.
The Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator
shall be responsible to the Manager in regard to all phases of emergency
management activities. Under the supervision of the Manager, (s)he
shall be responsible for the planning, activation, coordination and
operation of the emergency management activity of the Township, the
federal authorities and the authorities of other nearby political
subdivisions to insure the most effective operation of emergency operations
plans. The duties of the Director/Coordinator shall include, but not
be limited to, the following:[2]
(1)
Personnel.
(a)
Coordinating the recruitment of volunteer personnel
and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the Township
for emergency management purposes.
(b)
The Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator
may require emergency services of any Township officer or employee.
If regular forces are determined to be inadequate, the Director/Coordinator
may require the services of such other personnel as (s)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 Charter and ordinances
for regular Township employees and other registered and identified
emergency management workers.
(2)
Equipment and supplies. Obtaining vital supplies,
equipment and other properties found lacking and needed for the protection
of health, life and property of the people, and bind the Township
for the fair value thereof.
(3)
Building and property. 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)
Basic plan. Preparing or causing to be prepared a
basic plan, herein referred to as the "Township of Springfield Emergency
Operations Plan."
(5)
Development and coordination. Developing and coordinating
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 the governmental services and public utilities necessary
for the public health, safety and welfare.
(6)
Public information. 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)
Practice alerts. Conducting public practice alerts
to insure the efficient operation of the emergency management forces
and to familiarize residents with regulations, procedures and operations.
(8)
Mutual aid agreements. With the approval of the Manager,
ordering emergency management forces to the aid of communities with
which a mutual aid agreement is in force. All other requests for assistance
must be received from the Burlington County Coordinator. When local
resources are inadequate to cope with an emergency, the Director/Coordinator
shall request assistance from the Burlington County Coordinator.
(9)
General. Assuming such authority and conducting such
activity as the Manager may direct to promote and execute the emergency
operations plan.
D.
This section shall not relieve any Township official
or department of the responsibilities or authority given to it by
this Code, any ordinances of the Township or by state law, nor will
it adversely affect the work of any voluntary agency organized for
relief in disaster emergencies.
The Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator
may exercise the emergency powers and duties as defined in this article.
The judgment of the Director/Coordinator shall be the sole criteria
necessary to invoke the emergency powers provided in this article
and other appropriate authorities. Nothing in this article shall be
construed as abridging or curtailing the powers of the Council.
During any period when disaster threatens or
when the Township has been struck by disaster, within the definition
of this article, the Council may promulgate such regulations as it
deems necessary to protect life and property and preserve critical
resources. The Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator
shall assist in implementing such regulations.
A.
In the event of an emergency, the Council may enact
such regulations necessary to preserve public peace, health and safety,
including:
(1)
Prohibition and restrictions of vehicles. Regulations
prohibiting or restricting the movement of vehicles in order to facilitate
the mass movement of persons from critical areas within or without
the Township.
(2)
Restrictions on public. Regulations pertaining to
the movement of persons from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable
to disaster.
B.
Regulations promulgated in accordance with this authority shall be given widespread circulation by proclamations published in newspapers circulating in the areas and such other means of mass communication as may be available. These regulations shall have the force of ordinance when duly filed with the Township Clerk, and violations shall be subject to the penalties provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, Penalties and Enforcement.
A.
Preparation; function. A comprehensive emergency operations
plan shall be maintained by the Township Emergency Management Director/Coordinator.
In the preparation of this plan, as it pertains to Township 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, 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 such Township 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 basic plan shall be considered supplementary to this section and
shall have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as defined in this
section, has been proclaimed. The plan shall be compatible with county
and state plans.
B.
Lines of succession. The basic plan shall prescribe
those positions within the emergency management organization for which
lines of succession are necessary.
C.
Responsibilities. The Director/Coordinator and each
department head assigned responsibility in the basic plan shall be
responsible for carrying out all duties and functions assigned therein.
Duties shall include the organization and training of assigned Township
employees and volunteers. Each Township official shall formulate an
operation plan for his/her service which, when approved, shall be
annexed to and made a part of the basic plan.
D.
Nongovernmental assistance. When a required competency
or skill for an emergency function is not available within the Township
government, the Director/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
assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during and after the occurrence
of an emergency. Such services from persons outside of government
may be accepted by the Township on a volunteer basis. Such citizens
shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers in cooperation
with the heads of departments affected.
Any person who shall do any of the following shall be adjudged a disorderly person and shall be subject to penalties provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, Penalties and Enforcement, in the discretion of the court:
A.
Commit any unauthorized or otherwise unlawful act
during the threat or imminence of danger in any emergency that jeopardizes
the health, welfare and safety of the people; or
B.
Commit any unauthorized or otherwise unlawful act
during the threat or imminence of danger during any emergency that
contributes to the loss of or destruction to property; or
C.
Hamper, impede or in any way interfere with any person
who is performing any function under this act; or
D.
Drive any motor vehicle in a prohibited area during
a blackout or while an air raid alert is in progress or in any other
manner contrary to the rules and regulations covering any period of
danger or any emergency; or
E.
Go within a prohibited area contrary to rules and
regulations; or
F.
Refuse to obey the lawful orders of any air raid warden,
civilian protection worker or other person who is duly authorized
to perform any act or function during the threat or imminence of danger
or any emergency; or
G.
Refuse to cooperate with any air raid warden, civilian
protection workers or any person who is duly authorized to perform
any act or function in connection with activities during the threat
or imminence of danger or any emergency; or
H.
Violate any order, rule or regulation adopted by the
Governor and promulgated as provided by the New Jersey Civil Defense
Act; or
I.
Violate any other provision of this section or the
New Jersey Civil Defense Act, or any regulation adopted thereunder.
There is hereby established a Municipal Emergency
Management and Disaster Control Council, to consist of not more than
15 members, to be appointed by the Mayor, and who shall serve at the
pleasure of the Mayor. Such Council shall have the powers and duties
as prescribed by N.J.S.A. Appendix A:9-41.
