[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Monroe 3-1-1993 by Ord. No. O-7-93. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Emergencies — See Ch. 131.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
and referred to as the "Emergency Management Ordinance of the Township
of Monroe."
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 township's facilities to combat
disaster resulting from emergencies, natural or man-made, or nuclear
disasters or enemy attack.
The Office of Emergency Management shall be
a Division of the Department of Public Safety as provided by Article
X of the Monroe Township Administrative Code.[1]
The Monroe Township 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 and Council may exercise the authority and discharge the responsibilities
vested in them in the New Jersey Civil Defense Act of 1942, P.L. 1942,
c. 251, as amended and supplemented,[1] and by authority of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et
seq.
This chapter will not relieve any township department
of any of the responsibilities or authority given to it by any law,
Administrative Code or 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 Monroe Township Office of Emergency
Management, appointed as prescribed in this chapter.
There shall be up to six Deputy Emergency Management Coordinators
who shall be appointed as prescribed in this chapter. All Deputy Emergency
Management Coordinators shall be required to have all of the training,
certificates and credentials that are required of the coordinator.
[Added 11-23-1999 by Ord. No. O-29-99]
An unusual incident or the imminence thereof, resulting from
natural or unnatural causes which endangers the health, safety or
resources of the residents of this township 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.
Includes "disaster" and "war emergency" as defined in this
chapter.
The employees, equipment and township facilities of all departments,
boards, institutions and commissions; and, in addition, it shall include
all 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 that action by the Governor under the New Jersey Emergency
Management - Disaster Control Act[1] is not required.
Includes responding to any event as described as an emergency as defined in section under § 132-6.
[Added 11-23-1999 by Ord. No. O-29-99]
Includes plans, programs and other emergency procedures promulgated
by the Emergency Management Coordinator.
Contributing of services, equipment or facilities to the
emergency management organization without remuneration.
Includes any disaster occurring in this jurisdiction as a
result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et
seq.
A.
The Mayor shall appoint not more than 15 members to
a Local Emergency Planning Committee. 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 Local Emergency
Planning Committee. The Local Emergency Planning Committee shall assist
the township in establishing the various local volunteer support needed
to meet the requirements of all emergency management and disaster
control activities 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. Said person must have
completed any and all necessary courses in civil defense and the professional
development series from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The
Coordinator must comply with all federal, state, county or municipal
training guidelines. The term of appointment will be three years.
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 township. The Coordinator,
as executive head of the Monroe Township 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 volunteer assistants and
other employees as he/she may deem necessary for the proper functioning
of the organization.
(2)
The employees, equipment and facilities of all township
departments, boards, institutions, authorities and commissions will
participate in emergency management activity when requested, if able.
(3)
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to
and accepted by the township.
E.
The Coordinator shall designate and appoint, with
the approval of the Mayor, a Deputy Coordinator or Coordinators 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.
[Amended 11-23-1999 by Ord. No. O-29-99]
A.
The Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management
and his/her designee 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 township. 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. The Coordinator and his/her designee shall
coordinate the recruitment of volunteer personnel and agencies to
augment the personnel and facilities of the township for emergency
management purposes. The Coordinator and his/her designee may require
emergency services of any township officer or employee. If regular
forces are determined to be inadequate, the Coordinator and his/her
designee 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 township employees and other registered and
identified emergency management workers.
(2)
The Coordinator and his/her designee may, under critical
emergency situation, obtain vital supplies, equipment and other properties
found lacking and needed for the protection of the health, life and
property of the people, and bind the township for the value thereof.
(3)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall negotiate
and conclude 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 and his/her designee will cause to
be prepared the Monroe Township Emergency Operations Plan herein referred
to as the "Monroe Township Emergency Operations Plan."
(5)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall develop
and coordinate 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 health,
safety and welfare.
(6)
Through public information programs, the Coordinator
and his/her designee shall educate 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)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall conduct
yearly exercises of the Monroe Township Emergency Operations Plan
to ensure the efficient operation of the emergency management forces
and to familiarize residents with regulations, procedures and operations.
(8)
The Coordinator and his/her designee, 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 Township of Monroe in
case of disaster when conditions in the township are beyond the control
of the local emergency management organization and/or resources.
(9)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall assume
such authority and conduct such activity as the Coordinator and his/her
designee and Mayor may direct to promote and execute the Monroe Township
Emergency Operations Plan.
(10)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall be the
Chairman of the Emergency Planning Committee.
(11)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall act as
"911" coordinator, plot and maintain all address changes within the
Township of Monroe and assign all new structures with proper addresses.
(12)
The Coordinator and his/her designee shall act as
Clean Communities Coordinator, develop and maintain all grant applications
and programs pertaining to clean communities so long as the grant
is available to us.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(13), which provided that
the Coordinator would oversee the Right-to-Know Program, and which
immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 2-8-2016 by Ord.
No. O:02-2016.
B.
The Coordinator and his/her designee 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 and his/her designee shall be the sole criteria 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 of the Mayor and Council.
C.
Promulgation and implementations of regulations.
(1)
During any period when disaster threatens or when
the township has been struck by disaster, within the definition of
this chapter, the Coordinator and his/her designee shall promulgate
such regulations as he deems necessary to protect life and property
and preserve critical resources.
(2)
The Coordinator and his/her designee 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 township.
(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 either by advertising, posting, newspaper or radio. These
regulations will have force of an ordinance when duly filed with the
Clerk, and violations will be subject to the penalties provided in
this chapter.
A.
A comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan shall be
maintained by the 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
(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 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. The plan shall be compatible with county and state
plans.
B.
The Coordinator shall prescribe in the Emergency Operations
Plan those positions within the disaster organization, in addition
to his/her own, for which liens of succession are necessary.
C.
Each department and/or annex deputy assigned responsibility
in the Emergency Operations 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 department head and/or annex deputy shall formulate an operation
plan for his service which, when approved, shall be an annexed to
and be a part of the Emergency Operations Plan.
D.
When a required competency or skill for a disaster
function is not available within the township 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 so assigned to carry out such duties
prior to, during and after the occurrences 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
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 thereunto.
B.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions
of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunto, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000
and costs of prosecution or imprisonment for a period of not more
than 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion
of the court.
