[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Glassboro 10-8-1985 by Ord. No. 85-13. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Explosives, fireworks and weapons — See Ch. 245.
Hazardous and dangerous substances — See Ch. 279.
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:
COORDINATOR
The Coordinator of the Glassboro Office of Emergency Management, appointed as prescribed in this chapter.
DISASTER
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.
EMERGENCY
Includes "disaster" and "war emergency" as defined in this section.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FORCES
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.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VOLUNTEER
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.
LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY
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.
REGULATIONS
Include plans, programs and other emergency procedures deemed essential to civil defense.
VOLUNTEER
Contributing a service, equipment or facilities to the emergency management organization without remuneration.
WAR EMERGENCY
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.