(A) There is hereby established an Emergency Management Agency within the executive branch of the county government for the purpose of utilizing to the fullest extend possible the personnel and facilities of existing county departments and agencies to mitigate, prepare, respond and recover from any emergency a defined in § 33.02. The County Commissioners and the Director of Emergency Management Agency shall be responsible for the Agency’s organization, administration and operation.
(B) They shall consist of the following:
(1) An executive head of the Emergency Management Agency who shall be known as the Director of Emergency Management Agency appointed in accordance with § 33.17.
(2) A Deputy Director who shall be appointed by the Director with approval of the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
(3) Emergency management volunteers, as deemed necessary and appointed by the Director in accordance with § 33.21.
(4) The employees, equipment and facilities of all county departments and agencies suitable for, or adaptable to, emergency management and designated by the County Commissioners to participate in the emergency management activity.
(5) Staff officers with responsibility for warning, communications, radiological, health, emergency care, police, fire, light rescue, public education and information, and transportation who may be appointed by the Director but which positions shall be, as far as possible, additional duty assignments to existing personnel.
(6) Such assistants, clerical help, and other employees as deemed necessary to the proper functioning of the Agency who may be appointed by the Director.
(C) However, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no compensated position may be established within the Emergency Management Agency nor any person appointed to such position without the authorization of the County Council pursuant to I.C. 36-2-5-3(a) and the making of sufficient appropriations to pay the compensation. This provision does not give the County Council any power of approval over particular candidates for any position but refers only to their general statutory powers to determine the number of officers, deputies, and employees of county departments; classify positions; and adopt schedules of compensation. In addition, it is also the intent of this section that emergency management and disaster assignments shall be as nearly consistent with normal duty assignments as possible.
(Ord. 96-7, passed 8-5-1996)