(a) The City of Charles Town is hereby authorized and directed to establish a local organization for emergency services in accordance with the State plan and program for the provision of emergency services. The City may confer or authorize the conferring upon members of the auxiliary police the powers of peace officers, subject to such restrictions as it may impose.
(b) The City of Charles Town emergency services council shall consist of a director and an emergency services council and such other members as may be required. The director shall be appointed, with the consent of City Council, by the Mayor to serve at the will and pleasure of the Mayor and are authorized to provide adequate compensation for him. The emergency services council shall consist of five members, appointed by the Mayor; provided, that not more than three members thereof shall be members of the same political party. Council members shall serve a term of years staggered to provide continuity of service in accordance with local needs, without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for the reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.
(c) The Mayor shall have general direction and control of the emergency services council and shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this ordinance. The director, subject to the direction and control of the Mayor, shall be executive head of the emergency services council and shall be directly responsible for the organization, administration and operation of the emergency services council. The emergency services council shall advise the director on all matters pertaining to emergency services. The emergency services council shall perform emergency service functions within the territorial limits of the City of Charles Town.
(d) In carrying out the provisions of this article the emergency services council shall have the power to enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such disaster, protect the health and safety of persons and property and provide emergency assistance to the victims of such disaster. The City of Charles Town is authorized to exercise its powers under this article in light of the exigencies of extreme emergency situations without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law (excepting mandatory constitutional requirements) pertaining to the performance of public work, entry into contracts, incurring of obligations, employment of temporary workers, rental of equipment, purchase of supplies and materials, levying of taxes and appropriation and expenditure of public funds.
(Passed 3-20-06.)