a. The Director is hereby empowered to:
1. Request the Town Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a “local emergency” if the Town Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the Town Council is not in session. Whenever a local emergency is proclaimed by the Director, the Town Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven (7) days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect.
2. Request the Governor to proclaim a “State of Emergency”: when, in the opinion of the Director, the locally available resources are inadequate to cope with the emergency.
3. Control and direct the effort of the emergency organization of this Town for the accomplishment of the purposes of this section.
4. Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of the emergency organization of this Town and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them.
5. Represent this Town in all dealings with public or private agencies on matters pertaining to emergencies as defined herein.
6. In the event of the proclamation of a “local emergency” by the Governor or the Director of the State Office of Emergency Services, or the existence of a “state of war emergency,” the Director is hereby empowered to:
(a) Make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such emergency; provided, however, such rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practicable time by the Town Council;
(b) Obtain vital supplies, equipment, and such other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of life and property and to bind the Town for the fair value thereof and, if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;
(c) Require emergency services of any Town officer or employee and in the event of the proclamation of a “state of emergency” in the County in which this Town is located or the existence of a “state of war emergency,” to command the aid of as many citizens of this community as he deems necessary in the execution of his duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits, and immunities as are provided by State law for registered disaster service workers;
(d) Requisition necessary personnel or material of any Town department or agency; and
(e) Execute all of the ordinary powers of Town Manager, all of the special powers conferred upon him by this section or by resolution or emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the Town Council, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, by any agreement approved by the Town Council, and by any other lawful authority.
b. The Director of Emergency Services shall designate the order of succession to that office, to take effect in the event the Director is unavailable to attend meetings and otherwise perform his/her duties during an emergency. Such order of succession shall be approved by the Town Council.
c. The Assistant Director shall, under the supervision of the Director and with the assistance of Emergency Service Chiefs, develop emergency plans and manage the emergency programs of the Town; and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the Director.
(Ord. #53-85, §7-206)