(A) There is hereby established and confirmed a Department of Emergency Management within the executive branch of the county government for the purpose of utilizing to the fullest extent possible the personnel and facilities of existing county departments and agencies to prepare for and meet any emergency as defined in § 35.02 of this chapter. The Director of Emergency Management shall be responsible for its organization, administration, and operation. The Department shall consist of the following:
(1) An executive head of the Department of Emergency Management, who shall be known as the Director of Emergency Management, appointed in accordance with § 35.22;
(2) One or more “Deputy Directors” who may be appointed by the Director with the approval of the Advisory Council;
(3) Emergency management volunteers as deemed necessary and appointed by the Director in accordance with § 35.26;
(4) The employees, equipment, and facilities of all county departments and agencies
suitable for, or adaptable to, emergency management and designated by the Commissioners to participate in the emergency management activity;
(5) Staff officers with responsibility for emergency support functions as established in the county’s comprehensive emergency management plan including warning, communications, radiological, health, emergency care, police, fire, light rescue, public education, and transportation, who may be appointed by the Director but which positions shall be, so far as possible, additional duty assignments to existing personnel; and
(6) Such assistants, clerical help, and other employees as deemed necessary to the proper functioning of the Department, who may be appointed by the Director.
(B) However, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no compensated position may be established within the Department of Emergency Management nor any person appointed to such position without the authorization of the Commissioners and the County Council pursuant to I.C. 36-2-5-3(a) and the making of sufficient appropriations to pay such compensation. This provision does not give the County Council any power or approval over particular candidates for any positions, but refers only to its general statutory powers to determine the numbers 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. 2014-5, passed 4-21-2014)