(A) There is hereby established 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 DISASTER, as defined in § 34.02. The County Commissioners and 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 § 34.19;
(2) A Deputy Director, who shall 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 § 34.48, and in accordance with the plan;
(4) The employees, equipment, and facilities of all county departments and agencies suitable for, or adaptable to, emergency management, and designated by the plan to participate in emergency management activity.
(5) Staff officers with responsibility for communications, warning, public information, law enforcement, fire and rescue, search and rescue, medical, public health, evacuation, shelter, and mass care, public works, damage assessment, radiological protection, resource and supply, and hazardous materials response; 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 in accordance with the plan.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no compensated position may be established within the Department of Emergency Management, nor any person appointed to such position without:
(1) The authorization of the County Council, pursuant to I.C. 36-2-5-3(a); and
(2) The making of sufficient appropriations to pay such compensation.
(C) The County Council shall not have any power of approval over particular candidates for any position, but the County Council shall have general statutory powers to determine the numbers of officers, deputies, and employees of county departments, classify positions, and adopt schedules of compensation.
(D) It is the intent of this section that emergency management and disaster assignments under the plan shall be as nearly consistent with normal duty assignments as possible.
(Ord. 1996-15, passed 11-19-1996)