CREMONA – The Village of Cremona council has passed a motion approving updates to the new municipal emergency management bylaw. The move came during council’s recent regularly scheduled meeting.
“As a result of amendments to the Alberta Emergency Management Act and Local Emergency Management Regulations as well as the village taking back responsibility for our emergency management duties, revisions to the bylaw are required,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“The purpose of this bylaw is to establish the necessary agencies and committees as well as authorize and delegate the appropriate powers under the Emergency Management Act.”
The bylaw establishes an emergency advisory committee comprised of all members of council, with the mayor as chairperson.
The committee’s power includes “entering into agreements with and making payments or grants or both to person or organizations for the provision of services in the department or implementation of emergency plans or program, declare, renew or terminate a state of local emergency, and exercise any power given to the Minister under section 19 (1) of the Act in relation to the part of the municipality affected by a declaration of a state of local emergency.”
The bylaw also establishes an emergency management agency, which includes the director of emergency management, the village CAO, the public works foreman, and the town’s designated fire chief.
The agency can work with the RCMP, utility companies, school boards, health agencies and others.
The bylaw also outlines councillor and employee training, including that “any employee of the village who has been assigned responsibilities respecting the implementation of the emergency management plan shall complete any courses prescribed by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency in accordance with the Act.”
The complete bylaw is available for viewing on the village’s website.
