HomeMy WebLinkAbout1541 ORDINANCE NO. 1541
AN ORDINANCE establishing the Bremerton Civilian War Defense council and
other agencies for the purpose of providing protection of persons and property
against air raids and other forms of enemy attack, and to stimulate civilian
activities in furtherance of the~ar effort; to define the powers, functions
and duties of such agencies, and. to provide for the exercise of such powers,
and declaring an emergency.
THE CITY OF BREMERTON DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1. In view of the emergency created by the present state of war,
and in order that the City of Bremerton may provide for the common defense and
promote the general welfare of its inhabitants, it is hereby declared to be the
policy of the City that every effort be made to coordinante and supplement the
ordinary peacetime services of the city government with the services of those
who will be directly engaged in taking measures against, or in preparation for,
air raids and other war hazards, and who will also be engaged in such activities
as will stimulate the civilian participation in the war effort. It is hereby
declared to be the intent of the City that all possible steps be taken to
coordinate the war activities of the City of Bremerton with the war activities
of the State and Federal Governments in order to promote uniformity in policy
and action.
Section 2. The following agencies are hereby created and established:
(a) A Defense ~ouncil to be known as the "Bremerton Civilian War Defense
Counsel," to be composed of the Mayor, the Co-ordinator of Civilian Defense
Forces, the Commander of the Defense Corps, the Director of the Citizens
Service Corps, the City Health Officer, the City Attorney, three representatives
of organized labor, and three representatives of business. A representative
of the Navy and one of the Army shall be invited to sit in on such Council as
observers.
The appointment of the foregoing members of the Bremerton Civilian War
Defense Council shall be made by the Mayor, and shall hold office at the Mayor's
pleasure. Providing further that the active membership of such Council shall
not exceed fifteen.
The purpose of the Bremerton Civilian War Defense Council shall be to
advise the Mayor, the Co-ordinator of Civilian Defense forces, the Commander of
hhe Defense Corps, and the Director of the Service Corps, on al~ matters per-
taining to the effective operation of civilian defense activities. Such Council
shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from its own members, which Chairman
or Vice-Chairman shall conduct the meetings, and said Council shall draw up and
make such rules and regulations, with the approval of the Mayor, as may be
necessary for the proper functioning of such Council.
(b) The duties of the Mayor shall be:
The Mayor shall be administrative head of all Civilian Defense activities.
(c) The duties of the Co-ordinator:
The duties of the Co-ordinator shall be to carry out the wishes of the
Mayor and the DefenseCounci! in all Civilian Defense work; to coordinate the
activities of all branches, and to make recommendations to the Defense Council.
(d) Defense Corps.
The Defense Corps shall be under the direction of the Commander. The
Commander shall be responsible for the organization, training and equipment of
the Defense Corps. During an emergency and in the absence of the Mayor when an
official red warning has been received, he shall assume command, of all defense
activities in Bremerton, including the regular and auxiliary police, regular
and auxiliary fire services, air raid wardens, emergency medical services,
emergency public utilities, emergency public works, and will have full power to
direct such operation as he deems advisable; providing further, that the fore-
going powers and duties shall be exercised by the Commander of the Defense
Corps under the direction of the Mayor, if the Mayor be present in the City of
Bremerton.
.. (e) Citizens Service Corps.
The Citizens Service Corps shall be under the direction and supervision of
the Director of the Citizens Service Corps, shall carry out all of the powers,
functions and duties which may be conferred upon it by the State or Federal
Civilian Defense Agencies, and by the Bremerton Civilian War Defense Council,
and the Director thereof shall recommend to the Mayor of the City of Bremerton
such appointments as he shall deem neoessary in carrying out the functions of
said Citizens Service Corps.
Ordinance No. 1541 (cont)
Section D. All appointments referred to herein shall be made by the Mayor
of the City of Bremerton, shall be in writing in such form as the Mayor shall
prescribe, and all appointments shall be accepted in writing, a copy of which
appointments shall be given to the person so appointed, another copy to be given
to the Civilian War Defense Council, and the original thereof remain on file in
the office of the City Clerk.
Section 4. In addition to the powers, functions and duties herein conferred
upon the Civilian War Defense Council, the Protection Corps and the Service
Corps, and the officers and members thereof, said agencies and the officers and
members thereof shall also possess such powers, functions and duties as may be
designated by the Federal Director of Civilian Defense, or his duly authorized
agent or agents.
Section 5. Ail prior actions and things done in furtherance of the
Civilian defense of the City of Bremerton by officers or emPloyees of the city,
and by inhabitants of the city ~o have volunteered their services, and any
actions or things done by any other agency connected with civilian defense under
the appointment or direction of the Mayor of the City of Bremerton, or his duly
authorized agents, is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects;
providing that such ratification shall not apply to undertakings committing or
obligating the City of Bremerton to expend funds, unless such undertaking shall
have been previously authorized by the City .Council. All such persons previously
appointed and now performing duties falling within the functions, powers and
duties of the Civilian War Defense Council, the Defense Corps or the Citizens
Service Corps, except members of the Bremerton DefenseCouncil and members of
the Emergency Defense Commission, shall without the necessity of being appointed
continue to perform such powers, functions and duties the same as if appointed
pursuant thereto, as provided for herein.
Section 6. Neither the City of Bremerton nor any officer, agent or
employee thereof shall be liable for personal injuries or property damage
sustained by any person appointed or acting as a civilian defense worker or
member of any agency engaged in civilian defense activities.
The foregoing shall not affect the right of any person to receive benefits
or compensation to which he might otherwise be entitled under the Workmen's
Compensation Law, or any pension law or any act of Congress.
Neither the City nor, except in cases of wilfull misconduct, any officer,
employee, or agent of the City, or member of any agency engaged in any civilian
defense activity, complying with or attempting to comply with this ordinance,
or any state law, or any order, rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the
provisions of this ordinance, or such statute, or by proper military authority,
shall be liable for the death of or injury to persons, or for damage to property
as a result of any such activity.
Section ?. Ail rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this ord-
inance by the Bremerton Civilian War Defense Council governing the conduct of
persons or property, for the conducting of such Civilian War Defense activities,
including the conduct of the Civilian War Defense Council, Protection Corps
and Civilian Service Corps, shall be filed with the City Clerk. Upon such
filing with the City Clerk such rules or regulation shall be in full force and
effect.
Section 8. Sections l, 2, 5, 4, and 5 of Ordinance t~o. 1408, and any ord-
inance or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions hereof are hereby
repealed. If any section or part of this ordinance shall be found to be invalid
or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect
the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Section 9. This ordinance shall remain in full force and effect during
the period the United States is engaged in the present war with any foreign
~oernment or six months thereafter in the discretion of the Mayor.
Section 10. Chairman, Finance Committee, Civilian War Defense Council.
The City Clerk shall, whenever requested to do so by the Chairman of the
Finance Committee, Civilian War Defense Council, advise such chairman of the
a~ount spent from funds appropriated for Civilian Defense purposes, and the
amount remaining in such fund.
Ordinance No. 15Al (cont)
Section 11. An emergency exists affecting the public peace, health and
safety of the City of Bremerton, and this ordinance shall take effect immed-
iately following passage and publication.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton, signed by the Mayor,
and attested by the City Clerk in authentication of such passage, this first
day of September, 1943.
City cl ~n~:~cn