The Council of the Town of Coalhurst invites applications from residents, and surrounding district individuals, interested in being appointed to the following:
1) Municipal Subdivision & Development Appeal Board – 1 member-at-large (training is required to meet Municipal Government Act legislation)
2) Director of Emergency Management (Training required to have or be willing to take – Basic Emergency Management, Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200 and 300, Director of Emergency Management Course, Community Emergency Management Program Workshop) *Suggested credentials – see attached.
3) Deputy Director of Emergency Management (same training requirements as for Director of Emergency Management)
Please submit your application, including short resume and any applicable training as stated, in writing, to Town of Coalhurst, by March 29, 2019, via one of the below listed methods:
Mail to: Box 456
Coalhurst, Alberta T0L 0V0
Fax: 403-381-2924
e-mail: [email protected]
or, drop it off at the Town Office: 100 – 51 Avenue
Selecting a Director of Emergency Management (DEM) or Deputy Director of Emergency Management (DDEM).
Selections of DEM’s or DDEM’s is an extremely important process as council is appointing the authority of responding to and coordinating / supporting a response to an emergency or disaster within their municipality to this individual. The individual being considered must demonstrate the ability to provide solid leadership to a team of individuals who will ensure the safety and security of all our constituents. I have listed below credentials that we feel are necessary when considering a DEM.
- Strong leadership abilities
- Ability to provide clear direction during extremely hectic / chaotic environments
- Ability to perform at a high level of competence during extremely hectic or chaotic times
- Ability to make decisions under high or extreme stress
- Flexibility to field calls 24/7 and respond to the municipal office 24/7.
- Commitment to personal development, DEM must have incident management training and a proven ability to coordinate an emergency response. (AEMA recommends a minimum of ICS300, ECC-2, DEM Course along with Scribing for Emergencies, AEA experience)
- Commitment to E.M. training for MD staff. (All MD staff should have at a minimum BEM, ICS200, ECC-2)
- Ability to produce critical messages during events for public release
- Ability to assume the role as ECC Director
- Understanding of building, updating and maintaining Community Emergency Plans (CEP).
- Willingness to update the Community Emergency Plan (CEP) (recommend every 3 months.)
- Willingness to learn and enter CEP into the Provincial Community Emergency Management Program (CEMP). (AEMA offers sessions yearly to DEM’s)
- Ability to approve AEA messages, eg. Information and Critical messages, evacuations, shelter in place etc.
- Well spoken, with a willingness to address media during and after events.
- Strong working relationship with AEMA Field Officers
- Strong working relationship with neighbouring municipalities
- Understanding of Mutual Aid agreements
- Strong working relationship with Ag & Forestry (critical for MD’s in the FPA)
- Willingness to create a positive working relationship with Fire Chiefs, RCMP NCO’s, Ag & Forestry & AEMA is critical as decisions regarding standing up ECC’S, declaring SOLE’s and handling a response to an emergency is vital to the safety of your municipal residents.
- Willingness to coordinate yearly E.M. exercises eg. (Tabletop and full scale)
- Knowledge and ability to apply for E.M. grants, that are available yearly through your AEMA Field Officers
- Willingness to ensure ECC locations (we always recommend a secondary location) are equipped with the necessary tools, internet, hardline phone lines, audio visual, working stations etc
- Understand of securing documentation as a result of an emergency or disaster.
During the MEO presentation we discussed why CAO’s and Fire Chiefs don’t always make the best DEM’s, a CAO during events is the link to members of council, provides financial support to the event or incident and may be hesitant to make certain decision if they feel it may not be popular with council or have a substantial financial impact. This can hamper critical decision making and tactical responses for the safety of our citizens. Fire Chiefs in most incidents are your incident commander’s, this forces them to wear 2 hats, almost impossible to juggle during larger scale events.