HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 50-NAN ORDINANCE. -
AN ORDINANCE CREATING A MUNICIPAL DEFENSE
COUNCIL, PRESCRIBING ITS DUTIES AND DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY.
AREAS, the President of the United States, by Execut-
ive Order signed on May 20, 1941, created the Office of Civil-
ian Defense in the Office for Emergency Management; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Civilian Defense has requested
the cooperation and assistance of all municipalities in carry-
ing out the Civilian Defense program; and
WHEREAS, on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japan attacked
possessions of the United States and has since, together with
Germany and Italy, declared war against this country and the
United States of America in turn by resolution of Congress
has recognized that a state of war exists against each of
these countries; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to coordinate all municipal
defense activity in one municipal agency; and
WHEREAS, by reason of the matters heretofore set out
the City Commission is of the opinion and so finds that a
great public emergency now exists affecting the i -,mediate
preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety,
requiring that said agency be established by ordinance to take
effect immediately from and after its passage.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THF, CITY OF BEAUMONT:
Section 1.
There is hereby created the Municipal Defense Council
of the City of Beaumont, Texas, to be composed of the Mayor
as Chairman and such other persons, not exceeding eleven in
rfc�l:� r
number, as the Mayor may appoint from time to time. The
Mayor shall designate one of the members so appointed as
Vice Chairman. Each member of the Municipal Defense Coun-
cil shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor or until the
repeal of this ordinance.
Section 2.
The Municipal Defense Council shall have full and
plenary powers to employ such persons as may be necessary to
carry out the functions of the Council. These persons shall
be subject, however, to all regulations now provided by law
governing this municipality.
Section 3.
The Municipal Defense Council shall be charged with the
duty of coordinating all defense activities of this City.
It shall:
(1) Coordinate the activities of municipal and private
agencies cooperating in the defense program;
(2) Keep in contact with the Office of'Civilian Defense
to the end that all requests and suggestions from that Office
shall receive prompt and efficient response;
(3) Conduct studies regarding defense problcems of the
City of Beaumont to the end that the municipal government of
the City of Beaumont will at all times be abreast of the prob-
lems of defense, and information desired by Federal agencies
will be readily available;
(4) Survey existing facilities, proffers of facilities,
services and ideas originating within the City and make appro-
priate disposition of them;
(5) Act as a clearinghouse on municipal defense in-
formation for all governmental and private agencies cooperat-
ing in the defense program;
(6) Direct information regarding the defense program
to all municipal departments or agencies which are are may be
affected thereby;
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(7) Make recommendations, from time to time, for
improvements in the handling of defense problems affecting
the City of Beaumont;
(S) Perform such other advisomy functions as may be
requested by agencies or departments of the Federal Government
in connection with the National Defense program.
(9) Do whatever is necessary and proper to carry out
the intent and purpose of this ordinance, tending to protect
life and property.
Section 4.
The Municipal Defense Council may expedite procedure
by organizing itself into subcommittees and may subdivide its
work and prescribe such rules and regulations as are not in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance. It shall pre-
scribe the training regulations. It may delegate the author-
ity of preliminary hearings for dismissal of voluntary workers
to the heads of Departments.
The Municipal Defense Council may appoint additional
committees to meet any emergency that may arise but shall re-
port same promptly to the Council of the City of Beaumont,
which shall have the authority, at its discretion, to order
the discontinuance of such committee. Any person appointed
to any position created under this ordinance may be removed by
the appointing authority for any reason deemed by it to be suf-
ficient. .
Section 5.
The fact that a state of war now exists between the
United States of America and Japan, Germany and Italy and be-
cause of the other matters heretofore set out in the preamble
hereto, a great public emergency exists necessitating the sus-
pension of the rule that ordinances be read on three several
occasions before their final passage, and said rule is hereby
suspended and this ordinance shall take effect immediately
from and after its passage.
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PASSED by an affirmative vote of the City Commission
this the 12th day of December, A. D. 1941.
i
M A Y 0 R
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