Orangetown police officers, officials and volunteers began meeting as the Office of Emergency Management months ago.
The town board voted to make them an official town committee at Thursday's regular meeting.
"The members of the committee have been volunteering their time," said Councilman Tom Diviny, who will act as the board's liason to the committee. "They want to see that we are dedicated to moving forward."
"The group that has been meeting is a good, strong group," Supervisor Andy Stewart said. "They deserve recognition, the official status as a committee. That also sets them up to go after grants."
The office will be responsible for helping the town board and emergency services with preparation, response and recovery from major incidents or disasters. They are also involved in the planning of an emergency management center in the lower level of the Orangetown Town Hall.
The committee will be chaired by the Orangetown Police Department officer designated as "Orangetown Emergency Coordinator." Currently, that is Orangetown Police Officer Hugh Johnson.
The board also appointed the following members to a one-year term on the committee:
- Orangetown Police Officer Hugh Johnson (Committee Chairman)
- Orangetown Police Department Administrative Lt. Donald Butterworth
- Peter Byrne, Orangetown Fire Chiefs Council
- Robert Daly, Orangetown Fire Chiefs Council
- Steve Harris, South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
- Mary Ann-Portoro, Pearl River Alumni Ambulance Corps
- James Dean, Orangetown Highway Department Superintendent
- Mike Yannazzone, Orangetown Highway Department
- Joe Moran, Director of Orangetown DEME
- Paul Witte, Orangetown BZPAE
- Mark Albert, Orangetown Building/Parks
- Tom Diviny, liason to Orangetown Town Board
The committee will make use of the following sub-committees:
- Training Emergency Operations Center
- Planning Sheltering
- Logistics Research
- Notification Community Response Team
- Recovery/Debris Management Schools
