CITY OF HUDSON: ORDINANCE NO. 6-12

WHEREAS, the St. Croix Emergency Medical Service, which originally started as a volunteer organization, now functions as a City of Hudson Department;

WHEREAS, the existing bylaws contain obsolete language which no longer applies to the SCEMS Department as it currently functions;

WHEREAS, the St. Croix Emergency Medical Services Commission has served as an advisory commission to the Common Council, advising the Council on operations of the SCEMS Department;

WHEREAS, the organizational structure of the SCEMS Department and the authorities and responsibilities of the SCEMS Commission need to be updated and more clearly defined by ordinance,

NOW THEREFORE, the Common Council hereby ordains that Hudson City Code Chapter 65 shall be created and adopted for the purpose of establishing and codifying the organizational structure and authorities of the St. Croix Emergency Medical Service Department and the St. Croix Emergency Medical Services Commission as follows:

Section 65 -1. Establishment.

The existing St. Croix Emergency Medical Service is hereby recognized and established as a department of the City of Hudson. The department shall consist of the SCEMS Chief and such supervisory and other employees as deemed advisable by the Chief, and as recommended for approval by the SCEMS Commission and approved by the Common Council. The duties of this department shall be to provide emergency medical services and rescue to the City of Hudson and to other municipalities pursuant to contracts with those municipalities.

Section 65 - 2. St. Croix Emergency Medical Services Commission (SCEMS Commission).

A. Members of the SCEMS Commission. Appointments to the SCEMS Commission shall be made in April of each year and shall consist of:

1) One member of the Common Council appointed by the Mayor. Such member shall be a voting member and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor; and

2) One member from each municipality with which the City contracts to provide EMS services. Members from contracting municipalities shall be appointed by the Town Chair or Village President, as applicable, of each contracting municipality and shall serve at the pleasure of the respective Town Chair or Village President. Each member from a contracting municipality shall be a voting member and shall serve on the SCEMS Commission only during the period of time there is a contract between the City and the municipality for EMS services. If there is no contract for EMS services in effect between the City and the municipality, that municipality shall not have a member on the SCEMS Commission; and

3) One Member from the Hudson Hospital and Clinics. Nominations will be submitted by Hudson Hospital and Clinics to the SCEMS Chief for approval prior to the April appointments, and this appointment shall take place biannually. This person shall be a voting member except in financial or contractual matters.

4) Vacancies in the members shall be filled by the Mayor, President, or Town Board Chairperson of the city, village or town from which the vacancy was created, or Hudson Medical Community, as soon as it is practical.

B. Functions of the SCEMS Commission.

The SCEMS Commission shall be an advisory commission, providing recommendations to the Common Council regarding the St. Croix Emergency Services department, its operations, equipment, and personnel. Recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations regarding:

1. Maintaining a sound financial condition of the SCEMS department.

2. The annual budget of the department.

3. Maintaining a cooperative and constructive relationship between the SCEMS department and other services and governmental entities and agencies in the community.

4. Maintaining the emergency medical services provided at a level commensurate with the growth of the community and the resources available, including recommendations regarding short and long term needs and goals of the department.

5. Department rules and regulations governing day-to-day department operations, including scheduling, training, meetings, equipment operations, etc.

C. Commission Proceedings.

The SCEMS Commission may elect its own Chair and may establish schedules and rules of procedure for its meetings, subject to requirements of state law and city ordinance. Commission members shall serve without pay. However, expenses Commission members incur attending out of town meetings, training sessions, and the like may be reimbursed by the municipality that the Commission member represents, pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by that municipality.

Section 65 - 3. Chief of the Emergency Medical Service Department.

The SCEMS Chief shall be the head of the SCEMS department. The Chief shall be appointed by the Common Council, after review and recommendation by the SCEMS Commission, and shall be subject to suspension or removal by the Common Council.

Section 65 - 4. Duties of the SCEMS Chief

The Chief shall be the head of the SCEMS department and shall be responsible for supervising the department, consistent with and subject to this chapter, city ordinances and policies, and state law. The SCEMS Chief shall be responsible for all department operations, subject to review and recommendations of the SCEMS and final supervisory authority and approval of the Common Council. The Chief shall report regularly to the SCEMS Commission and to the Common Council regarding operations, including the fiscal condition of the Department. The duties of the SCEMS Chief shall include:

a. to provide for regular training for the SCEMS personnel.

b. to maintain equipment and vehicles in good operating condition.

c. to maintain an inventory of emergency treatment equipment and supplies.

d. to operate the department in accordance with all applicable national, state, local regulations, ordinances and standards.

e. to maintain accurate and complete records of all department operations as required by city ordinance or policy, applicable state and/or federal law or regulation.

f. to prepare and maintain rules and regulations for Department operations. Proposed rules and regulations shall be reviewed by the SCEMS Commission before implementation.

g. to prepare annual budget for SCEMS Department, subject to review and approval by the SCEMS Commission and the Common Council.

h. to make recommendations to the SCEMS Commission and Common Council for short and long-term needs of the Department.

i. to serve as liaison between the SCEMS Commission, hospital personnel, local physicians and the City of Hudson Common Council.

j. such other duties as assigned by the SCEMS Commission or the Common Council.

Section 65 - 5. SCEMS Employees.

All employees shall be considered employees of the City of Hudson, regardless of pay structure, and shall be afforded coverage under the City of Hudson Worker Compensation and Liability Insurance Policies. All SCEMS employees shall be subject to the City of Hudson Employment Policies or Handbook, and shall be further subject to SCEMS Department rules and regulations regarding operations specific to the SCEMS Department.

Section 65 - 6. Contract for Services with other Municipalities.

The City may contract with other municipalities to provide emergency medical and rescue services to those municipalities. All such contracts shall be approved by the Common Council and the governing body of the municipality receiving service.

Section 65-7. Severability.

If any section or portion of this ordinance shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, such decision shall apply only to the specific section or portion thereof directly specified in the decision, and shall not affect the validity of any other provisions, sections, or portions thereof of the ordinance. The remainder of the ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 65-8. Effective Date.

This ordinance shall become effective after adoption and publication as required by law.

Adopted this 12th day of March 2012.

CITY OF HUDSON:

BY: /s/ Alan D. Burchill, Mayor

ATTEST: By: /s/ Devin J. Willi, City Administrator

(Pub. March 22, 2012)

WNAXLP

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