Washington Township Declares State of Emergency

As a public service, we are re-posting the local declaration here.


PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
TO ALL CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON AND TO ALL DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS AND BUREAUS OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the powers vested in me by Chapter 251 of the laws of 1942, as amended and supplemented, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et. seq.; N.J.S.A. 40:48-1 (6), and ordinances enacted pursuant thereto; N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1 et. seq., Executive Order 103 and by ordinances adopted by the Township of Washington I have declared that a STATE OF EMERGENCY exists within the Township of Washington; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid laws authorize the promulgation of such orders, rules, and regulations as are necessary to meet the various problems which have or may be presented by such an emergency; and

WHEREAS, by reason of the rapidly evolving outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the need for government operations to address staffing capabilities to ensure essential operational needs are met in order to mitigate factors which may further adversely affect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the Township of Washington and exacerbate and worsen existing conditions; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A App. A:9-33.1, entitled “Emergency Powers of Government,” a disaster is defined as an unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural causes which endangers the health or safety of residents; and

WHEREAS, it has been determined that in the event these areas of the Township of Washington should be declared disaster areas, and further that certain measures must be taken to ensure that the authorities will be unhampered in their efforts to maintain law and order as well as an orderly flow of traffic and further in order to protect the persons and property of the residents affected by the conditions and finally that governmental operations including but not limited to the conduct of public meetings shall be substantially altered; and

WHEREAS, all lands within the boundaries of the Township of Washington, as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, are hereby designated as disaster areas, in accordance with the “Emergency Powers of Government.”

NOW, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH the aforesaid laws, we do hereby promulgate and declare the following regulations shall be in addition to all other laws of the State of New Jersey and the Township of Washington.

/signed/

Matt Lopez, OEM Coordinator
Township of Washington

Matthew T. Murello, Mayor
Township of Washington