Chapter 2.30
RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.30.010 Risk management and loss control policy.
2.30.020 Establishment of the risk management and safety committee.
2.30.030 Terms of service and qualifications of the members.
2.30.050 Conflicts of interest prohibited.
2.30.060 Quorum, official action and organization.
2.30.070 Quarters, records and meetings of the commission.
2.30.080 Expenditures and appropriations.
2.30.100 Other powers and duties.
2.30.010 Risk management and loss control policy.
The town of Highland takes great pride in being a municipality of dedicated individuals working together to provide the finest services possible to its residents in an efficient and safe manner. Accidents in the town’s operation are regrettable. They represent human suffering and seriously interfere with achieving our common goal.
It is the town’s sincere belief that injuries and property damage resulting from accidents are preventable through the proper management of its physical resources and human processes. To this end, all levels of management are charged with the responsibility of providing adequate resources and enthusiastic leadership to eliminate accidents, which cause injury and property damage. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.80].
2.30.020 Establishment of the risk management and safety committee.
(A) There is established a committee to be called the risk management and safety committee in the town of Highland, the purpose of which is to create and maintain interest in safety, health and risk management, thereby reducing workplace accidents.
(B) The risk management and safety committee (RMSC) in the town of Highland is a safety coordinating and employee input entity. The committee shall assist in the development, implementation, revision, and maintenance of the risk management and loss control program.
(C) The Highland risk management and safety committee consists of nine members, as follows:
(1) The following appointed municipal officials or employees in the municipal government, identified by position, shall be members of the risk management and safety committee, provided the position is occupied:
(a) The town manager;
(b) The metropolitan police chief;
(c) The fire chief;
(d) The building commissioner;
(e) The parks and recreation superintendent;
(f) The public works director;
(g) The redevelopment director.
(2) The town clerk-treasurer shall be a member of the risk management and safety committee. The town clerk-treasurer may designate a duly appointed deputy to participate in his stead.
(3) A nonsupervisory municipal employee selected according to subsection (E) of this section.
(D) Advisory Committee. The department head of each represented department, as well as the town clerk-treasurer for the office of the clerk-treasurer, shall nominate, and the risk management and safety committee shall appoint, a nonsupervisory employee who shall serve on an employees’ advisory committee:
(1) One nonsupervisory employee from the metropolitan police department; and
(2) One nonsupervisory employee from the fire department; and
(3) One nonsupervisory employee from the building and inspection department; and
(4) One nonsupervisory employee from the parks and recreation department; and
(5) One nonsupervisory employee from the public works department; and
(6) One nonsupervisory employee from the redevelopment department; and
(7) One nonsupervisory employee from the office of the town clerk-treasurer.
(E) The advisory committee of each represented department and division shall nominate and the risk management and safety committee shall appoint one employee of the municipality, from the advisory committee, who shall be a member of the risk management and safety committee representing the municipal workforce at large.
(F) The town manager shall serve as the chair of the employees’ advisory committee. In the absence of the town manager, the fire chief shall serve as chair of the employees’ advisory committee.
(G) The Highland risk management and safety committee may appoint additional municipal employees or persons of special knowledge to serve in an advisory role, not as members of the RMSC, nor as part of the employees’ advisory committee, but as part of an additional RMSC advisory group. [Ord. 1289 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.81].
2.30.030 Terms of service and qualifications of the members.
(A) The term of office of a member identified under HMC 2.30.020(C)(1) is coextensive with the member’s employment term in the position as a municipal official or employee of the town of Highland.
(B) The term of office of a member identified under the provisions of HMC 2.30.020(C)(2) is co-extensive with the member’s term of office.
(C) The term of office of a member who is appointed under the provisions of HMC 2.30.020(C)(3) is at the pleasure of the appointing authority. If for any reason a vacancy occurs for a position identified under HMC 2.30.020(C)(3), the employees’ advisory committee of each represented department and division shall nominate and the risk management and safety committee shall appoint a successor employee to serve.
(D) The term of office of a member who is appointed under the provisions of HMC 2.30.020(D) is co-extensive with the member’s employment term in the position as a municipal employee of the town of Highland. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.82].
2.30.040 Membership expenses.
If the Highland risk management and safety committee determines that it is necessary or desirable for members or employees to join a professional organization or to attend a conference or interview dealing with planning or related problems, the commission may pay the applicable membership fees and all actual expenses of the members or employees, if that amount has been appropriated by the fiscal body of the unit. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.83].
2.30.050 Conflicts of interest prohibited.
A member of Highland risk management and safety committee may not participate as a member of the Highland risk management and safety committee in a hearing or decision concerning a matter in which the member has a direct or indirect financial interest. The Highland risk management and safety committee or body shall enter in its records the fact that its member has such a disqualification. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.84].
2.30.060 Quorum, official action and organization.
(A) A quorum consists of a majority of the entire membership of the Highland risk management and safety committee, who are qualified by this chapter to vote.
(B) Action of the Highland risk management and safety committee is not official, unless it is authorized, at a regular or special meeting, by a majority of the entire membership of the Highland risk management and safety committee.
(C) At its first regular meeting in each year, the Highland risk management and safety committee shall elect from its members a chairman and a vice-chairman. The vice-chairman may act as chair of the Highland risk management and safety committee during the absence or disability of the chairman.
(D) The Highland risk management and safety committee may appoint and fix the duties of a secretary, who is not required to be a member. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.85].
2.30.070 Quarters, records and meetings of the commission.
(A) The municipality shall provide suitable premises for the holding of Highland risk management and safety committee meetings and for preserving the documents of the committee.
(B) The Highland risk management and safety committee shall fix the time for holding regular meetings each month or as necessary. The committee shall keep a memorandum of its meetings pursuant to IC 5-14-1.5 et seq. The memorandum of committee meetings and all records shall be filed in the office of the clerk-treasurer and are public records.
(C) Special meetings of the Highland risk management and safety committee may be called by the chair or by two members of the committee upon written request to the secretary or employee serving this function.
(D) The secretary or employee serving this function shall send to all members, at least three days before the special meeting, a written notice fixing the time and place of the meeting. Written notice of a special meeting is not required if:
(1) The date, time, and place of a special meeting are fixed in a regular meeting; and
(2) All members of the committee are present at that regular meeting. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.86].
2.30.080 Expenditures and appropriations.
(A) The fiscal body of the municipality may make appropriations to carry out the duties of the committee.
(B) The Highland risk management and safety committee may expend, in accord with applicable municipal fiscal procedures, all amounts appropriated to it for the purposes and activities authorized by this chapter.
(C) At the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended part appropriated by the town reverts to the town’s general fund. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.87].
2.30.090 Powers and duties.
(A) The Highland risk management and safety committee may contract for special or temporary services and any professional counsel.
(B) The Highland risk management and safety committee shall:
(1) Review progress in implementing required loss control activities that may include but are not limited to:
(a) Accident investigation;
(b) Safety education;
(c) Promotional programming;
(d) Self-inspection program;
(2) Prescribe uniform written rules pertaining to the foregoing; provided, that before being effective, such rules shall be filed with the clerk-treasurer and approved by the town council;
(3) Overseeing a hazard identification program for all departments and offices of the municipality;
(4) Review vehicular as well as other accidents involving employees to make certain the actions taken to prevent the recurrence are adequate. This will not be in derogation to any existing accident review observed by individual departments;
(5) Monitor accident statistics to determine trends and problem areas;
(6) Review safety training needs and current training programs for adequacy and recommend changes or additional programs as necessary;
(7) Initiate programs to stimulate and maintain employee interest in safety;
(8) Review and evaluate safety and health recommendations from all sources including employee suggestions and complaints;
(9) Assist in monitoring subcontractor safety activities where hazards they may create endanger municipal employees;
(10) Prepare, publish, and distribute reports and other material relating to the activities authorized under this chapter;
(11) Prepare and submit an annual budget in the same manner as other departments of the municipal government and be limited in all expenditures to the provisions made for the expenditures by the fiscal body of the municipality. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.88].
2.30.100 Other powers and duties.
(A) The Highland risk management and safety committee may designate a hearing examiner or a subcommittee of the committee to conduct any public hearing required to be held by the committee. Such a hearing must be held upon the same notice and under the same rules as a hearing before the entire committee, and the examiner or committee shall report findings of fact and recommendations for decision to the committee.
(B) The Highland risk management and safety committee may establish advisory committees of citizens interested in problems of health, safety and risk management. In its resolution establishing such a committee, the Highland risk management and safety committee shall specify the terms of its members and its purposes. Each advisory committee shall:
(1) Study the subject and problems specified by the Highland risk management and safety committee and recommend to it additional problems in need of study;
(2) If invited by the Highland risk management and safety committee to do so, sit with and participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Highland risk management and safety committee, when subjects of mutual concern are discussed. A subcommittee or advisory committee shall report only to the Highland risk management and safety committee and shall make inquiries and reports only on the subject and problems specified by the Highland risk management and safety committee’s resolution establishing the committee. [Ord. 1276 § 1, 2005. Code 2000 § 32.89].