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by GREG GITTRICH
The City Council yesterday took aim at Mayor Bloomberg's new emergency response plan for failing to name a single, lead agency in the event of major disasters.
After nearly two hours of testimony from police, fire and emergency management honchos, City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. said he was more confused about the plan than before.
"At major emergencies no one is in charge, and it's decision-making by committee. That's not an appropriate way to handle things," said Vallone (D-Queens), chair of the Council's Public Safety Committee.
"Somebody should be placed in charge because if there's confusion at the top there's confusion in the trenches."
But Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno repeatedly defended the plan.
"Our model provides for on-scene commanders, working jointly in the same command center, to reach a consensus," Kelly testified. "It is the best system for a large urban environment like New York.
"We are defending ourselves against a terrorist threat," he said. "We need a system that provides us the flexibility to meet that threat."
The blueprint details the roles of the fire, police and other agencies during emergencies. But in several major incidents - including airplane crashes and biochemical disasters - the plan requires agencies to work together, without designating a lead.
"Ultimately, there is an incident commander - that is the mayor," Kelly told the Council.
Much of the hearing focused on how the police and fire departments will deal with hazardous material disasters. The plan puts firefighters in charge of saving lives but gives cops overall authority of the scene.
Yet, Scoppetta said the intent was not to "take control from the Fire Department."
Council members found the explanation confusing and also took issue with the emergency management office's role in mediating disputes between police and fire officials at disasters.
Bruno said the Office of Emergency Management will encourage decision-making, not take charge - prompting Vallone to tell him there's "a huge difference" between encouraging a resolution and settling a dispute.
Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Queens) also took a swipe at Bruno. After saying she respected Kelly and Scoppetta, she said Bruno "makes very good charts."
To date, the city's plan has been documented only in charts and press releases. Bruno said a formal protocol will be put in writing within 30 days.
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