A.
Police and fire alarm devices play an important role
in our community's efforts to safeguard life and property. However,
the effectiveness of an alarm device is diminished if public safety
personnel cannot quickly locate and access the site from which the
alarm signal emanates.
B.
This chapter requires owners and lessees of property,
both residential and nonresidential, upon which fire and/or police
alarm systems have been installed to register the same with the Town
Clerk. In addition, all commercial structures and new residential
structures, or existing residential properties for which a building
permit is issued, having fire alarm systems which, when activated,
transmit a signal to a central alarm station shall be required to
provide a key lock box and, if required by the Fire Marshal, an information
storage cabinet, which will assist the responding fire department
in gaining access to the premises, as well as providing important
information which can assist the responding emergency services department
during an emergency call. Standards are also adopted to assure that
gates, walls, fences, berms and other physical barriers do not unnecessarily
impede access of emergency response vehicles.
C.
By imposing charges for multiple false alarms in a
calendar year, the Town hopes to create a heightened sense among persons
using alarm devices to take whatever steps are necessary to decrease
the occurrence of false alarms and thereby avoid diverting the attention
and energy of the personnel of the Town Police Department and the
various fire departments from true emergencies and other important
activities.
