This article may be cited as the "Milford Borough Rapid Entry
System Ordinance."
The governing body of the Borough of Milford finds that, in
order to better protect the property and welfare of certain businesses,
business patrons and fire company members, a Knox-Box® entry system
for rapid entry into certain buildings and onto certain properties
in the event of a report of a fire emergency is required.
The following words, as used in this article, shall have the
meanings set forth below, unless the context in which it is used clearly
requires a different meaning:
MASTER KEY
The instrument used to gain access to the various rapid entry
system boxes to be utilized as a result of the provisions of this
article. The Fire Department shall establish a system of security
and procedure to limit access to any master key(s) to authorized personnel
in times of emergency. The Fire Department shall, to the extent feasible
and practical, use the latest technological advances available to
preserve and enhance the security of the master key(s).
RAPID ENTRY BOX SYSTEM
A locking vault-like container permanently mounted into the
affected structure or building and accessible from outside of such
structure or building and being capable of being opened by master
key.
The following buildings or structures shall be exempt:
A. Owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings identified by the Uniform
Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23 et seq.) as R-3 and R-4.
B. Any building or structure staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
C. Any building or structure already constructed or for which a building permit has been issued as of the effective date of this article and which is less than 5,000 square feet in area, except for educational and day-care buildings or structures, those buildings and structures which fall into the applicability classification of Subsection
A(1) or (2) of §
14-22 of this article, and any houses of worship in the Borough.
All existing buildings other than those exempted in §
14-23 shall comply with the provisions of this article within 12 months of the date it becomes effective. All newly constructed buildings or properties installing fencing or other barrier-type structures, not yet occupied, or buildings which are under construction at the time this article becomes effective shall comply with these provisions prior to the fire-detection or -suppression system being accepted and approved for services or prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, as the case may be.
Any property owner or building owner who fails to comply with
or who is in violation of the terms of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or by imprisonment
up to 90 days and/or by a period of community service not to exceed
90 days, at the discretion of the court. Each and every day that a
violation of this article exists shall constitute a separate offense.