[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Greenfield (now City Council of the City of Greenfield) as amended 6-15-2011 by Order No. FY 11-103 (Ch. 9 of the 2002 Bylaws). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Key lock boxes — See Ch. 224, Art. II.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM DEVICE
Any device which, when activated by a criminal act, fire or other emergency calling for Fire Department response: 1) transmits a signal to Fire Department Headquarters; 2) transmits a signal to a person who relays information to Police or Fire Headquarters; or 3) produces an audible or visible signal to which the Fire Department responds. Excluded from this definition and the scope of this chapter are devices which are designed to alert or signal only persons within the premises in which the device is installed and devices which are activated by the release of water from a sprinkler system.
ALARM USER
The owner of any premises on which an alarm device is used shall be deemed an "alarm user."
AUTOMATIC DIAL ALARM
A telephone device or attachment that mechanically or electronically selects a telephone line to Fire Headquarters and reproduces a prerecorded voice message to report a fire or other emergency calling for Fire Department response. Excluded from this definition are devices which relay a digital-coded signal to Fire Headquarters.
CONTRACTOR
Any firm or corporation in the business of supplying and installing alarm devices or servicing the same.
FALSE ALARM
A. 
An alarm raised without genuine cause.
B. 
An alarm transmitted to the Fire Department that does not require the saving of human life, extinguishment of a fire, control of hazardous situations, service, rescue, salvage or other related duties.
C. 
An automated device that transmits an alarm without genuine cause due to said device's malfunction.
A. 
Alarm device registration shall be accomplished by contacting the Greenfield Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, prior to the initial start-up of the construction or renovation project. Each alarm user shall complete a form provided by the Administrator, to include such information concerning the identity of the prospective alarm user and the identity of the alarm user's contractor, if any. The Administrator shall issue the alarm user written acknowledgment of proper registration. There shall be no fee for the registration of any fire alarm system.
B. 
It shall be the responsibility of each alarm user to notify the Fire Department in writing of changes in registration information.
When the Chief/Deputy Chief of the Fire Department determines that the Fire Department has responded to a false alarm, he/she shall impose a charge on the responsible alarm user according to the following schedule:
A. 
First false alarm in any one year: no charge.
B. 
Second false alarm in any one year: no charge.
C. 
Third false alarm in any one year: $100.
D. 
Subsequent alarms in any one year: $250.
(NOTE: Fees established by the Mayor.)
A. 
The Fire Chief/Deputy Chief shall notify the responsible alarm user of any false alarms charged by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Within 15 days after receiving such notice, the alarm user may file with the Fire Chief an appeal in writing showing that the alarm was not false within the meaning of this chapter.
B. 
The Fire Chief shall consider such information, reaffirm or rescind the false alarm charge, and notify the alarm user of his/her decision by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Within 15 days after mailing of such notice, the alarm user may file with the hearings officer an appeal in writing.
Upon receipt of a timely appeal from a false alarm charge, the hearings officer shall hold a hearing to consider it and shall mail notice (first-class mail, postage prepaid) of the time and place of said hearing to the alarm user making the appeal at his/her last known address at least 15 days before the hearing. The hearings officer may affirm or return the decision to the Fire Chief.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
The Greenfield Fire Department shall act as agent to collect said fees. All monies collected shall be turned over to the City Treasurer at the end of each month for inclusion into the general fund.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the City, its departments, officers, agents and employees shall be under no obligation whatsoever concerning the adequacy, operation or maintenance of any alarm device or of the alarm monitoring facilities at Fire Headquarters. No liability whatsoever is assumed for the failure of such alarm devices or monitoring facilities, or for failure to respond to alarms or for any other act or omission in connection with such alarm devices. Each alarm user shall be deemed to hold and save harmless the City, its departments, officers, agents and employees from liability in connection with the alarm user's alarm device.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to alarm devices on premises owned or controlled by the City, nor to alarm devices installed in a motor vehicle.