[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of West Stockbridge 6-22-2020
ATM by Art. 13. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was changed from
"Alarm Systems" to "Emergency Alarm Systems" 5-9-2022 ATM by Art. 38.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 80-1, Timing device required,
was repealed 5-9-2022 ATM by Art. 38.
The user of every automatic emergency alarm system maintained
in the Town, except those installed in motor vehicles, shall, within
10 days of the installation thereof or within 60 days of the enactment
of this bylaw, file the following information with the Fire Department
and the Police Department of the Town:
A.Â
Type, purpose and description of alarm system.
B.Â
Street address and the nearest cross street, and name of resident,
and/or any other clear and accurate description of the location of
the building which houses the automatic emergency alarm system.
C.Â
In addition to the above, in the case of a commercial premises, the
name, address, and telephone number of an authorized representative
and/or alternative who will be able to respond when called by police
or fire personnel to deactivate the alarm system if necessary.
D.Â
In addition to the above, in the case of a private residence, the
name, address and telephone number of a person who is not a resident
of the private residence in question and who will be able to deactivate
the automatic emergency alarm system; an external shut-off to the
alarm system must be available to the Police and Fire Departments
to deactivate the alarm.
A.Â
The Select Board may authorize the Police Department to be the permit
granting authority to grant a revocable permit to any owner, lessee,
or occupant of property located in the Town to operate, maintain,
install or modify an automatic emergency alarm system. Following the
effective date of this bylaw, no person shall use, operate or install
any automatic emergency alarm system without a permit issued by the
Select Board.
[Amended 5-9-2022 ATM by Art. 38]
B.Â
The Select Board shall from time to time establish fees for the issuance
of such permit.
C.Â
A permit issued pursuant to this bylaw may be revoked at any time
by the Select Board upon 10 days' notice in writing, by certified
mail, to the holder of the permit, sent to the address shown on the
permit. Any violation of this bylaw shall constitute grounds for the
revocation of the permit.
After the issuance of a permit, a fee in an amount set by the
Select Board will be charged for response to any emergency alarm in
which the Police Department is the responding agency. A fee in an
amount set by the Select Board will be charged for any response to
a false emergency alarm in which the Fire Department is the responding
agency. The Police Chief/Fire Chief or senior officer at an alarm
response will determine whether the alarm was a false emergency alarm.
After the third response within a twelve-month period, the permit
may be revoked by the Select Board until the alarm system has been
recertified by reputable installer of alarms.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Select Board voted at its 8-12-2020 meeting
to set fines for false alarms as follows: for the third false alarm
in a calendar year: $100; after the third false alarm in a calendar
year: $300 for all subsequent false alarms.
In the event that an automatic emergency alarm system shall fail to be deactivated within the time limitation specified in § 80-1 above, the Police Chief/Fire Chief or senior officer shall have the right to take such action as necessary in order to disconnect any such alarm.
