The purpose of this chapter is to alleviate conditions which
lead to an unnecessary drain on the manpower, time, space, facilities
and finances of the Borough of Somerville and its Police and Fire
Departments and the deterioration of the quality of services to persons
subscribing to alarm services.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person, other
than the borough, who operates, maintains or owns any alarm device
designed to summon the Police, Fire Department or other municipal
agencies to any location in response to any type of alarm signal.
The terms of this chapter shall in no way prohibit alarm companies
from providing services by private source to other offices within
or without the borough so long as such activity is not connected to
the alarm panel or telephone at the police headquarters. The terms
of this chapter shall also apply to alarm companies providing services
by private source to other companies within or without the borough,
if the purpose of the furnishing of such services is to summon the
police to any location in response to any type of alarm signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm-actuating equipment which provides warning
of intrusion, fire, smoke, burglary, flood or like peril.
ALARM PANEL
That component installed in the console in the police headquarters
containing alarm indications and designations.
ALARM SYSTEM
The installation in one (1) or more buildings of one (1)
or more alarm devices for the express purpose of giving visual or
audible warning, or both, of an emergency, such as burglary, intrusion,
fire, smoke, flood or like perils.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm or signal of an alarm actuated by inadvertence,
negligence or intentional or unintentional act of a person other than
an intruder, and including alarms by mechanical failure, malfunction
or improper installation of the alarm system and related equipment.
"False alarms" shall not include activations caused by power or phone
line interruptions. Alarms created by mechanical failure, malfunctioning
or improper installation of the alarm console at police headquarters
shall not be deemed "false alarms."
The purpose of this Article is to provide to the Fire Department
of the Borough of Somerville access to buildings which contain an
alarm device or alarm system as defined by this chapter.
The owners, occupants or users of an alarm device or alarm system
as defined by this chapter shall install an exterior lockbox for the
appropriate building keys. The lock-box shall be approved by the Borough
of Somerville Fire Department and shall be compatible with the system
being used by the Department.
The local enforcement agency shall be the Borough of Somerville
Fire Department and the location and installation of the exterior
lock-box shall be subject to the review and approval of the Borough
of Somerville Fire Department or its designated borough official.