Chapter 140: Fire Department Repository Units

Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted as Ch. 218 but was renumbered to maintain the organization of the Code.

§ 140-1 Fire Department repository unit required; applicability.

The owner or person in control of the following types of buildings shall install and maintain a Fire Department repository unit of a type approved by the Chief:

(1)

Any apartment building or other rental building containing four or more residential living units and in which access to the building or to common areas or mechanical or electrical rooms within the building is denied through locked doors.

(2)

Any nonresidential building where a fire detection or suppression system is monitored by an alarm company or has an external audible alarm.

(3)

Any nonresidential building which has an active retail or commercial business open to the general public.

(4)

Any building or facility containing a quantity of hazardous materials which would require compliance with Title III of SARA (Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act).

Persons or entities who construct buildings or structures which would be subject to the requirements of this chapter shall comply with the requirements at the time of construction. The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to existing buildings or structures which would otherwise be subject to such requirements.

Any building or facility that has staff or security on-site 24 hours per day, seven days a week shall not be required to install or maintain a repository unit.

§ 140-2 Keys required.

The owner or person in control of buildings or facilities described in § 140-1 required to have a Fire Department repository unit shall cause to be placed in such repository unit a key to the following areas:

Locked points of access in the exterior of the building or facility;

Locked points of access to common areas, such as hallways or utility rooms, contained within such buildings or facilities;

Locked mechanical rooms;

Locked electrical rooms;

All other locked areas, other than individual apartments or rented rooms, as directed by the Chief.

§ 140-3 Access to Fire Department repository unit.

The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in § 140-1 required to have a Fire Department repository unit shall be present, himself or through his agent, during access to such repository unit by the Fire Department except when the Fire Department has responded to an emergency at the property.

§ 140-4 Rules and regulations.

The Chief may establish rules and regulations for the placement and maintenance of Fire Department repository units within the Village, including approved types of Fire Department repository units.

§ 140-5 Update of keys and information.

The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in § 140-1 required to have a Fire Department repository unit shall do the following:

Provide keys capable of access to such Fire Department repository unit at all times to the Fire Department.

Maintain current information of hazardous materials stored in the building or facility in the Fire Department repository unit or, if the volume of material is too large to place in the repository unit, shall file said information with the Chief.

§ 140-6 Limitation of liability.

The Village assumes no liability for any of the following:

Any defects in the operation of the repository unit, of any of the keys contained within such repository unit or any information stored within the repository unit or otherwise provided to the Chief;

The failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from an alarm system;

The failure or neglect of any owner or person in control of a building or facility required to have a repository unit to provide access to the repository unit; or

The security of any property required to have a repository unit due to access to the repository unit by any person.

§ 140-7 Penalty.

Any person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined in an amount not less than $150 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.

In addition to any fines imposed, the offender shall be ordered to pay all of the costs associated with the administrative adjudication proceeding or court proceeding, and reasonable attorney fees incurred in enforcement of the provisions of the chapter.