[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Mount Vernon 11-13-1957 as Ch. 32 of the General Ordinances, approved 11-15-1957. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Electrical standards — See Ch. 120.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 131.
Theaters — See Ch. 240.
[Amended 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Includes a theater, opera house, church, municipal building, hospital, nursing or convalescent home, home for the aged, public building and any building used for the assembly or meeting of persons for entertainment or amusement.
No person shall place any chairs or benches or other obstructions in the aisle of any public building so as to obstruct or interfere with the free ingress and egress of persons to and from or the free movement within such building.
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors owning, operating or in control of a public building shall at all times keep the aisles, passageways, stairways, entrances and exits free from all and every obstruction.
A. 
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors owning, operating or in control of a public building shall cause the doors thereof to swing outwardly only, shall keep same unfastened during all the time such building is occupied and shall keep the same clear of all obstructions.
B. 
No public building shall hereafter be erected unless the plans and specifications for such building, filed with the Commissioner of Buildings, shall provide that the doors thereof shall be swung outwardly only.
No ashes shall be kept or deposited in any public building except in metal receptacles. All rubbish shall be promptly removed, and no paper, smoke-creating material or rubbish shall be burned therein except under such conditions and in such manner as shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner.
The heating and electrical apparatus of any public building shall be under the supervision of a competent person. The determination as to competency shall be made by the Fire Commissioner.
All motion-picture machines operated for public amusement must be enclosed in a suitable steel-clad booth and shall be provided with a suitable smoke vent to the exterior of the building.
In all public buildings where motion-picture machines are used or operated, at least one motion-picture operator duly licensed by the City shall be assigned to and remain in charge of each motion-picture machine therein; and it shall be the responsibility of the owner, proprietor, manager, lessee or other person in charge of such public building to comply with the provisions of this section.
A. 
The Fire Commissioner is hereby authorized to prohibit smoking or carrying of any lighted articles in any public building, as hereinbefore defined, or in any portion thereof, when he deems such action necessary to safeguard life or property.
B. 
The Fire Commissioner, when exercising the powers provided in Subsection A, shall cause written notice thereof to be served personally or by registered mail upon the owner, operator or lessee or the agent thereof of such public building, and in which notice he shall designate the precise area or portion of the building in which smoking is to be prohibited. Such notice shall further provide for an effective date of such prohibition as determined by the Fire Commissioner.
C. 
The areas of public buildings in which the prohibition is to prevail shall be clearly indicated by signs to be displayed by the owner, operator or lessee of such building and which signs shall be of such size, wording and location as shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner.
D. 
The permit shall be revocable by the Fire Commissioner, in his discretion, for cause satisfactory to him. All permits shall expire on the 31st day of December next succeeding their issuance.
E. 
The permittee shall comply with all ordinances and laws relating to the maintenance and operation of theaters, hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes, and with all rules, regulations, directions and orders of the Fire Commissioner.
[Amended 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
All exits and passageways to exits in any theater, hospital, nursing or convalescent home shall be marked in letters at least six inches in height and shall be provided with an electric light with a globe, which said light must be kept illuminated at all times while such building is in use.
[Added 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors owning, operating or in control of a public building shall provide such fire hose, fire extinguishers, buckets, axes, fire hooks, fire doors and other fire-preventing devices for the prevention and extinguishment of fires as the Fire Commissioner may direct.