[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Cromwell 3-8-2006. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire lanes — See Ch. 130.
Maintenance of nonresidential property — See Ch. 162, Art. I.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 204.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this article is to authorize the Cromwell Fire District to regulate the installation and maintenance of fire hydrants in the Town of Cromwell.
B. 
Compliance with certain specifications required. Any developer of residential, industrial or commercial property in the Town of Cromwell that is required to install private or municipal hydrants as a condition of plan approval shall install hydrants which are fully in accordance with the color and specifications of the Cromwell Fire District. It shall be the responsibility of the Cromwell Fire Marshal or designee to review all development plans within his or her jurisdiction regarding the installation of private or municipal hydrants and report his or her findings to the appropriate permitting land use agency of the Town of Cromwell regarding compliance with § 157-1 of this chapter. The Building Official of the Town of Cromwell shall issue no building permit or certificate of occupancy unless and until requirements of this section have been complied with.
Fire hydrants shall be installed where designated by the Cromwell Fire Marshal or designee. Hydrants shall meet the following specifications: Installation shall be not less than three feet nor more than five feet from the outside of the curb or the edge of the pavement. Steamer or five-inch connections shall be not less than 18 inches above the finished grade. No obstructions, such as, but not limited to, guard rails, walls, fences, hedges, bushes or screen planting, shall be placed within three feet of any hydrant or Cromwell Fire Department connection on any public or private property. Written fire hydrant specifications shall be available through the Office of the Cromwell Fire Marshal.
Any person, firm or developer who or which has installed private fire hydrants in accordance with § 157-1 of this article shall be required to annually subscribe to and pay for maintenance service, which is available through the Cromwell Fire District or a qualified service company. All hydrants shall be maintained in accordance with standards promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA). These standards shall be available through the Office of the Cromwell Fire Marshal.
The Town of Cromwell or Cromwell Fire District may repair or order the repair of a defective hydrant on private property and bill the cost of such work to the owner. In the event of the owner's failure to pay for said repair, the Cromwell Fire District may cause a lien to be placed against the property, which may be enforced according to § 1-3 of Chapter 1, General Provisions, of the Cromwell Town Code.
The owners, entities, or persons in possession and control of property that includes a fire hydrant shall bring any existing hydrant installed prior to the effective date of this article into compliance with this article no later than 180 days after the effective date of this article. Fire hydrants shall not be screened or otherwise obstructed by trees, shrubs, fences, or any structure that impedes access to the hydrant from the Cromwell Fire District and/or Cromwell Fire Department personnel. Painting, changing the grade or any other alteration to the hydrant or its surroundings that diminishes the visibility of the hydrant shall not be permitted.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine of up to $90 or any larger amount that the Connecticut General Statutes permit the Town of Cromwell to fine for violations of municipal ordinances. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. It shall be the duty of the Cromwell Fire Marshal or designee to report to the Cromwell Chief of Police any violation of this article and the duty of the Cromwell Chief of Police or designee to enforce this article.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this article is to allow fire hydrants to be readily accessible for attachment of hoses, and to facilitate connection to mobile fire apparatus, and to authorize the Cromwell Fire District to enforce said regulations.
B. 
Removal required. All owners, entities, or persons in possession and control of private property that includes a fire hydrant shall remove snow and ice abutting the hydrant that has accumulated higher than a point four inches below the bottom of the lowest outlet on any fire hydrant within 24 hours after the cessation of a snow or ice storm.
If the property owner, person, or entity in possession of private property that includes a fire hydrant fails to remove snow and ice around such hydrant within 24 hours after the cessation of a snow or ice storm, such person may be fined up to $90 or any larger amount that the Connecticut General Statutes permit the Town of Cromwell to fine for violations of municipal ordinances. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day of neglect or refusal to comply with any of the provisions of this article. If the Director of the Water Division orders the removal of the snow and ice, as provided for in § 157-9C, the property owners, persons, or entities in possession and control of such hydrant shall be billed for the expenses of said removal in addition to the penalties provided in this section.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Cromwell Fire Marshal or designee to report to the Cromwell Chief of Police any violation of this article and the duty of the Cromwell Chief of Police or designee to enforce this article.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Cromwell Fire Marshal or designee to report promptly to the Director of the Water Division any violations of § 157-7. It shall be the duty of the Director of the Water Division of the Cromwell Fire District to cause the hydrant to be cleared.
C. 
The Water Division section of the Cromwell Fire District shall ensure that snow and ice abutting any fire hydrants is removed in accordance with this article. Where the property owner, entity, or person in control of private property that includes a fire hydrant has failed to remove snow and ice 24 hours after the cessation of a snow or ice storm, the Director of the Water Division may order the removal of such snow and ice so that the hydrant is cleared, with the cost of such removal being charged to such property owner, person, entity, or person in control of private property that includes a fire hydrant. The Water Division may engage an independent contractor to provide this snow or ice removal service.