Port Jervis council adopts local law removing annual fire-inspection fees

The Port Jervis City Council on Jan. 27 adopted Local Law No. 1 of 02/2025, which amends the city's fire safety inspection program to eliminate annual inspection fees and adjust fees tied to new construction.

Supporters said the change is intended to reduce recurring costs for established local businesses while preserving revenue by charging for new construction inspections. Jason Vicarulo, First Ward councilmember, described the change as removing fees that repeatedly affected the same businesses and moving some charges to one-time fees for new construction. "We're going away with that fee to make it better for the local businesses," Vicarulo said during the public hearing.

The law amends provisions identified in the meeting as chapters referenced for fire inspections (transcript reference: "chapters, 280 and 280-9, 230116"). During the public hearing the council opened the item and invited comment; no members of the public spoke. A council member at the hearing applauded the code committee's work as a small-business-friendly reform but no public opposition was recorded.

Council action: A motion to adopt Local Law No. 1 of 02/2025 was made and seconded; the motion passed after the vote (meeting record: "All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Motion carries."). The council also formally opened and closed the public hearing on the measure earlier in the meeting.

The law shifts some inspection revenue from annual recurring fees to fees charged at the point of new construction, according to the presentation to the council. The meeting record does not specify projected revenue impacts, an effective date for the law beyond the adoption action, or any implementing guidance for affected businesses.

The council did not record additional amendments to the text during the meeting. No further administrative steps were specified in the council discussion about implementing the fee changes.