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Millersville council adopts false-alarm ordinance and fee schedule after public comment
Summary
Millersville Borough Council approved a new false-alarm ordinance adding Chapter 110 to the borough code and later passed a resolution to implement fees after public comment urged fines to discourage repeat false alarms.
Millersville Borough Council on March 25 adopted an ordinance amending the borough code to add Chapter 110, governing alarm systems, and approved a subsequent resolution to establish false-alarm fees.
The ordinance and the fee resolution were introduced during a public hearing that included comments from resident Richard France, who urged modest fines to deter repeat false alarms. "I'd be thankful just to give $25 towards a fine for doing that and then straighten my problem out," France said, adding that fines would make people "think twice" before leaving malfunctioning alarms active.
Council members said the ordinance text — including an initial zero fine for a small number of early false alarms as recommended by the fire department and university stakeholders — reflected input from the local fire company and other reviewers. Council then voted to approve the ordinance; Council President moved the motion and Linda seconded. The council later passed a separate resolution to implement the false-alarm fees and the administrative rules for enforcing Chapter 110.
The public hearing and comment preceded both votes. Council members noted the fire companies involved are volunteer organizations and that recommendations for fee amounts came from consultations with the fire company and other local stakeholders. The record shows the council approved both the ordinance and the implementing resolution by voice vote with no recorded dissents.
Council documents provided with the meeting indicate the intent behind the fee structure is to reduce repeated false dispatches that consume volunteer time and borough resources; the ordinance text and the resolution specify fee levels and administrative procedures (the ordinance text and final fee amounts are part of the borough code amendment and implementing resolution on file with borough clerk).
The council additionally noted the resolution implementing fees is an administrative measure distinct from the ordinance itself; both the ordinance and the implementing resolution passed in the same meeting.
A copy of the adopted ordinance and the fee resolution will be available from the borough clerk.
