Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Equipment Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee forwards ordinance to raise annual fees for Gamewell wired master fire alarm boxes, asks staff to notify affected addresses
Summary
Committee discussed an ordinance to amend Section 92.25 of the city code to raise annual fees for existing Gamewell wired master fire alarm boxes, asked staff to produce a list of roughly 34 addresses, and approved forwarding the item to the full board with a request that affected parties be notified prior to fee implementation in July.
The committee considered an ordinance amending Section 92.25 (annual fees) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Manchester to increase the annual fee for existing Gamewell wired master fire alarm boxes.
Committee members asked whether anyone from the fire department was present to explain the item. A speaker who identified past efforts explained the city began eliminating hardwired master boxes around 2014 and planned to move to new telemetry; only about 34 such wired boxes remain. The proposed fee increase was described in the discussion as an incentive to encourage businesses to transition off the legacy system.
Alderman Burkes and other members asked for a list of the roughly 34 addresses that still used the wired master boxes and requested clarity about formal notices to those property owners before the higher fee takes effect in July. One committee member urged staff to provide those addresses and to send notice “as soon as possible” so owners have the five months of lead time before the July increase.
A speaker identified as a fire/operations representative said these wired systems were being phased out and that many businesses had been aware the city was “heading in this direction,” though not necessarily of the specific fee increase. Committee members discussed alternatives and compared estimated costs of monitored alarm service (anecdotally described as about $100 per month by a private alarm company) versus the small annual charge city staff said the current fee equates to.
The committee moved to send the ordinance to the full board and to have staff prepare and send notices to the affected addresses; Alderman Vincent made the motion and Alderman Nel seconded. The motion carried by voice vote; the chair said, “The ayes have it.” The committee recorded no final adoption of the ordinance at this meeting; the action recorded in the transcript was forwarding the ordinance and directing staff to prepare notices and the list of affected addresses.
