Gaithersburg public hearing on fire-code update: staff clarifies language, record open until Jan. 15

Michael Semelsberger, Gaithersburg's fire marshal, led a joint public hearing on a proposed repeal and replacement of the city's fire code to adopt the 2024 National Fire Protection Association standards and align local code with recent state amendments. Semelsberger said staff revised language in section 11.8(c) to add the phrase 'or as directed by the city manager' to clarify which office would govern reports submitted to a third-party data manager if vendors changed or ceased operations.

Semelsberger recommended the council hold the public record open until 5 p.m. on Jan. 15 to accept additional written testimony; he and municipal staff said they anticipate policy discussion and possible adoption on Feb. 2. With no public speakers at the hearing, the council moved to leave the record open; the motion passed on the night of Jan. 5.

Next steps: the council will continue to accept written input until the Jan. 15 deadline; staff expects to return with a finalized policy and an adoption ordinance on Feb. 2.