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Board hears vendor pitch for centralized fire-alarm monitoring; trustees raise questions about mandating a single provider
Summary
Representatives from FSS described a single-provider network for business fire-alarm monitoring that they say improves response consistency; trustees and legal counsel raised concerns about competition, mandating a provider by ordinance, and enforcement responsibilities.
The board heard a vendor presentation on a proposed centralized fire-alarm monitoring network intended to reduce call-transfer delays and improve response times. FSS representatives described pricing examples in nearby municipalities, a leasing model for radios and monitoring fees, and said their network integrates with the majority of existing alarm systems (company estimate: ~95% compatibility). They recommended one certified connection point to reduce misdirected alarms.
Trustees questioned whether adopting an ordinance could effectively mandate a single provider for all businesses, and raised legal and competition concerns. The fire chief and staff said the village and attorneys are reviewing sample contract and ordinance language. Trustees also asked about cost impacts for businesses, enforcement mechanics (if systems are offline or owners stop paying), and whether the village would use its life-safety inspection and adjudication process for compliance.
No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; trustees requested additional detail from staff and the vendor, including the draft contract/ordinance under attorney review and clearer cost estimates, before further action.
