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Fire Marshal urges Code update to align fees with Ohio Fire Code and add specialty charges
Summary
Fire Marshal Ferris Russell asked council to update Chapter 1604 to revise fee schedules to match the November Ohio Fire Code, drop the ‘‘Arson Bureau’’ label in favor of broader fire investigation language, and add specialty fees to recoup extraordinary incident costs.
Ferris Russell, Barberton's fire marshal, asked council Monday to approve updates to Chapter 1604 of the Barberton codified ordinances that would modernize the city's fee schedule and add specialty charges for extreme incidents.
Russell said the proposed fees are "based roughly on the Ohio Fire Code" and that the intention is not to charge for routine first inspections but to assess reinspection or specialty fees when violations persist or when extended, resource-intensive responses occur. He cited the East Palestine response as an example of an event that produced long-term, high costs that some departments have sought to recover.
The proposal includes language changes to remove the historical term "Arson Bureau," Russell explained, because the department investigates all fires, not only confirmed arsons. He said the change is meant to reflect modern practice and clarity for both staff and the public. Russell told council that neighboring jurisdictions have adopted similar reinspection fees and that the intent is compliance rather than revenue generation: "The fee's only $25," he said of a common reinspection level, with higher amounts intended to spur correction.
Council discussion touched on comparable practices in nearby communities and the structure of specialty fees. The item was moved to the consent agenda by a committee motion; council did not adopt final legislation Monday. Council members and staff indicated they would bring the fee schedule and proposed ordinance language forward for formal action at a later meeting.
What happens next: Russell said staff would provide details of the revised fee schedule and the draft ordinance to council. Any change to code language would require passage at future council readings, and council will determine whether to adopt emergency language or schedule the item for standard readings.
