Madison Historical Society asks town to install monitored smoke alarm and supports National Register application

Nancy Martin, representing the Madison Historical Society, told the Board of Selectmen that the society's museum building has only an entry-only alarm system and lacks monitored smoke/fire detection and contents insurance, which raises a neighborhood fire-safety concern.

Martin said the building is monitored only for unauthorized entry and that a fire could go undetected. "We have an entry-only alarm system but we do not have fire and smoke monitoring tied to dispatch; if there were a fire at night it could go undetected," she said. She asked whether the town could install a monitored smoke/fire alarm tied to the fire department and then continue paying for the entry system.

Selectmen identified the town's existing vendor arrangements (Lakeside/Scarsdale) and asked staff to obtain cost estimates for adding monitored fire/smoke detection to the museum's system. One selectman said the town has a similar panel on other buildings and that staff could request quotes; another offered to contact the vendor to coordinate a site visit.

Martin also asked the board for its blessing to apply to the National Register of Historic Places for the museum building. Board members supported the idea and said being on the state and national registers does not by itself impose restrictions on non-historic-district properties.

The board did not commit town funds at the meeting but directed staff to obtain pricing and, as a next step, to set up a vendor visit and report back to the Historical Society and the board.