Council reviews proposed police and fire code updates, including central‑station alarm monitoring and phased false‑alarm penalties

Assistant Town Attorney Diamond Spain and Fire/inspections staff presented a multi‑chapter revision of the municipal code that would adopt the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code language, add a requirement that new commercial fire alarm systems be monitored through certificated central‑station services (UL/FM/Enertec certification), and set an implementation date of January 1, 2027 to allow contractors and owners time to transition.

Fire official Paul Padgett explained the rationale: certificated monitoring requires annual auditing and a runner service that can be on site within two hours to reduce lengthy system outages; Padgett said the change also helps reduce nuisance alarms and improves life safety. He told council staff would not apply the standard retroactively but would require new commercial systems and would include enforcement steps and an education requirement for repeat incidents. Padgett described a staged approach: education and alarm awareness classes initially, then a requirement to upgrade for commercial properties after repeated false alarms, and civil penalties only after multiple failures to correct problems.

Council asked who would be affected and whether multifamily apartments would be treated as residential or commercial; staff clarified that apartments and other multifamily dwellings fall under the commercial building code and therefore would be covered. Council members also questioned the effectiveness and size of civil penalties; staff noted the existing civil penalty framework begins at $100 and escalates for repeat offenses but offered to review whether penalty amounts should better reflect operational costs. Council directed staff to proceed to public hearing with the proposed language, continue public outreach, and provide clearer thresholds for when monitoring becomes mandatory.