The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on May 10, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Blackburn, Dias and Preiss were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Ray Gomes of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Dias  to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of a February 22, 2011 inspection report compiled by the Newport Fire Marshals Office. The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Newport Fire Marshals Office during the May 10, 2011 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 22, 2011 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Boards findings, such as correction of a deficiency by the Applicant, shall be noted herein. 
	Any deficiency understood by the Board to have been corrected, which is not so corrected, shall be immediately corrected by the Applicant.  The term approved, as used herein, is defined in section 23-28.1-4(3) of the Rhode Island General Laws.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected Deficiency 1 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 
2.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Newport Fire Marshals Office has determined that Deficiency 2 is not applicable at this time and therefore not a violation of the fire code. 
3.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected Deficiency 3 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 
4.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance, of thirty (30) days from the date of this Decision to submit a plan of action, to the Newport Fire Marshals Office, for the correction of Deficiency 4. The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days to implement the above plan and correct Deficiency 4 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.   
5.	The Board hereby grants a variance to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing dimensions of the egress system in this place of worship and to further maintain the historical hardware on the egress doors. As a condition of this relief, the Board directs the Applicant to maintain the doors unlocked when this place of worship is occupied. 
6.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance, of thirty (30) days from the date of this Decision to submit a plan of action, to the Newport Fire Marshals Office, for the correction of Deficiency 6 by repairing the existing cited plaster walls. The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days to implement the above plan and correct Deficiency 6 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.   
7.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Newport Fire Marshals Office has determined that Deficiency 7 is not applicable at this time and therefore not a violation of the fire code. 
8.	The Board notes that this Deficiency has been addressed in items 5 and 6 above. 
9.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected Deficiency 9 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 
10.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected Deficiency 10 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 
11.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance, of thirty (30) days from the date of this Decision to submit a plan of action, to the Newport Fire Marshals Office, for the correction of Deficiency 11. The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days to implement the above plan and correct Deficiency 11 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.   
12.	The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct Deficiency 12 by providing and properly mounting the required fire extinguishers at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 
13.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Newport Fire Marshals Office has determined that Deficiency 13 is not applicable at this time and therefore not a violation of the fire code. 
14.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Newport Fire Marshals Office has determined that Deficiency 14 is not applicable at this time and therefore not a violation of the fire code. 
15.	It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected Deficiency 15 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office. 

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS
	This Decision represents a comprehensive, integrated plan of fire safety for the above-captioned facility under the above-cited use or occupancy.  Accordingly, every variance granted is conditioned upon the Applicants timely and continued compliance with all of the directives of the Board. Every variance granted is further conditioned upon the continued use or occupancy of this facility under the above-cited classification reviewed by the Board. ( See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-17).
	Failure of the Applicant to initially comply with the full Decision of the Board, within the stated time frame, shall void all variances granted herein. (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18)  In the event of complete, timely and continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above cited variances shall be deemed to have vested in the above-captioned facility.  As long as this facility is in continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above-cited variances shall remain with this facility in the absence of any change in use or occupancy mandating review under a separate classification of the Fire Code or a revision of the above-cited classification. . (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-19).  Such changes in use or occupancy of this facility, or failure to continually comply with the Boards Decision shall void all variances granted under the above-cited use or occupancy.  If such change creates a new use or occupancy as outlined in R.I.G.L. 23-28.1-6, all variances granted under the original use or occupancy are void and this facility shall be reviewed under the newly created use or occupancy. . (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-20).
	The Applicant may appeal the Boards Decision, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of this Decision, by commencing an action against the State Fire Marshal in the Sixth division of the District Court.  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].