Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 110194
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 96 Rhode Island Avenue
APPLICANT: Mr. Austin O'Connor 311 Washington Street Brighton, MA 02135
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2012-01-23
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on November 1, 2011 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Dias, Jasparro, Jackson, Walker, Pearson, Sylvester, Burlingame and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Wayne Clark and Christopher Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Dias and seconded by Commissioner Jackson to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed with Commissioner Richard abstaining from the vote.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of a July 26, 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 November 1, 2011 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the July 26, 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 understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1-4.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to develop a plan of action for the correction of deficiencies 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional 150 days in order to implement that plan.  Finally, the Board hereby grants the Newport Fire Marshals Office the authority to extend either or both of the above timelines for good faith efforts being demonstrated by the Applicant.
	5(1).  During the November 1, 2011 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the cited deficiency is currently in compliance with the code.
	5(2).  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency 5(2) by providing this area with an approved second window and utilizing a window seat if necessary, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office, before residential occupancy of the basement of this facility.  
	6.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 6.	
	7.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in items 1-4 above in order to correct deficiency 7 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
	8.  It is the understanding of the Board that item 8 is in compliance.
	9.  It is the understanding of the Board that item 9 is not applicable.
	10.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in items 1-4 above in order to correct deficiency 10 by providing the cited door with approved spring-loaded hinges and either treating the door or replacing it at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
	11-12.  It is the understanding of the Board that items 11 and 12 comply.
	13-14.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in items 1-4 above in order to correct deficiencies 13 and 14 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
	15.  It is the understanding of the Board that item 15 is not applicable.

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)].
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