As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on June 17, 2014 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, pursuant to RI General Laws Section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook, Vice-Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Blackburn, Booth, Burlingame, Jackson, Pearson, Richard, Sylvester and Thornton.
Department of Administration Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Peter N. Dennehy.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Chris Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Pastor Ann Marie Richard, Property Manager Bill Bohmbach and Michael Leber.

TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under Chapter 23-28.3, entitled the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.	The Application was filed by Bill Bohmbach / Michael Leber (representatives) of 1 Queen Ann Square, Newport, RI dated April 26, 2014.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  140050 opened on May 2, 2014.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on June 17, 2014 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
5.	After all evidence was presented at the hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Richard to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 10 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  140050 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  140050 dated April 26, 2014 and filed on May 2, 2014.
2.	Newport Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated January 15, 2013.
3.	Letter sent by ADSFM Chris Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office to Trinity Church Honeyman Hall dated January 15, 2013.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the June 17, 2014 hearing as exhibits:

1.	None.

FINDINGS OF FACT

	Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Finding of Fact:

1.	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the January 15, 2013 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 June 17, 2014 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the January 15, 2013 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.
2.	The building is an existing 2-story assembly (place of worship) occupancy.
3.	The building is of Type V (000) construction and is not provided with sprinkler protection and has a non-compliant fire alarm system.
4.	The unlicensed day-care activity on the basement level has been removed.
5.	There is no objection by the Newport Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance until December 31, 2015 from the provisions of RILSC sections 13.1.8.1(1) to provide the facility with an approved fire alarm system, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
2.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC 13.1.8.1(3) by developing and submitting a plan of action for the installation of approved emergency lighting throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days in order to implement the above plan of action, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
3.	The Board grants the Applicant the time variance of thirty (30) days to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 10.4.1 by installing approved exit signage throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
4.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of fifteen (15) days from the date of the Decision to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 11.1.2 by providing an approved cover on the electrical box located in the safe/storage room, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.

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 Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

Finally, the Board hereby authorizes the Newport Fire Marshals Office to extend the above timeline for good faith efforts being demonstrated by the applicant.




STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	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).
2.	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).
3.	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).
4.	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)].