Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
(401) 889-5551 phone
(401) 889-5279 fax
711 TTY
FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
560 Jefferson Boulevard
Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
DECISION
FILE NO.: 130053C
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 295 Harris Avenue, Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Joann L. Joseph 295 Harris Avenue Providence, RKI 02909
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mixed
DATE OF DECISION: 2015-04-08
As indicated in the file, a show cause hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on March 24, 2015 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 and Commissioners Booth, Filippi, Jackson, Sylvester and Thornton.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Joseph Michalczyk, Jack Devlin and Richard Vespia of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Joann Joseph, Barry Ganek, Ed Ousley and Rick Crowley.
&8195;
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 initially filed by Joann L. Joseph (President) of 295 Harris Avenue, Providence, RI dated May 8, 2013.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  130053 opened on May 9, 2013.
4.	The matter was first before the Board on May 21, 2013 at which time Decision  130053 was issued dated June 25, 2013.
5.	The matter was again before the Board on December 10, 2013 at which time Decision  130053A was issued dated January 10, 2014.
6.	The matter was again before the Board on May 20, 2014 at which time Decision  130053B was issued dated June 5, 2014.
7.	On March 11, 2015 ADSFM Joseph Michalczyk of the Providence Fire Marshal's Office notified the Board that the date for compliance with the Boards Decision had lapsed and that the Applicant has not complied with the terms of the Decision.
8.	On March 12, 2015 Notice was sent to the Applicant to appear on March 24, 2015 and show cause, if any, why the previous Decision should not be declared void and all deficiencies reinstated.
9.	A show cause hearing on Decision  130053B was conducted on March 24, 2015 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
10.	After all evidence was presented at the March 24, 2015 hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Sylvester and seconded by Commissioner Booth to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 6 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  130053C and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  130053 dated May 8, 2013 and filed on May 9, 2013.
2.	Letter from Joann L. Joseph of Ajay Land Co. to Board dated May 7, 2014.
3.	Providence Fire Marshals Office disapproval letter from ADSFM Joseph Michalczyk to Joann Joseph dated April 30, 2014.
4.	Providence Fire Marshals Office disapproval letter from ADSFM Joseph Michalczyk to Joann Joseph dated February 24, 2014.
5.	Providence Fire Marshals Office approval letter from ADSFM Richard Vespia to Steven Younis dated July 29, 2013.
6.	Decision  130053 dated June 25, 2013.
7.	Decision  130053A dated January 10, 2014.
8.	Reschedule Notice dated May 8, 2014.
9.	E-Mail from Joann Joseph to Board dated May 9, 2014.
10.	Reschedule Notice dated May 13, 2014.
11.	Decision  130053B dated June 6, 2014.
12.	Letter from ADSFM Joseph Michalczyk of the Providence Fire Marshals Office to the Board dated March 11, 2015.
13.	Hearing Notice dated March 12, 2015.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 24, 2015 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 matter was previously heard by the Board on May 21, 2013 at which time Decision  130053 was issued dated June 25, 2013.
2.	The matter was again heard by the Board on December 10, 2013 at which time Decision  130053A was issued dated January 10, 2014.
3.	The matter was again heard by the Board on May 20, 2014 at which time Decision  130053B was issued dated June 5, 2014.
4.	The above Decisions were utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the March 24, 2015 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the June 25, 2013, January 10, 2014 and June 5, 2014 decisions 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.
5.	The Board finds that the compliance date set forth in the previous decision(s) has not been complied with.
6.	The Providence Fire Marshals Office is in opposition to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

&8195;
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

The Board hereby reinstates and modifies the relief granted pursuant to the previous decisions under Rules 6-2-22 and 6-2-23 as follows:

1.	The Applicant shall have until July 31, 2015 in which to bring Buildings  1, 2 and 3 into full compliance with the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshal's 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).

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)].
rhode island coat of arms A Rhode Island Government Web site