Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 070075
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 3120 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence
APPLICANT: Mr. John Jarrell 3120 Pawtucket Avenue East Providence, RI 02915
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Lodging or Rooming Houses
DATE OF DECISION: 2009-11-03
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on September 1, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Preiss, Richard, Blackburn, Dias, Jasparro and Jackson were present.  Commissioner Walker recused himself from consideration of this case.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Carey, Bellamy and Powers of the East Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Vice Chairman Newbrook 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 January 4, 2007 inspection report compiled by the East Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized, on a preliminary basis, by the Board, the Applicant and the East Providence Fire Marshals Office during the September 1, 2009 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the January 4, 2007 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 
	1-18.  During the September 1, 2009 hearing on this matter, the Board directed the Applicant to submit a written plan of action to the East Providence Fire Marshal's office by Friday, September 4, 2009.  The Board notes that the above plan of action would be for the installation of a local fire alarm system and an NFPA-13R sprinkler system.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional 120 days from the above date in which to implement his plan of action.  The Board notes that as a condition of this variance there shall be no rooming house activity until this facility is fully code compliant.  Specifically, the Applicant shall maintain the occupancy as a single-family home until the work is completed.  Finally, the Board shall maintain this file as an open file in the event the Applicant or the East Providence Fire Marshal's office needs additional guidance or relief.

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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