Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 070160
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 17 Point Road, Portsmouth
APPLICANT: Mr. Alessio Iafrate 17 Point Road Portsmouth, RI 02871
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mixed
DATE OF DECISION: 2009-10-01
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on July 28, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Jackson, Richard, Preiss, Blackburn, Jasparro and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Phillip Simmons of the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Vice Chairman Newbrook and seconded by Commissioners Richard, Jasparro and Jackson 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 July 27, 2009 inspection report compiled by the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office during the July 28, 2009 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the July 27, 2009 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.  During the July 28, 2009 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the Applicant has substantially corrected deficiency 1 and needs just a small amount of time in order to complete the correction.  Accordingly, the Board grants the Applicant an additional thirty (30) days to complete the correction of deficiency 1.
	2.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 37.3.3 and its referenced standards in order to allow the Applicant to maintain all existing materials in the mercantile and workroom areas of this facility that are required to be in these areas by the Rhode Island Department of Health.  In granting this variance, it is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has plenty of egress and a compliant fire alarm system and that the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office has no objection.  Finally, the Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to correct any remaining outstanding interior finish issues in those areas not regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Health.
	3.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to complete the correction of deficiency 3 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's 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)].
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