The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on July 25, 2006 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Burlingame and Commissioners Richard, Preiss, Newbrook and OConnell were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Jeffrey Lynch of the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Vice Chairman Burlingame and seconded by Commissioner Richard 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 February 16, 2005 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 25, 2006 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 16, 2005 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 
	1-8.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office.
	9.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the date of this decision in order to upgrade the fire alarm system of this facility.  In the event the Applicant is making a good faith effort to comply, the above time period may be extended by the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office.
	10-11.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 13.3.3.3 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing heavy wood interior finish of this facility.  Specifically, the Applicant shall not be required to treat the existing heavy wood as opposed to paneling within this facility.  In granting this relief, the Board notes that the heavy wood construction provides superior flame spread protection to wood paneling.
	12.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 12 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office.
	13.  As a condition of the above variances, the Board directs the Applicant to develop and implement a plan of action, with the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office, for the protection of the occupants of this facility during annual meetings and/or speaking events conducted at the facility.

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)].