NEWRY – A fire protection ordinance that would have required new buildings to have sprinkler systems installed went down in flames at Monday night’s special town meeting in Newry.
The Fire Protection Ordinance, as presented by the Newry Fire Department, was defeated in a vote of 28-7 after a 30-minute discussion.
Announcement of the tally by Moderator Steve Wight prompted Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Pierce to immediately yell, “Recount!”
After ensuing laughter subsided, Pierce, who worked 1 years to create the ordinance, vowed to start anew.
Under the proposed ordinance, all new one- and two-family homes in Newry with hard-wired electricity over 50 volts and pressurized water would have been required to have an approved sprinkler system in accordance with National Fire Protection Act code.
It also stated that any other building construction to be reviewed by Newry’s Planning Board might require appropriate fire-protection recommendations by the Newry Volunteer Fire Department.
But the majority of people at the special town meeting opposed the ordinance, saying it violated their right of free will.
“People should be allowed to make their own decisions,” argued resident Kevin Slater. “This takes away reasonable balance and my right to decide.”
Newry planner Beth Bean said, “I’m with Kevin. We have too many regulations.”
Pierce said he had been looking for measures to deal with increasing development, and ways for the fire department to react to fire potential, save lives and reduce associated costs of the department and the town’s expenditure with the department.
“We wanted to make (the ordinance) fair for everybody to play in the sandbox,” he said.
After the meeting, Wight said, “I think we’re better educated than nearly every town in the state on sprinkler issues. And, I think everyone here agreed on the value in sprinklers, but they didn’t like to be told what to do.”
In other business, voters unanimously approved amendments to the town’s comprehensive plan, sign ordinance, and road design and construction standards with minimal discussion.
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