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Politics & Government

Wilton Board of Selectmen Approves Alarm Ordinance Revisions

As per the approved revisions, Wilton homeowners would be forgiven for the first two false alarms, as previously, however each subsequent false alarm would result in a $100 fine.

 

Following a public hearing on the proposal, which no one from the public attended, the Wilton Board of Selectmen last Tuesday approved revisions to the town's fire alarm ordinance calling for a modest hike in the fee structure for false alarms.

As per the approved revisions, homeowners would be forgiven for the first two false alarms, as previously, however each subsequent false alarm would result in a $100 fine.

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Under the previous fee structure the first two false alarms were "free," the third and fourth each resulted in a $50 fine, and each subsequent false alarm resulted in a $100 fine.

In addition the revised ordinance increases the penalty for failing to register an alarm from $25 to $50, with a one-time $100 registration fee (alarms only need to be registered once).

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Homeowners now have 45 days to register their new alarms (or new home's alarm) with the Wilton Police Department, whereas previously they had 30 days.

During the Board of Selectmen meeting on Dec. 3, Wilton Tax Collector Phil Damato, acting in his capacity alarm registrar, said the town takes in about $18,000 to $20,000 a year in false alarm fines and alarm registration fees.

In a related matter, Town CFO Sandy Dennies, acting in her capacity as alarm administrator, informed the board that the DOS database that contains the alarm registration data needs to be converted over to a new billing system.

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