Plenty of discussion was heard at the March 11 North Syracuse Village Board public hearing to rescind the local sprinkler law under section 115-43 of the village’s code. The hearing began at 7:29 p.m. at the Community Center.
Several community members, village firefighters and the owners of Shamrocks, a business located in the village, spoke both in favor and against removing the law from the village code.
The law requires that all attached buildings such as condominiums and commercial businesses have codes efficient sprinkling systems with access to the public water supply, and be installed in order to operate in accordance. The law was established 20 years ago.
The village’s Sprinkler Review Committee brought concerns to the board during the Jan. 14 Village Board meeting since the former codes officer, Ronald Dean, had done further research that caused him to make a conclusion to suggest he village rescind the law.
During the Jan. 14 meeting, former mayor, John Heindorf, said there was a public hearing for the law in February 1989 and it was made effectice May 10, 1990.
The village committee was established as well, which would and does consist of one village trustee, Chuck Henry, the fire chief and the codes officer.
During tonight’s meeting, Trustee Gary Butterfield reiterated that he was indeed the person who brought up the initial discussion during the Jan. 14 meeting.
Butterfield said he remembers being in the audience during the time the law was being discussed in 1990.
He was opposed to the extensive restrictions then, and now. Butterfield said his main concern in 1990 and today, is that most village of North Syracuse business are “mom and pop,” not corporations that can afford an elaborate sprinkler system.
“It can be an economic hardship,” Butterfield said.
Surrounding areas, such as the towns of Salina, Clay and Cicero, do not enforce more than the state code’s requirements, according to Butterfield.
“It could easily come off the books,” Butterfield said of the local law. “If it’s good enough for the state of New York, then it’s good enough for the village of North Syracuse.”
Village Mayor Diane Browning made similar sentiments and thanked the members of the village of North Syracuse Fire Department for their dedication to safety and service to the community, as Butterfield did, also.
Browning said neither she nor the board is against fire safety, but that it is a matter of attracting businesses to the area.
“The state says they’re safe,” Browning said of the village’s residents. “Why is North Syracuse less safe?”
Assistant Fire Chief Tim Ellis, of the village fire department, reminded the board and residents in attendance that there have been countless fires across the country that have claimed lives because sufficient sprinkler systems were not in place.
In the comparison between the state and local law, the issue is not about the “appearance of safety, but the standard of safety,” Ellis said.
Some municipalities have endured lawsuits because of these issues, according to members of the village fire department.
Because Shamrocks was used heavily as an example, village firefighter Paul Linnertz suggested that he and Trustee Butterfield visit the business along with Wayne Dean, Director of Planning and Development for Cicero. Dean is temporarily assisting the village’s codes department.
Linnertz said this could be a good way to look further into the village’s issue with the sprinkler law.
Currently, Shamrocks has sprinklers in the kitchen, a firewall and a total of four exits; however, the local law’s required system was not implemented because the business acquired a variance. The variance expires in little more than 30 days.
It appeared that both the Village Board and members of the fire department agreed that a variance system has been working well and could possibly continue, in lieu of what ultimately happens to the law.
After the meeting, Mayor Browning said that the group will visit Shamrocks when convenient for all parties. The law’s status will require a vote from the Village Board, which will most likely happen at either the March 25 meeting or soon after.
Mobile vendors in the village
The Village Board approved a public hearing to be scheduled for 4:29 p.m. Thursday April 8 to amend Chapter 169 of the Code to allow mobile food vendors.
Jenny Treby, of Red Creek, N.Y., formerly a North Syracuse resident, attended the meeting to request that she operate a vendor’s cart for Jenny’s Hotdogs LLC within the Maines Plaza in the village.
The business has two new vending carts that operate with two propane tanks, of which Treby said she understands will require inspection from the village of North Syracuse Fire Department.
Treby told the Star-Review that she would like to operate in this area so that she can be closer to her parents. Treby’s parents, both residents of Salina, “are in need of assistance” on a daily basis, she said.
“The Route 11 corridor sees over 18,000 cars daily,” Treby said. “There are good sidewalks in the village and the Maines Plaza has good, safe access in and out.”
Treby said she has many relatives in North Syracuse and that “growing up in this area was very much home” to her.
In other business
The Village Board revealed the resolution regarding the litigation of Stassi v. Village of North Syracuse, made after executive session Thursday Feb. 25.
Resolution 050-10 contained that an appropriation of $225,000, plus $35,000 in lieu of medical insurance coverage was approved in connection with Stassi v. North Syracuse. The resolution was approved unanimously by the Village Board.
The next board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday March 25 at the Community Center.
