Date: Fri 21-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-alarm-ordinance

Full Text:

Council Approves Alarm Ordinance Over Public Objections

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Despite the opposition of residents, the Legislative Council Wednesday voted

10-1 to enact an ordinance that will require all alarm-system users to pay a

$15 registration fee to help cover the cost of teaching homeowners how to

avoid false alarms.

Police are responding to an average of six false alarms per day, prompting the

council's ordinance committee to write the regulation. The ordinance would

also impose fines for repeat false alarm offenders.

Most of the alarm owners who showed up to oppose the ordinance had left by the

time the council voted on the controversial issue, but their displeasure was

heard loud and clear at a public hearing earlier in the evening, calling it a

"tax" for problems caused by others.

"What you're doing is wrong," said John Stottle of Robin Hill Road. "Call it a

registration fee or call it whatever. It's a tax."

Michael Snyder of Meghan's Circle said the ordinance charges the people who do

things right to fix the problems caused by those who do things wrong. He

suggested the ordinance be written to put tougher enforcement on the

false-alarm violators.

George Caracciolo of Schoolhouse Hill Road felt the ordinance was

counter-productive. "If you charge people, they'll be discouraged from putting

up alarms. They'll look at this as a tax that will continue to go up," he

said. "False alarm penalties are a good idea, but don't penalize people just

for taking measures to protect themselves.

He likened the fines to charging someone a fee because they might go through a

red light.

Ordinance Committee Chairman Pierre Rochman said the registration fee can

never increase from $15 unless the ordinance is changed. He added that the

money is not meant to be a penalty, but simply meant to pay for an educational

program.

"The insurance company gives me a discount for having an alarm system. My town

gives me a tax," Mr Stottle said.

Kevin Cragin of Georges Hill Road explained the problem is that new people

move into homes in Newtown and they do not pay to have their new-found alarm

system to be monitored, they do not register it with the police, and they do

not have a key holder.

"The alarm goes off, and it causes all kinds of problems. The police have to

get tough with these people," he said. "There are people who don't register

their alarms because they think `big brother' is watching them. With this $15

fee, they're definitely not going to register."

Jack Rosenthal, the lone council member to vote against the ordinance, called

for an amendment to eliminate the $15 fee. However, it was rejected in a close

vote.

According to council member Lisa Schwartz, there are a total of 2,173

registered alarms in Newtown. Mr Cragin estimated there to be between 1,500 to

1,700 unregistered alarms.

"The facts are that unregistered alarms go off in houses and nothing gets done

about it." he said.

Bill Meyer pointed out that Newtown police are responding to 165 false alarms

a month.

"We need some vehicle where we can educate the people," he said.

Mike Lucas of Philo Curtis Road said his home was burglarized in 1980,

prompting him to install an alarm. He's had just one false alarm since then.

"I think I pay enough taxes that police could come to my house one time in all

those years."

Mr Rochman said collections for outstanding fines have become more aggressive

since the arrival of Police Chief James Lysaght this past summer.

Trucks On Mile Hill

There was also opposition to a proposal to repeal a 16-year-old town ordinance

prohibiting commercial traffic on Mile Hill Road South and Nunnawauk Road.

That repeal was turned down unanimously as council members requested that Mr

Rosenthal, chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee, meet with First

Selectman Bob Cascella and Chief Lysaght to work with the state's traffic

commission to come up with a solution.

As Mr Rochman explained, the ordinance had become useless because the town

does not have the authority to prohibit traffic on its roads. However, Wendy

Beres of Turkey Hill Road said the two roads in question are far too dangerous

for truck traffic.

According to Mr Cascella, the state has the power to keep certain vehicles off

roads. The town does not.

Ron Katterly of Mile Hill Road South said his road is like a race track during

certain parts of the day. He said the road does not conform to state and

federal standards for widths and curves.

Ed Osterman, president of the Newtown Housing for the Elderly, said having

more truck traffic on the already narrow roads would cause serious problems,

especially for the elderly at Nunnawauk Meadows.