KINGSTON – A resolution calling only for a public hearing on a proposed local law aimed at reducing false emergency alarms generated 20 minutes of debate among Ulster County legislators, who eventually approved the hearing, by a narrow margin.
Democrat Tracey Bartels argued the “False Alarm Reduction Act” is not ready for prime time. In particular, Bartels objected to overreaching penalties for incidents that may not be entirely within the control of a home or business owner.
“I realize that even if you are a repeat offender, there needs to be some kind of fine and maybe we can argue about some kind of penalty, but, I have a problem with telling, again, a business or a home owner that they can no longer have an alarm system,” Bartels said
Democrat Donald Gregorius agreed, saying the proposal, as it stands, counts all alarms, even when beyond the control of anyone. That could include alarms triggered by natural events such as storms, falling tree limbs or serious accidents.
Republican Carl Belfiglio argued the law specifically targets property owners who don’t take simple steps to reduce the chance of a false alarm that results in a police response.
“It is a problem if it is habitual and no one is there to stop the alarm company from calling the police and the police show up at the door. That includes business and homeowners, and it has to stop.”
Belfiglio said the solution could be to arranging with a neighbor to be on the police contact list if an alarm goes off.
An attempt to refer the measure back to the Law Enforcement Committee failed, narrowly.
The resolution setting a public hearing prior to the next monthly meeting on September 15 passed on a 13 to 10 vote.
