Councilor at Large Melissa Mazzeo said the number of false alarms is 'staggering' but she disagreed with adding another fee to homeowners who have security systems.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Police Department is looking to crack down on false burglar alarms.
Chief Information Officer Mike Steben said officers responded to 1,670 false alarm calls in 2017.
Each response requires two officers and Steben said the majority of those calls are from businesses, and many are repeat offenders -- so much so he said, "We have a couple businesses we should just park a police cruiser there in front of them when they open."
He estimated a count of 45 repeat offenders, and not just repeating once or twice.
"On average, we're responding to roughly six false alarm calls per day in this city. That requires two officers to be dispatched," Steben said.
Steben and Police Lt. Michael Maddalena are proposing a change to the ordinance requiring businesses to register every year and looking to actually charge businesses for false alarms. Maddalena said there is already a fine structure in place for false alarms but for years the city couldn't collect the fines.
Steben said the Police Department's computer systems for fines was not connected to the city's treasury computer systems. There was no way for the treasurer and tax collector's office to create an invoice so, the department stopped issuing fines.
The city recently combined the information technology departments for the city and police.
"Now that we've got the foundation built for the IT system, it is time to now get these systems integrated properly," Steben said.
Had the technology been integrated, Steben said the city would have reeled in $489,975 worth of fines in the last five years. Now with that system in place, the department is looking to recraft the false alarm ordinance to make sure its records are up to date.
The proposal put forth to the City Council calls for businesses and residents with alarms to register with the city on an annual basis whereas before it was just once. Maddalena said often officers respond and the business has since moved and there is no contact for a keyholder at the location. He believes an annual registration process would help keep that information up to date.
However, the city councilors on the Ordinance & Rules Committee had reservations about a proposed $50 registration fee. Previously there was just a one-time $25 fee. Councilors said instituting an annual fee won't help the number of false alarm calls and instead just cost a resident or business more each year.
"I have a hard time with the idea of having a registration fee every year," said Ward 5 Councilor Donna Todd Rivers. "I understand the need for the registration to keep records correct ... but attaching $50 fee, then I have a problem with it."
Steben said that can easily be revisited. He said other municipalities charge anywhere from nothing to $75. He said he'd do a little more research to determine what an appropriate number would be for registration.
"This is something we are researching and going through," Steben said.
Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo suggested that once the new registration process is in place that the department essentially start over. He suggested sending a letter to all of the registered businesses and if those letters go unreturned, then they'd be dropped from the list and have to re-register.
Steben added that he'd like to move to a web-based registration process to make it easier for businesses and residents to stay up to date.
The committee ultimately tabled it until a new annual fee could be proposed.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation.
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School.
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks.
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan.
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about.
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said.
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom.
Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
click for more
The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
click for more
A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. click for more
Amy Schirmer was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for creating a weekly therapeutic art class at the George B. Crane Center to help those in recovery from substance use. click for more