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Date: 12/19/2022
BELCHERTOWN – The Fire Department can now hand out tickets.
Belchertown Fire Chief John Ingram met with the Select Board at their Dec. 12 meeting to approve a contract with Northampton so the Fire Department can issue tickets for violations.
Ingram said the Northampton Fire Department is currently is the city where the hearing officer is based out of.
“Instead of having each community have one, we split the cost of one to save the brunt.” Ingram added.
According to Ingram, the tickets will be given out to people who do not follow the fire code.
The process would include a warning and then the prices would be $100, $500 and $1,000 per offense.
“It is another tool in out toolbox, but it is not like we are going to be going out looking to write tickets.” Ingram said.
The Select Board approved the contract unanimously.
The money that is collected will go back to an account controlled in the Fire Department and can only be used training or educational purposes.
Ingram added, “It is not something we will be doing to make money to spend freely.”
Ingram added that Belchertown used to have the same agreement in 2006 with the city of Northampton but has not seen it in place since he was named chief over two years ago.
“Since I have been here you hope not to have a lot of issues where you must write a lot of tickets. It is something just good to have.” Ingram said.
There are only a few instances that Ingram thinks may warrant a warning and ticket process based on residents not following the fire code.
The board then shifted their conversation to plan some key items they need to discuss.
Select Board Jim Barry said the Select Board must figure out how to move forward with the liquor license process, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds distribution, interviewing candidates for treasurer.
Last month, the Select Board placed a three month moratorium on the issuance of the recently issued “All-Alcohol” package store license for new package stores as well as changes from “Wine & Malt only” to “All-Alcohol” package store license for existing package store license holders.
Barry would like to set up a date this month to meet with the businesses interested in the new all alcohol licenses.
Barry added that he and Select Board member Ron Aponte must set up a rubric first to determine the criteria for a business who wants to acquire a liquor license.
The board also determined that they are going to hold interviews on a separate meeting night with the three candidates for town treasurer before the month of December is over.
With not a lot of dates remaining in December, Barry added that the ARPA funds distribution meeting will have to be pushed to January to give the board more time to figure out what projects they want to fund.
“Look out for the Select Board agendas if you want to stay updated.” Barry urged the public.