1971-04-28
.
5J.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
New Hackensack Fire District
Town of Wappinger, New York
RECEIVED
APR ;) 0 1971
ELAINE H. SNOWDEa
April 28,1971
Town Board
Town of Wappinger, N. Y.
Gentlemen;
As representatives of the taxpayers of the New Hackensack Fire
District, we, the Board of Fire Commissioners of that District feel
compelled to express our observations and growing concern regarding
the existing conditions relative to apartment house dwellings within
our fire district. In particular, we see the health, welfare and safety
of the tenants in these apartments in jeopardy.
Onseveral occasions the fire company has been summoned to
apartment complexes for various reasons, not all of which were strictly
within the realm of a firemanic operation. Fortunately, the majority of
the calls have been of a minor nature with the exception of one call which
could have been disastrous. Our department Chief has also received
numerous calls at home at all hours of the night from tenants complaining
of defective wiring, water leaks, etc. Frequently he referred the party
to the building inspector.
Our concern is further intensified by information obtained from
newspaper accounts and through informal discussions with members of
other Fire Districts regarding the apartment house situation in the Town
of Wappinger.
We feel that some of the situations that do exist are caused
by inadequate supervision and surveillance during construction followed
by poor supervision and maintenance after occupancy. Unless positive steps
are taken to rectify some of the existing inadequacies and forestall future
shortcomings we foresee a gradual deterioration of these buildings
resulting in their being unfit to be occupied thereby constituting a
hazard to the general populace.
We suggest that perhaps the issueing of building permits for
apartment construction be either better administered or curtailed completely
until such time as a stringent construction and maintenance code is
adopted and enforced.
Particular emphasis and attention should be directed to the
following;
1. General overall cleanliness in and around apartment complexes.
2. Improved snow plowing and/or removal so as not to impede flow
of traffic, particularly emergency vehicles.
3. Mandatory off street parking to facilitate the above improvements.
4. Use of approved modern day building techniques, fire retardant
materials, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems where
adviseable and adequate water supply for fire fighting purposes.
Qc T eJ t:t-.. 3,(1 - 1 I
, Sincerely
cOop ~.
C?f. t,.. ~~L-
L. E. Maync6.4i Secretary