[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Chatham as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-13-2002 ATM by Art. 15 (Ch. 16 of the 1997 Bylaws)]
In order to protect and enhance public safety by reducing the risk of
fire hazard, the provisions of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations 527 CMR
1.00 to 50.00 as from time to time amended are hereby incorporated in and
made a part of this bylaw and any violation of any provision shall constitute
a violation of this article.
Whoever violates any provision of this article shall be punished by
a fine of $50 for each offense. In the case of any continuing violation, each
day said violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Said section
shall be enforceable by the head of the Fire Department or his authorized
designee as well as by Town officers having police powers.
[Adopted May 2000 ATM by Art. 23 (Ch. 20 of the 1997 Bylaws)]
Shall mean any fire hydrant that is located on private property for
which the Town does not hold an easement for the installation and maintenance
of the water main servicing the fire hydrant and/or the fire hydrant.
In order to preserve and promote the safety of the public the following
restrictions and requirements shall apply to fire hydrant obstructions, defined
as structures, fences, shrubs, hedges and other plantings, and enclosure walls
on any premises within the Town on which an approved fire hydrant is sited.
A.
No such fire hydrant obstruction shall be permitted on
any such premises if it obstructs the view of any fire hydrant for a distance
of 250 feet along the street in each direction.
B.
Fire hydrant access. No person shall obstruct access
to a fire hydrant. Fire hydrants shall have a three-foot clear radius measured
from the center of the stem of the top of the hydrant. No foliage, fencing,
parking space or other objects shall obstruct the clear area. No person shall
landscape to change the grade around the base of the hydrant so as to prevent
the use of a four-inch cap. A minimum grade of one inch and not more than
six inches below the breakaway flange of the hydrant shall be maintained around
the hydrant within the three-foot clear radius. Locations where existing objects
or grades such as, but not limited to, buildings, walls, fences, trees, or
sloping grades do not permit a three-foot clear radius may be granted a waiver
by the Water Department and Fire Department. Before any waiver of this bylaw
is granted, all other possible locations and/or alternatives must be considered.
All fire hydrants must be maintained in proper working order. Fire hydrants
which are located on private property and therefore are the responsibility
of the owner of said property must be maintained to ensure they operate properly
when needed. Maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, replacement
of gaskets, packing, valves and valve seats; greasing; painting; and any other
maintenance as deemed appropriate by the Town of Chatham. All maintenance
work shall be accomplished according to acceptable standards and specifications
of the Chatham Water Department and with the Water Department's approval.
In addition to the first offense's penalty of $50 and maximum penalty
of $200 provided for violation of these bylaws,[1] if the owner, abutter, or occupant of premises on which a violation
of this article exists has not corrected such violation within seven days
after receipt of written notice by the Police Department, the Water Department
Manager or the Fire Chief or their authorized agents may perform the necessary
trimming, pruning, maintenance or other action required to effect compliance
with this article and the expense may be charged to such owner or occupant.
