[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Mount Vernon 11-13-1957 as Ch. 32
of the General Ordinances, approved 11-15-1957. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes a theater, opera house, church, municipal building,
hospital, nursing or convalescent home, home for the aged, public
building and any building used for the assembly or meeting of persons
for entertainment or amusement.
No person shall place any chairs or benches or other obstructions
in the aisle of any public building so as to obstruct or interfere
with the free ingress and egress of persons to and from or the free
movement within such building.
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors
owning, operating or in control of a public building shall at all
times keep the aisles, passageways, stairways, entrances and exits
free from all and every obstruction.
A.
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors
owning, operating or in control of a public building shall cause the
doors thereof to swing outwardly only, shall keep same unfastened
during all the time such building is occupied and shall keep the same
clear of all obstructions.
B.
No public building shall hereafter be erected unless the plans and
specifications for such building, filed with the Commissioner of Buildings,
shall provide that the doors thereof shall be swung outwardly only.
No ashes shall be kept or deposited in any public building except
in metal receptacles. All rubbish shall be promptly removed, and no
paper, smoke-creating material or rubbish shall be burned therein
except under such conditions and in such manner as shall be approved
by the Fire Commissioner.
The heating and electrical apparatus of any public building
shall be under the supervision of a competent person. The determination
as to competency shall be made by the Fire Commissioner.
All motion-picture machines operated for public amusement must
be enclosed in a suitable steel-clad booth and shall be provided with
a suitable smoke vent to the exterior of the building.
In all public buildings where motion-picture machines are used
or operated, at least one motion-picture operator duly licensed by
the City shall be assigned to and remain in charge of each motion-picture
machine therein; and it shall be the responsibility of the owner,
proprietor, manager, lessee or other person in charge of such public
building to comply with the provisions of this section.
A.
The Fire Commissioner is hereby authorized to prohibit smoking or
carrying of any lighted articles in any public building, as hereinbefore
defined, or in any portion thereof, when he deems such action necessary
to safeguard life or property.
B.
The Fire Commissioner, when exercising the powers provided in Subsection A, shall cause written notice thereof to be served personally or by registered mail upon the owner, operator or lessee or the agent thereof of such public building, and in which notice he shall designate the precise area or portion of the building in which smoking is to be prohibited. Such notice shall further provide for an effective date of such prohibition as determined by the Fire Commissioner.
C.
The areas of public buildings in which the prohibition is to prevail
shall be clearly indicated by signs to be displayed by the owner,
operator or lessee of such building and which signs shall be of such
size, wording and location as shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner.
D.
The permit shall be revocable by the Fire Commissioner, in his discretion,
for cause satisfactory to him. All permits shall expire on the 31st
day of December next succeeding their issuance.
E.
The permittee shall comply with all ordinances and laws relating
to the maintenance and operation of theaters, hospitals, nursing and
convalescent homes, and with all rules, regulations, directions and
orders of the Fire Commissioner.
[Amended 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
All exits and passageways to exits in any theater, hospital,
nursing or convalescent home shall be marked in letters at least six
inches in height and shall be provided with an electric light with
a globe, which said light must be kept illuminated at all times while
such building is in use.
All exits and passageways to exits in any public building shall
conform to such additional rules and regulations as may be promulgated
by the Fire Commissioner.
[Added 5-14-1958, approved 5-15-1958]
The owner, lessee or occupant, or manager, trustees or directors
owning, operating or in control of a public building shall provide
such fire hose, fire extinguishers, buckets, axes, fire hooks, fire
doors and other fire-preventing devices for the prevention and extinguishment
of fires as the Fire Commissioner may direct.
