Van Buren Township Board adopts new fire code ordinances

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
At its regular meeting on Sept. 3, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees approved the second reading of a new fire ordinance to replace the BOCA Code which is no longer in existence.
The New Fire Code of the 2012 edition of the National Fire Prevention Association, NFPA 1 Fire Protection Code, and the 2012 edition of the NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) will take effect with today’s publication in the Independent, the township’s newspaper of record.
Fire Chief Dan Besson said the State of Michigan recognizes NFPA 1 as the fire prevention code for its fire marshal and inspectors.
In other business at the 20-minute meeting, the board:
• Was introduced to two new probationary fire fighters with 35 combined years of experience: Gregory Kowalski, who retired from the Canton Fire Department, and Jimmy Keeton, who has served on fire departments in the City of Belleville, Romulus, and Pittsfield Township;
• Heard Supervisor Linda Combs announce that the Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Susan Ireland has announced that Standard and Poores have given VBT an A+/stable bond rating;
• Heard Supervisor Combs read a letter from James West of Northville who said his boat docked at Harbour Club had sunk on Sept. 1 and VBT Marine Officer Chris Hayes offered to help him raise the boat. He praised Hayes as a very helpful officer who was one of the most professional and pleasant officers he has ever known;
• Heard John Delaney complain about Deputy Supervisor Karin LaMothe during an Aug. 23 meeting where Delaney was asking the township to pay for dust control treatment of private roads. LaMothe finally called the police on Delaney. Combs read a report of that meeting that was different from Delaney’s version; and
• Later, heard Delaney give the board a lesson on the job responsibilities of supervisor and deputy supervisor, telling board members to “take notes.”
At the work/study meeting on Sept. 3, the board discussed a request for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Die Services International and a tax abatement. The issue is expected to be placed on the Sept. 17 agenda of the township board.