Maitland City Talk

The concept of early fire detection dates back to the late 1890s, but wasn’t really perfected until the mid-1960s. It was hoped that fire-related deaths and injuries could be reduced to almost a state of non-existence if only we could get people out of harm’s way through the concept of early warning. While dramatic reductions were realized, now some 40 years later, the data is still showing room for improvement. Why?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has suggested that millions of homes have smoke alarms that do not work because regular maintenance checks are not performed. The National Fire Protection Association has asserted similar suggestions when it reported that as many as 50 percent of homes across America have non-working or missing smoke alarms.

There are many reasons for the continuation of these data, reasons that include misconceptions about smoke alarms. Today still, countless numbers of people believe they will wake up automatically if they smell smoke and that simply is not the case. Sadly, studies suggest that many residential fires smolder for hours before being detected and produce toxic gases such as carbon monoxide that harm you as you sleep. Those products not only fail to wake up sleeping people, they do exactly the opposite — cause deeper sleep.

There are several different types of smoke alarm technologies, all of which are useful, but none of which protect absolutely in all environments. It is the desire of the Maitland Fire Rescue Department to play the role of advocate in our community by recommending that all of Maitland’s residents partner with us and work toward improving the chances of survival of fire by being educated and proactive.

To that end, the department would like to know some data from its residents. We would like you to send us information about your knowledge and experiences in this area, so that we might be able to assist you with training and educational information and perhaps even searching for other mechanisms that might provide funding so that we can make smoke alarms available to those in need.

Please visit itsmymaitland.com to take the brief survey. You needn’t leave any specific information about your name and address, however, should you choose to do so and would like us to contact you, we would be most happy to do so.

We appreciate the opportunity to help you.

—Bart Wright, CFPS

Assistant Chief/Administration

Maitland Fire/Rescue Department

Maitland City Council Meeting of Sept. 26

The Maitland City Council met on Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Below is a synopsis of that meeting. The next regular scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 10. For updates, visit www.itsmymaitland.com

Special Presentations

• Proclamation – Maitland’s “Best Recycler of 2011,” Mrs. Shirley Guignard

• Proclamation – Linda Zeitler

• Proclamation - National Fire Prevention Week

Public Hearings

• Adopted the Ad Valorem Tax Rate

• Adopted the Annual Budget for FY 2011-2012

• Adopted the Capital Improvements Program (FY12-2016)

• Adopted the Mobility Plan

• Approved the third amendment of the Development Agreement for Uptown Maitland, LLC & set date for second Public Hearing as Oct. 24, 2011.

• Adopted Ordinance to Comply with the State’s Preemption of Firearms Regulations

CRA Decision

Adopted the Community Redevelopment Agency Budget for FY 2011-2012

Consent Agenda

• Approved Council Minutes of Sept. 12, 2011 & Approve the SunRail Workshop Minutes of Sept. 2, 2011

• Received Minutes of various Boards

• Approved Revised Leisure Services Facility Use Policy

• Approved Revised Leisure Services Revenue Policy

• Amendment – Leisure Services Facility Use Agreement

• Rejected the Towing/Wrecker Services Bids

• Waived Special Events Fee – Dommerich Elementary School – Chiefs on the Run 5K

• Authorize the Purchase of Mobile Data Terminals – Police Department

Decision Items

• Introduced an Ordinance - Modification to Land Development Regulations of the Maitland City Code.

• Introduced an Ordinance - Modifications to Chapter 7.5 Land Development Procedures of the Maitland City Code

• Authorize the City Manager to approve the Change Order Summary 2011-12 to the Fire Station contract.