After public comment from numerous residents, including realtors and developers, the Town Council unanimously voted to postpone the vote on the new sprinkler ordinance at its last meeting on May 1. The ordinance would require all new homes to have a sprinkler system as well as annual inspections on that system. Previously, the Town Council voted 7-0 to send the matter to the Council’s Ordinance Committee and that committee voted 3-0 to support the proposal.

While representatives of the Gorham Fire Department are advocates of the ordinance as they believe it will not only save lives, but also cut down on house damage during a fire, several of those who spoke on May 1 raised concerns regarding the cost of installation and maintenance. They also felt that the ordinance needed a more thorough review before being finalized. They encouraged the Town Council to take more time to clarify the ordinance and understand the impact of the change before making a final decision.

The Town Council tabled the fire sprinkler ordinance until July or August and plans to add a workshop in June to discuss the item with Staff and Council.