ARSON PREVENTION COMMISSION.

Boston Municipal Code ch. IX, art. 9-10

in effect

Boston Municipal Code § 9-10.1 Composition of Commission.

9-10.1 Composition of Commission. (A) There shall be in the City a Commission, known as the Arson Prevention Commission, consisting of the following officials of the city: the Fire Commissioner, the Police Commissioner, the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, the Collector/Treasurer, Commissioner of Real Property and the Chair of the City Council’s Committee dealing with the issue of arson, all serving ex officio. There shall be nine Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. Eight Commissioners appointed by the Mayor shall be residents of the city who live in areas affected by arson and have knowledge or expertise in the problem of arson. Of the nine Commissioners appointed by the Mayor, one Commissioner shall be a representative of the insurance industry that specifically deals with fire insurance for low/moderate income housing and knowledgeable about the problem of arson within the city, who need not be a resident of the city. Ex officio Commissioners, or their designees, and Mayoral appointed Commissioners shall have the power to attend any meetings or hearing and to vote on any Commission matter. (B) Mayoral appointed Commissioners shall serve a term of two years. (C) The Commission shall elect one of its members as Chair and another as Vice-Chair to serve in these capacities for the term of one year. The Commissioners shall hire a Director, who shall not be a member of the Commission, and said Director shall be qualified by his or her knowledge of the activities and methods used in arson prevention programs. The Director shall have the title of Executive Director and shall be paid a salary established by the Mayor. The Commissioners shall serve without compensation, and shall be deemed special municipal employees for the purposes of M.G.L. Chapter 268A. (Ord. 1983 c. 13; Ord. 1984 cs. 6, 9; CBC 1985 9-10.1; Ord. 1987 c. 7 § 1; Ord. 1988 c. 10 §§ 1, 2; T9 [450])

Boston Municipal Code § 9-10.2 Powers and Duties.

9-10.2 Powers and Duties. (A) The Commission shall meet on a regular basis; shall study the problem of arson in the city; shall work with neighborhood organizations to implement remedies arrived at by studying the problem of arson in the city; shall, from time to time, and at least twice a year on July 1 and January 1, make written reports to the Mayor and Boston City Council assessing incidents of arson on a neighborhood basis and recommend means to prevent arson; shall conduct independently or in conjunction with appropriate Agencies such programs relating to the prevention of arson in the city as the Commission deems necessary; and shall propose new programs as the Commission deems feasible in view of the particular program and the needs of the city in regard to arson prevention. (B) The Director shall be the Executive Officer of the Commission and shall have such powers to perform such duties as the Commission shall, from time to time, determine. The Director shall appoint, with Commission approval, other such personnel as the Commission may, from time to time, deem expedient. The Director and Commissioners, for the purposes of obtaining information under Chapter 446 of the Acts of 1978, shall be considered Public Safety Officials. The Director is empowered, on behalf of the Commission, to seek and make application for any and all commonwealth and/or federal funds that are or become available for a municipality to fund arson prevention activities. The Commission shall monitor compliance with Chapter 446 of the Acts of 1978 and any other applicable commonwealth statute which affect arson prevention in the city, shall advise and suggest administrative and legislative remedies to deal with the prevention of arson and shall establish a community based arson prevention program. (Ord. 1983 c.13; Ord. 1984 c. 6; CBC 1985 9-10.2)

Boston Municipal Code § 9-10.3 Other City Agencies.

9-10.3 Other City Agencies. The services of all City Departments, Agencies and other Commissions shall be made available to the Commission for the purposes of effectuating the provisions of this Section. The Head of any Department, Agency or other Commission shall furnish information in the possession of such Department, Agency or other Commission when the Commission so requests and where such information relates to the duties of the Commission. (Ord. 1983 c. 13; CBC 1985 9-10.3)

Boston Municipal Code § 9-10.4 Rules and Regulations.

9-10.4 Rules and Regulations. The Commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Section and the laws of the commonwealth as shall further the provisions of this Section. The Commission shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting hearings. (Ord. 1983 c. 13; Ord. 1984 c. 6; CBC 1985 9-10.4)

Boston Municipal Code § 9-10.5 Severability.

9-10.5 Severability. The provisions of this Section are severable and if any provision shall be held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be considered separately and apart from the remaining provisions of this Section, which shall remain in full force and effect. (Ord. 1983 c. 13; CBC 1985 9-10.5)

Source: City of Boston, Massachusetts, Boston Municipal Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/boston/latest/boston_ma/0-0-0-6177Fetched: 11/8/2026