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Lexington Historical Society <br /> <br />Improved Fire Monitoring at Lexington's Historic Houses <br /> <br />The Lexington Fire Department is converting from a telegraph to a radio system for direct <br />monitoring of fire alarms for commercial and municipal properties in town. Installation of <br />wireless fire alarms at Buckman Tavern, the Hancock-Clarke House, and Munroe Tavern is <br />essential to the protection of these three Colonial-era properties and to the safety of visitors, <br />guides, and volunteers.. The Historical Society is requesting funding for the radio boxes and <br />their installation. <br /> <br />The goal of the project is speedy installation of the radio boxes at each property to provide <br />direct monitoring by the Fire Department and to be in compliance with their technical <br />requirements. Improved fire monitoring is essential to the preservation of the three historic <br />house museums. Currently, only Munroe Tavern is monitored directly by the Fire <br />Department. The two other properties are monitored by private alarm services that report fire <br />alarms to the Fire Department. Even a brief (90 second) delay in reporting of a fire could <br />cause irreparable damages to these priceless structures as well as possible physical harm to <br />tourists and guides when the houses are open to the public. Because the Fire Department is <br />switching to monitoring by radio box, the Historical Society must comply with this new <br />technology in order to be monitored directly. <br /> <br />The Society has worked with the Fire Department's suggested provider of radio boxes to get <br />quotes on the required equipment and installation. The boxes can be installed as soon as <br />funding is available. The cost for the purchase and installation of radio boxes varies by <br />property because of different installation requirements. For Buckman Tavern the cost is <br />$5710; for Munroe Tavern $6210; and for the Hancock-Clarke House $6200. The total cost <br />for the project – and the amount of CPA funds requested – is $18,120. <br /> <br />The Community Preservation Committee recommends funding this request. <br /> <br />