Carbon Monoxide detectors may soon become mandatory for some homes in York City. City Council members are considering a plan that would require the detectors in all tenant occupied homes.
York City Assistant Fire Chief Gil Kimes said it's a call that is more common than people think. "There have been several calls where people have been very lucky that they were not actually diseased from the incident because of the levels of Carbon Monoxide," said Kimes. "There was one recently, we went out to do a new inspection and the levels were well over, and the residents were complaining of being sick for like the past week and didn't realize there was Carbon Monoxide in the business below them," said Kimes.
Steve Buffington, Deputy Director of Permits, Planning, and Zoning for the City of York, has been pushing for the plan.
"It's silent, colorless, odorless, you don't know that it's happening," said Buffington.
"If you're a property owner that has hundreds of units yeah there is expense involved, but in the end the payoff is going to be well worth that in my opinion," said Buffington.
Now it's up to council members to approve it. Some were hesitant at first when Buffington suggested a mandate for all homes.
One concern was that an unfunded mandate could be a burden for homeowners. Another issue was enforcement. The city only inspects homes that are rented.
"All homes should have this, it's important, like a smoke detector. But, on the other hand if we can't enforce it, I don't like to pass laws that you can't enforce," said City Council Vice President Henry Nixon.
That's why the plan now only includes tenant occupied homes, or homes that you rent.
"Their request to me after the last committee meeting was to return an amended ordinance that required them in only tenant occupied at this time," said Buffington.
The plan is expected to pass on Tuesday, April 7 when council members vote on it.