Church sues Springfield over fire detection system

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- A Springfield church has filed suit against the city over a fire detection system installed in the church's cultural center that violates city laws.

Lawyers for St. George Greek Orthodox Church claim in their suit in Hampden Superior Court the ordinance should be declared illegal and it conflicts with the state building code.

The church argues the city allows only one option for the new wireless radio box systems.

The church installed a different, less expensive system in May.

Lawyer John Fitz-Gibbon tells The Republican of Springfield that the law is "robbing the consumer of the choice."

A city lawyer says the intent of the ordinance is "to maximize public safety." The city fire marshal said in an affidavit that the church's system meets standards of professional fire safety.

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