Board hears electrified‑fence request from Herrick Rentals; decision reserved

Herrick Rentals sought a variance to install a pulsed, battery‑powered electrified perimeter fence behind an existing perimeter fence at its rental yard. Michelle LaFronti, representing the applicant, described the system as monitored, battery‑powered and pulsed at roughly 1.1‑second intervals. She said the energizer is 12‑V DC battery‑powered with testing by a national lab and reported an energizer output value of 7,000 volts at the device’s pulse peak; the system would be active only during nonbusiness hours and would trigger an audible site alarm and a silent alert to a monitoring center if breached.

Board members asked several safety questions: what happens if someone falls into the fence, whether a person could dig under the fence, how the alarm would affect nearby residents and whether the fire department’s access and shutoff (a Knox device) could be provided. The applicant said the company could provide a Knox cutoff and that similar systems had been approved previously elsewhere in town with no reported problems.

After questioning the board closed the hearing and reserved decision. The transcript records extensive technical description and safety discussion but no final vote at the meeting. The board indicated staff will issue a written decision after internal review.