[Amended 9-13-1996 by Ord. No. 29-1996; 5-29-2001 by Ord. No. 14-2001]
A. Any person engaging in an alarm business in the City of Reading shall, within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter, file an application for an alarm business permit with the Alarm Coordinator. The application shall contain such information as is reasonably required by the Chief of Police to administer and enforce this chapter.
B. Applicants for alarm business permits shall agree in writing and as a condition for receiving permits to do the following:
(1) Notify the Alarm Coordinator within 14 days of any substantial change affecting the status or validity of this permit.
(2) Agree to issue to all alarm agents connected with or in the employ of the business, identification cards containing, as a minimum:
(a) The name of the business.
(b) The alarm business permit number.
(c) Name of the agent.
(d) Signature of an official of the business and agent named.
(3) Applicants shall possess and maintain an electrical installer (dealer) license, as defined in as the Electrical Code, § 180-702. The qualifications are listed under § 180-702. All persons are employed by the electrical installer (dealer) who will be engaged in the actual installation of security alarm systems must obtain an electrical installer "B" license as defined under § 180-702.
C. Applicants shall furnish an insurance certificate annually confirming that the applicant has in force general liability insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $300,000 each occurrence. An applicant who self-insures such coverage shall furnish evidence of financial ability.
D. Following the completion of the application and payment of the appropriate fee as indicated in § 120-105, the Department of Police shall have 15 working days to investigate the applicant, process the application, and to grant or deny a permit.
E. Permits to any applicant shall be denied if:
(1) The applicant does not agree to comply or fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(2) The applicant has knowingly made any false, misleading, or fraudulent statements of material fact in the application or in any report or record required to be filed with the City of Reading.
(3) A corporation, sole proprietor, partner, joint venture, trustee, executor, administrator, employee, fiduciary, or stockholder with a 5% or greater interest in a corporation (except a corporation whose stock is publicly traded and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with a state securities commission) applying for a permit has ever been convicted of a felony charge or pleaded nolo contendere to a felony charge or indictment.
F. When an application for a permit is denied, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the denial with the basis thereof. If reason(s) for denial are correctable, the applicant will be so advised with suggestions on how these corrections can be made and what time limit has been set for making said corrections.
G. Permit applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee as provided in Chapter 212, Fees, to cover the costs to the City of processing the application and investigating the applicant. No prorating is permitted of the initial fee. [Amended 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
H. The Alarm Coordinator shall, after investigation, issue an alarm business permit to an alarm business meeting the requirements of this section. Each permit shall bear the signature of the Coordinator and be for a one-calendar-year period. A copy of the permit shall be physically upon each of the premises using the alarm business' systems and shall be available for inspection by the Chief of Police, the Alarm Coordinator or his representative.