Stamford-related smoke-detector legislation hanging fire in the House

Democrats led by Rep. Steve Dargan of West Haven, co-chairman of the Public Safety Committee and Republicans led by Rep. Michael Molgano of Stamford, are trying to reach a compromise on the so-called smoke-detector bill that was inspired by last Christmas’s tragic multi-fatal fire in Stamford’s Shippan section. Molgano has proposed adding a section in local building applications acknowledging the need for smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors in buildings under renovations where people are living, thus allowing city inspectors to deny certificates of occupancy if they find there are no detectors. Dargan said this bill, which has been sitting on the House “go” list for two weeks,  is heading toward a deal and could get to the floor for debate as early as Tuesday.  The Christmas fire killed two grandparents and their three grandkids. After the fire, it was found there were no detectors in the old mansion that was under renovation.