Briefs

AFAA names new executive director LAKE MARY, Fla. - Thomas Hammerberg, former vice president, education for the Automatic Fire Alarm Association, has been named president/executive director of the association, following the death of the group’s executive director, Larry Neibauer, in late June. Hammerberg, who has been with the association since 1994, represents the AFAA on a variety of National Fire Protection Association commitees and is AFAA’s representative to the International Code Council Industry Advisory Committee. Certified by NICET Level IV in fire alarm systems and a certified fire protection specialist by the NFPA, Hammerberg is also president of Hammerberg & Associates Inc. City to refund erroneous false fire permit fees HOUSTON - Some Houston residents found out in August that city officials had charged them a $50 fee for a fire-alarm permit, based on an ordinance that didn’t exist, according to Houston-based television news station WKPRC. Nearly 1,000 residents paid the fee after receiving a letter describing an ordinance passed by the city council that required homeowners to have a fire-alarm permit in an attempt to reduce the city’s expenses in responding to false alarms. Lexent managers buy out company NEW YORK - Infrastructure provider Lexent Inc., which has operations in the fire alarm systems and power systems installation, announced in July it would accept a merger proposal by a corporation owned by its management. Led by Chairman Hugh J. O’Kane Jr. and Chief Executive Officer Kevin M. O’Kane, the management group agreed to pay $1.50 per share. Lexent was most recently contracted to install fire alarms at the American Airlines terminal at JFK Airport.