1171 ORD TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO 1076 SO THAT SUCH ORDINANCE SHALL HEREINAFTER READ AS FOLLOWS:w AIL AS& w
AN ORDINANCT to aznend Ordinance No. 1076 so that such Ordinanae shall herein-
after read as followa:
AN ORDINANCE for safeguarding life and property from Electrical Hazarda by
regulating and providing for the installation of electrical wiring, devioes and equip-
ment, defining the scope of Electrical work covered by this Ordinance, adopting the
proviaions and regulations of the National Electrical Code as a minimum standard for the
installa.tion of Eleatrical Wiring, providing that ElectriQal wl.res shall be eneased in'
metal.lic aondui.t in aertai.n instances and inatallations, specifping the number oP outlets
allowed per cirauit, proeiding the manner in which service entrance shall be installed,,
providing for the regulation of installing Electric Signs, requiring a permit to do
&lectrical work, provLding fees f or Electrical Permits and Inspections, providing for the
office oF Electrical Inspector and defining his qualifications and duties, creating an
Electrical Examining Board and defining its duties, providing for the Licensing of Elea-
trical Contractors, requiring the registration of Journeymen Electricians, providing a
penalty, providing a saving clause, providing for the publiaation of this Ordinanae, and
repealing all Ordinances or parts of Ordinanaes of the City of Paris, Texas in conflict
with this Ordinancej and declaring an emergency,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CZTI'. COIINCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS:
SECTION. , SCOPEo This Ordinance sha11 be kmown and designated as the
"ELECTRICAI, ORDINANCE" of the City of Paris, Texas and shall apply to and goeern the
installatioa of all electrical wiring, degi.ces and equipmant within or on buildinga,
atructures or other premises for the transmi.ssion, distribution or utilization of elea-
trisal energy for light, heat or power purposes.
SECTION 2. NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE REGULATIONSs ADOPTEDs The regul.ations
laid down in the National Electrical Code as approved by the American Standarda Associa-
tion, for the installation of electrical wiring, devices and equipmsnt axe hereby adopted
as the minimum atandard for the installation of all electriaal wiring, devices and
mquipment of the City of Paris, Texas, except as otherxise specifically provided in this
Ordinanee,, and the same is hereby made a part of thia Ordinanae as fully and to the same
extent as if eopied herein in full., provided that the present or Qurrent iasue of sa3d
National Eleatrieal Code a.nd any aubsequent aznendments thereto shall be aonsidered as the
"NATIONAI, ELECTRIC-AL CODEp as that term is used herein, and provided f ruther, that in
event of any QonF3ictt between the proviaions of this Ordinance and said National Electriaal
Code, then in snch event the provisions of this Ordinance shall governo
SECTION . WIRSNG TO BE ENCASED IN CONDUIT, All eleatrical wiring for light,
heatt power or other purposes hereafter installed in the City of Paris, Texas, as re-
spectively described in the following sub-sectiona hereof, shall in all aasas be contained
and encased in approved metallic conduit, viz:
(a) All electrieal wiring in buildings situated in the inner fire limits of
the City of Paris.
(b) Wiring Por decorative lighting and window displays, provi.ded, however, the
electrical Inspector may grant permission for a period not to exeeed ten (10) days for
t,emporary decoratine or window displays to be installed with wl.ring, after vhich period
suah installation shall be removed. The Inspector, howener, may grant an extenaion of
ten (10) days after inspection of temporary wiring and found safe.
(e) All electriasl wiring in buildings known in the building trade as "Fire
Proofp of "slow burning" construation.
(d) Apaxtment housas of Pour (4) or more apartments, and all commercisl
buildings.
(e) Atl electrical wiring in grain elevators or places used for the storage
of grain, garages, filliag stations, buildinga used for the storing of ga.soline or other
readily inPlamable materi4ls, machine shops, freight houses,, and in other commercial
buildings where electrical energy is used to operate maahinea or appliances f or profit,
provided, this shall not include any eleatrical device or equipment used exclusively for
household purposeso
(f) Wiring iacidental to the installation of electric motors where suah motor
is of one-half horse power or more, and in such installations the condui.t shall eome
flush with the terminal sidA of the motor and be equipped w1.th an approved fittingo
(g) On all service entranae inatallations from entrance to meter soekets shall
be in conduito Al.l meter soakets shall be grounded in approved manner,
(h) A].1 supply wiring for electrical and neon signso
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(i) All wiring inatalled in conduit underground or in conerete slabs or ot,her
masouxy in direct aontact with moist earth, or in other permanently moist locatioas
where sub3eet to condensation of moisture, the aonductors shall be of the lead covered
type or of other type speei£ically approved for this purpose.
(3) Armored cable, known to the electrical trade as "B%", will not be approved
for use as metallic conduit in any new buildings, and only when it ia imposaible to
install other types of approved conduits in buildings already eonstructed.
SECTION NUMBER OF OUTLETS ALLOWED AND BRANCH CIRCUITS
a Not more than ten 10 outlets shall be installed on any one (1) circuit
in a residence.
(b) Drop cords muat not be installed in clothes closeta or in places where
Wearing apparel is likely to be hung; however, aeiling fixtures will be permissable.
(c) No mai.n switch or branch block shall be of less than thirty(30) amperes
capacity.
(d) Al1 lights in bathrooma, toilets and kitchens shall be controlled by wall
switehes, exaept pull switches with insulated links may be used over cabinets or mirrors
where fixture is fastened rigidly to the Wa].1.
(e) On all three wire installations, the load must be balaneed as neaxly as
possible with respect to each side of the system. In all residences where the connected
load is 4000 xatts or more, a three wire aervice shall be used.
(f) 611 3ointg must be soldered and taped when the wire is pulled in, and all
fixtures leads shall be soldered or a fixture conneator used.
(g) Wlienever a fuse is required by the provisions of this Ordinance, the re-
quirement may bs met by the use of an approved cireuit breaker for sueh purpose. Wherever
a switeh, or a swi.teh and fuses are required, an approved manually operated aireuit breaker
may be used. If a eiraui.t breaker is used, there shall be an avereurrent unit in eaah
ungrounded eonductor of the circuit.
5ECTION 50 5ERVICES. Service wi.res shall be in approved metallic conduit.
A11 servics sw3.tahes shall hane a capacity of Thirty (30) amperes or moreo No service
conduator shall be amaller than No. 8, B. & S. gauge Commeraial and Induetrial installa-
tioia and all reaidencea having a connected loa,d of 4000 or more wattsp shall have a three
wire ser3rice installed. Except by a special permission of the Elec#rical Inspeator,
sernice entrance shall not be less than ten (10) feet or more than twenty-five (25) feet
from the ground level.
Where one service is installed to supply several installations or customers
within the same building, the mai.n cabinet cut-offs must be accessible at all times to
each of the occupants or customers supplied from suah service.
In the main service entrance there shall be installed a safety awitch arui fuses,
and shall not be installed in inaccsessible locationa such as under stairways, in closets,
attics, etc., and shall not be installed, unleas by special permission of the Electrical
Inspector, lower than fine and one-half (5-J) feet nor higher than six (6) feet from the
ground or floor level.
Whenever the service kirea to any building in the Fire Limits, the type of
wl.ring in which is the ao-ealled "KNOB and TUBE" type, is diseonnected, the service ahall
not again be conaeQted to such building until the electrical wiring has been installed in
approved metallic eonduit so as to conPorm to the provisions of thia Orcli.nance. Any
building regardless oP location, not having the service wires in approved metallic conduit,
once disconneeted, shall not aga3n be connected to the source of supply uatil the sernice
wires and meter loop shall have been replaced and made conform to the standards of this
Ord3.na,nce.
The foregoin.g provisions shall also apply to any and all outdoor Neon or
electrical signna attached or conneeted to any btii.lding within the City of Pari.s, Texas.
SECTI0N 6. ELECTRIC SIGNS. Al.l classes of electric signs whether of the gas
tube, siga receptable or refleetor type, including gas tube window signs and outsida
building outlining shall be considered electrie signs urithin the meaning of this Ordinance.
Portable inside displays or small signs using self-contained transformers wl.th aurrent
consumption not to exceed 200 watta may be connected by attachment plug to present circuit
providing all other requirements of this Ordinance are complied with.
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.All signs must be on separate circuits in conduit from the distributing panel
a.nd not more than 1320 watta will be allowed on each cireuit. All signs eacspt portable
signs must be grounded directly to the conduit service.
All aigns muat bear the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., inspection label or
shall be inspeoted and approved by the Elecgrical Inspector before being installed.
Where an electrie sign is to be hung oner the side walk there must be a
clearanee of eight feet from the sidewalk to the lowest point of the sign and no sign
shall extend to within two (2) feet of the curb line of aidewalk, except by special per-
mission of the Electrical Inspector.
SECTION 7. PERMIT REQUIRED. It shall be unlaWful for any person, firm or corpo-
ration to install., al.ter or make addition to any electrical wlringp devices or equipment
sub3ect to the provisions of this Ordinance, without first seeuring a permi.t therefor from
the Electrical Inspector. Applicationa for such permits shall be made in writing to the
Electrical I spector, stating the location of the work to be done, a description of the
work and whe~her it will consist of a new installation or addition thereto,, or repair or
slteration of an old installation, and the name of the owner or occupant of the building
or premises, and the Permit, when issued shall be to such applicant.
The Permit, when issued, shall be f or such installation as deseribed in the
application and no diviation shall be made from the installation so described without the
written appronal of the Electrical Inspector.
No Permit shall be required for the installation of electrical wiring, devices
and equipment installed by or for a utility company.operating under a Franchise from the
City of Paxis, Texas, to transmit and se11, electrical energy, provided such electrical
wiring, devices and equipment are for ths use of said utility company in its operation as
a public utility as provided for in its Franchise.
No permit shall be required for the instal.lation of wiring, devices and eguip--
ment for Railroads or Interurb8n on their own property.
No Permit shall be requ3red for the installation of wiring, devices and equip-
ment, for Telephone or Telegraph companies engaged in the business of supplying communi.-
cation service and opers.ting under a franchise from the City of Paris., Texas.
Permits will not be required for maintenance work done by any person, firm or
corporation through an employee or employeea regularly employed to do such mai.ntenance
work aolely on or within the premiaes or property owned or controlled by such person,, firm
or aorporation, provided, however, such maintenance rrork shall not includ.e the insta.llation
of any new work or additions to existing installations.
SECTIQN 8. FEES FOR PERMITS AND INSPECTION. Before any Permit is granted for the
installation, alteration or repair of any electrical wiring, devices or equipment, the
person, firm or corporation making application for such permit shall pay to the City of
Paris, Texas, a fee in the amount so specified herein. For new work or addition to old
work permit fees shall be as follows:
(s) Service and one (1) to ten (10) outlets.........................$1050
Al1 additional outleta in excess of ten (10) shall be
ten cents each.
(b) Electrie ranges, including service entrance when necessary.,.... 2,00
(c) Hot water heater, including service entrance when neeessary....o 2,00
(d) Electrical and Neon signs ...................a 2000
(e) Motors - 1/3 HP, or less 050
Over 1/3 HP and up to 5 HP 2000
Ten (10) aents for each horse power in excess of 5 HP...........
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(f) Piature machines - for insta].lation of each moving picture
maehine and all operating devices used directly in
conneetion therewitho......................................$1000
(g) Decorative window lighting of Neon or other gaseous
Tube Units, including Transformer Installation,
per Circuit 1.00
(h) For extra inspection made necessary by work being
re3ected on first inspection 2.00
For inspection of any installation, device or
equipment not specified in the above achedule, the
Inspector shall charge a fee of $2000 per hour or
fraction thereof, for the time spent in making such
inspection.
Upon the completion of the installation of any electrical wiring, device or
equipment, it shall be the duty of the peraon, firm, or corporation installing saTme to
notify the electrical Inapector and the Inspector shall inspect the installation aithin
four (4) hours aPter notice is giveno
If.. upon inspection, it is found that any part of the installation dosa not
comply with the proviaions of this Ordinance, the Inspector shall gine notice of the
violation to the person, firm or corporation to whom the permtt was issued.
When an installation, upon completion, is found to comply with all the re-
quirementa of this Ordinance., the Inapector shall tssue a;Certifieate of'apprnval to
the person, firm or corporation installing the work. Such Certificate shall authorize
the connectioa of the installation to the Electric Service and the use of the installa-
tion.
SECTION 9. EI,ECTRICBL INSPECTOR. The Electrical Inspector shall execute a
Bond to the City of Paris raith a recognized Surety Company authorized to do busineas
in this State, ia the sum of Five Hundred ($500,00) Dollara, if so desired by the City
Council, aonditioned upon the faithful performanee of his duties, arxl the deliver9 to
hia suaeeseor in offiee or other proper officer or eommittee, upon demand, all booka,
papers aad other effects which may be in his custody as such officer.
SECTION 10. ELF;CTRICAL E%AMIIJING BOARD. A Board of Electrical Examiners is
hereby areated and shall be lmown as the "ELECTRICAL EXAMIATING BOARD" of the City of
Paris, Texas, which Board shall consist of five (5) members, one of whom shall be the
Fire Maxshall, one shall be the City Engineer, one shall be the Eleetrical Inspector., and
Mayor shall appoint one Electrioal Contractor and one Journeyman Electrician to said
Board.
It shall be the duty of the Board to examine and pasa upon the application of
ell peraons, firms or corporations for License as Electrical Contractor, arrd to examine
and pass upon all applications of Journeymen Electricians for registration as such under
the provisions of thia Ordinance. The Board shall approve the appliaation of all ap-
pliaants that show the neceasary qualifications to entitle them to receive a License or
to be registered in a,ccordance with the Ordinance, and shall grant a License or register
such qualified applicaats when the necessary f ees have been paid in accordanae with the
provisiona hereon. It shall be the dutv of the Board to meet once a nwnth.
The appointed membera of the board shall aerne for a period of two years and
may be re-appointed at that tima for another two years, after wh`3ch time they may not
serve again until a lapse of two yeara time.
Any member of the board may be removed for cause by ma,jority note of the City
Council,
The Examining Boaxd shall ahoose a Chairman and a secretary; shall keep
accurate record and make them available to the City Council upon requesto The deciaiona
reaahed by the board shall be final. Any requeats made by the Electrical Inapeetor for
help in making deciaions shall be rendered by the board. _%;al
f or
Exami.ni.ng
Board and be examined as to his qualifications to do electrical work. Any sueh applicant
must make a grade of seventy (70) per cent on the examination gi.ven by the Board bePore
being entitled to receive a license. Before a Licenae shall be granted to an applicantp
a fee of Fifty($50.00) Dollars shall be paid to the City oP Paxis, Texas, and the applicant
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shall eaecute and deliver to the City Secretaxy, for approval, a Bond in the aum of
Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollaxa, having as aurety thereon a recognized surety compaqy
anthorized to do business in this State, said Bond to be conditioned f or the faithful
performance of all aork entered upon or contracted for, in atriet accordance with the
terms and requirements of this Ordinance. Such License when issued, shall entitle
the holder thereof to engage in the business of Electrical Contractor for a period of
One (1) year from the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked, and may be renewed by
the holder upon payment of an annual renewal fee of Fifty ($50.00) Dollars and a reneWal
of the Bond required herein.
Any person, firm or corporation Who now has an approved Bond with the City
will be required to take examinatioa and pay the annual renewal fee of Fifty($50.00)
Dollars upon expiration of preseat license held by contractor.
No l.icense issued in accord.ance with the provisions of this Ordinance shall
be transferable. Any holder of a license who shall permit or allow same to be used by
any other party to obtain a permit to do electrical work as specified in this Ordinance,
shall be sugject to having such license recoked by the City Council.
SECTION 12. JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN: REGISTRATION REQUIRED. The term "Journey-
man Electrician" as used in this Ordinance is defined to mean and include any person who
rrorks for or under the supervision of an Eleetrical Contractor and installing or repairing
electrical wiring., devices andequipment. All Journeymen Electricians before being per-
mitted to do any electrical Work in the City of Paris, Teza,s, shall make application to
the Eleetrical Inspector for registration aa Journeymen Electricians. 3uch s'pplicants
shall be required to appear before the Electrical Examining Board and take an examination
as to his experience and ability to do electrical Work in aceordance with the provi.sions
of this Ordinance. An applicant shall be required to make a grade of seventg (70) per
cent or better, before he shall be entitled to registration as a Journeymaxi Electrician.
The Board shall iasue to eeery applicant that passes a satisfactory examination$ a
Certificate of Registration, upon payment of a registration as a Journeyman Electriciand
The Board shall iasue to every applicant that pa,sses a satisfactory examinationi, a
Certificate of Registration, upon payment of a registration fee of Ten ($10000) Dollars.
Such Certificate of Regiatration shall be renewed by the holder thereof upon payment of
an annual reneWal of registration fee of Ten ($10.00) Dollars.
A Journeyman Electrician to qualify for an examination before the Electrical.
Examining Board must prove that he has had four yeara actual experience as an apprentice.
In event any applicant fails to pa,ss the examination givm by the Board, he shall
bo entitled to a second examination after the expiratioa of Thirty (30) days, and should
he fail on the second examinatioa, a third eatami.nation shall not be had until the eapira-
tion of Two (2) Months from the date of the last examinationo
The Inapector shall be empowered to issue a temporary permit to a Journ.eyman
Electrician upon the payment of Ten ($10.00) Dollars fee and said permit shall be good
uatil the first meeting of the Examining Board.
Nothing in this Section shall be eonstrued to prohibit the employment of
apprentices or helpers working under the supervision of a registered Electrician.
SECTION 13. CLASSIFICATION OF REGISTRATION.
(a) Electrical Contractor......... $50000 per year.
(b) Journeyman Electrician........ $10.00 per year.
(c) Building Maintenance Operator
(d) Electric Repair Shop
The term "Building Maintenance Operator" as used in this ordinance ie defined
to mean a,nd include aay person who works for any person, firm or corporation engaged in
any type business or occupation requiring the services of an eleetrician to maintain
ma,chinery., equipment, etc. as a full time or part time basis. Any person so employed
is required to appear before the Board of Electrieal Exami.ners for an egaminatioa and be
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Sectioa 13 continued:
governed by the same procedure as set forth for a Journeyman Electrician and other
specifications of thia Ordinance. Bond is optional w3.th the employer. The licensing
fee is $20.00 per year for each man so employed.
Electric Repair Shop: The term Electrical Repair Shop shall mean any per9on,,
firm or corporation engaged in the busineas of altering, repairing or maintaining
eleetrically operated equipment or radios and shall include any authorized person, whether
aetually doing eleetrical repair work or not and any person who sub aontracta to do such
work, but does not include bonafide employees employed by such shop to do or supernise
such work. The lieensing fee is $10.00 per year.
All circuses, carnivals and road shows using portable equipment must employ an
Electrical Contractor to supervise all installations.
Texa.s Power & Light Compa.ng, its agents or employees or other Utility recogni.zed
by the City of Paris are to make all connections from the power and light lines to the
Electrical service. It is unlarrful and a viola.tion of this Ordinance for others to do so.
Authority of Inspectors: The Electrieal Inspeetor or Electrical Inspectors
shall have full police power and shall have the right to arrest ar~y person who violates
any of the regulations of thia Ordinance. He or they shall have the authority to call the
police to assist him in perfornii.ng his duty and it will be the duty of any member of the
police department to so assist when requested.
The fisaal year for the payment of liQense and registration for electrieian.a
shall begin on the First of January each yeax and end on the last day oP December. Any
requeat ma.de after July First eaah yeax shall be charged one half of the yearly rate.
Shou].d aay certificate.holder governed by thie Ordinance take up another ocaupa-
tion or profeasion or otherwise indicate that he has abandoned his occupation as an
electrician or contractor, even though he may apply for registration each yeax, he sha].1
be required to be examined every ttao yeaxs in order to mai.ntain his registration.
Should any aertificate lapse for more than aix months, the holder shall be
eonsidered as a new applicant, and another examination before the board of Electrical
Examiners shall be required.
Suspension: Upon presentation to the mayor of charge that the holder of any
certificate of registration has will.fully or consistently violated a.ny provisions of
this Ordinance or is incompetent to comply with such procisions, or such person, firm
or corporation has been found gnilty of violating any such ordinances, the Mayor sha11
fix a time and place for a meeting of the board of Electrical Exami.ners to consider such
charges and shall notify the holder of the certificate to be present at such meeting.
Such notification shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the holder at least five
days in adnance of the meeting. Upon conviction the holder shall have his certificate
revoked or suspended for not less than thirty days and not more than two years,
Home Owner's Rights: Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any bonafide home
owner from personally installing electrical conductors within his own home provided that
the owner shall file with the Electrical Inspector as to his ability to install electrical
wiring; apply for and seoure a permi.t; pay required f ees; do work in accordance with this
ordinance; apply for an inspection, and receivecertificate of approealo Personal
inatallation by an owner under these Home Owner 'lights shall be by himself,, on his own
homestead premises, wlthout compensation, and no peraon sha11 be employed to assist him
in any way on such worko
Any electrical devices, signa, apparatus or appliances manufactured within the
City shall be inspeeted by the Electrical Inspector before it is sold or installed,
Condemnation: When the Electrical Inspector condemns all of part of any
electrical installation, the owner may within five (5) days after receiving wr3.tten notice
thereof, file a petition in writing for review of said aetion of the Electrical Inspector
by the Eleetrical Exami.ning board, upon receipt of which they shall at once proceed to
determine facts, and wlthin five days shall make a decision in accordance with their
findings.
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Sales Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation
to sell, expose for sa1e, offer to sell, dispoae as a premium or offer for rent and repair
any electrioal me.terial, conductors, equipment, apparatus or appliance within the City of
Paris which is not approved by the Electrical Inspector, or bearing the Underwriters seal
of approvalo
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use slugs, pennies or any
method of abridgment of fuses, fuse blocks or in any way defeat the purpose of a fuse
or oircuit breaker.
Al1 fees accumulated by this Ordinance sha11 be paid to the City Secretary
for deposit to the account of the City of Paris, Texas.
The Electrical Inspeetor shall have had at least six years experience as an
electrician, or a graduate of an approved sehool of electrical engineering, or a licensed
electrical engineer, with an additional two yeaxs experience in the fieldo Shall be of
sound physical aondition., capable of making the most rigid inapections and less than
sixty yeara of age. His seleation sha11 be made by the Mayor with the approval of t.he
City Council. The salary of the Electrical Inspeator shall be set by the Mayor with the
approval of the City Council.
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SECTION 14. PENALTY. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of
the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,, and upon con-
viction therefor, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollaxa.,
and each and every day's continuance of any violation of the progisions of this Ordinance
shall constitute and be deemed a separate offense.
SECTI QN 15. VALIDITY. If any Seetion, Sub-Section, clause, or phrase of this
Ord.inance shall for any reason be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding or
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
SECTION lbo EMERGENCY. The faet that the Pub].ic TWelfare of the City of Paris
and ita people are in need of the changes brought about by th3.s Amendment immediately
ereatea a publie emergenay requiring that rules and charter provisions prohibiting passage
of an ordinance at the meeting at whieh it ia introd.uced and requi.ring submd.ssion to a
committee be suspended, and the same is accordingly done, and this ordinance shall take
effect from and after its passage. "
SECTION 17. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES. All Ordinanees or parts of
Ordinances of the City of Paris~ Texas, conflicting with the progisions of this Ordinance
are hereby repealed.
Passed Ma.y 24 1948•
AYES~ NAYS0
AiTEST:
Nathan J. BeLt., Mayor
~
H.B.Crow., City Secret ary