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10-15-1987 BUILDING <;)CITY OF EDGEWATER TRADES REGULATORY AND APPEALS REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 15, 1987, 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM o BOARD Minutes Chairman Les Ogram called to order a regular meeting of the Building Trades Regulatory and Appeals Board at 7:08 P.M., October 15, 1987, in the City Hall conference room. ROLL CALL Members present were: Les Ogram, Frank Hall, Norman Cox, Larry Swets and Lester Yarnell. Also present was Janet Morris, Secretary. Member Doug Cole was absent. MINUTES The minutes of January 15, 1987, regular meeting; March 11, 1987 special meeting; and May 19, 1987, workshop meeting were presented for approval. Mr. Hall made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Motion seconded by Mr. Swets. Motion CARRIED 5-0. LISTING OF MAJOR SUBCONTRACTORS ON PERMIT CARD The Board discussed listing of major subcontractors on the permit card. It was stated the Building Department is already listing the subcontractors on the permits. Mr. Hall made a motion to endorse the Building Officials policy of listing the major subcontractors on the permit card. Motion seconded by Mr. Swets. Motion APPROVED 5-0. LIST OF SUBCONTRACTORS BEFORE C.O. IS ISSUED The Board discussed the contractors turning in a list of all subcontractors that worked on the job before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Mr. Yarnell made a motion to table this subject. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. Motion APPROVED 5-0. SIGNAGE ON VEHICLES Mr. Ogram stated it is in the ordinance that electricians have signs on their vehicles. Mr. Cox said if you are going to do business in the City Of Edgewater, why won't you want to have your name on the vehicle. Mr. Hall stated they may not necessarily need the name but do need the license number. The Board discussed the County and other cities policy of having to put the name on the vehicles. They also discussed that some cities do not allow signs on vehicles in residential areas or some do not allow them in the parks. Mr. Hall said the purpose is so that the inspector can drive out on the job site and see who is working on the job. Mr. Yarnell suggested using the magnetic signs. Mr. Cox said he does not think it is right for them to make him use his vehicle or take off his signs. Mr. Swets made a motion that all working trucks be required to have a sign on their vehicle. Motion seconded by Mr. Hall. Motion APPROVED 5-0. CHECKING FOR COMPETENCY CARDS Mr. Cox stated checking for competency cards is already being done. Mr. Swets made a motion to table the subject, seconded by Mr. Yarnell. Motion APPROVED 5-0. o o SEPARATION OF ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTIONS The Board discussed separating enforcement and inspections. Mr. Ogram read Mr. Fischer's letter to the Board. Mr. Ogram asked who is the head person in the code enforcement to which the secretary replied Mr. Fischer. Mr. Ogram stated Mr. DiLeva worked under Mr. Fischer, Mr. Jones does the fire inspections and Mr. Fischer takes care of the plumbing, air conditioning, concrete, building, roofing and electrical. Mr. Cox stated that is an awful lot of responsibility for one person to handle. He added that Mr. DiLeva and Mr. Jones are taking care of the enforcements of the grounds and fire. The major thing that Mr. Fischer is taking care of is in reality any thing to do with the construction of a new home or a new building and all the major or minor subcontractors. He added that is an awful lot for one man to be up on all the codes of everything. Mr. Cox said he feels there should be one or two other different inspectors, for example one for mechanical and one for electrical. If Mr. Fischer is going to do structural, let him do the structural and concrete but the others should be someone qualified in the trade and can prove they are qualified. Mr. Hall said he did not think the City was going to pay that kind of money to hire those kind of people inspection wise. Mr. Cox stated we are growing rapidily, we are one of the fastest growing communities on the east coast of Florida. He added there are things happening that Mr. Fischer is not even aware of. When something is brought to Mr. Fischer's attention he does check it out but it is hard on one person. Mr. Hall said no one man can know all the trades. The Board continued to discuss the separation of code enforcement and building inspections. It was stated the Building Trades Board has no background on any of the personnel. Mr. Cox stated he thought Mr. Fischer needed some help, not because he thought he was incompetent or not qualified. The only reason he brought up Mr. DiLeva's qualifications was to see if he could do more of the code enforcement and relieve some of the pressure on Dennis, he did not have any questions on the individuals themselves. Mr. Hall stated as the Board they can recommend that the City hire someone to help Mr. Fischer. Mr. Ogram read from the By-Laws, Section 7, The Boards responsibilities in hiring and reviewing the qualifications for a building official prior to his being hired. Mr. Cox made a motion to table this subject pending inviting the Building Official, Dennis Fischer, to the next meeting and that the discussion be resumed at that time. Motion was seconded by Mr. Yarnell. Motion CARRIED 3-2, with Mr. Hall and Mr. Swets voting no. Mr. Cox made a motion to obtain a list of the responsibilities of Mr. Jones, Mr. DiLeva and Mr. Fischer, get the job descriptions of the personnel of the code enforcement department. Mr. Yarnell seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 4-1 with Mr. Hall voting no. The secretary asked for a clarification of the motion, if it was just the three men in the code enforcement department or all employees that copies of job descriptions were being requested. Mr. Cox and the Board agreed they only wanted the three mens job descriptions. 1987 ELECTRICAL CODE Mr. Ogram stated the 1987 electrical code had been out for some time but never adopted. He added they must always approve it or suggest that the City adopt the code before they can start enforce it. The electrical code is changed every three years. Mr. Hall made a motion to approve the 1987 Electrical Code. Motion seconded by Mr.Cox. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Building Trades Regulatory And Appeals Board Minutes October 15, 1987 -2- o o UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS Mr. Ogram stated he had received several phone calls from people complaining about unlicensed contractors. He said we have talked about this on several occasions and in regards with the Building Inspector needing some help, maybe it is unenforceable. Mr. Hall said the guys buy a permit and then give it to an unlicensed contractor to go ahead and build it. Those that have a license give to an unlicensed uncontractor. I don't know if there is a whole lot you can do if the guy wants to sacrifice his license. I think that is the whole problem, it is not the guy who is building without a license. They are getting someone who has a license to pull the permit. Mr. Faidley from the audience stated the Department of Professional Regulations are still investigating some of the builders. Most of them have been investigated before and been disciplined. The Department position now is they will not say they are investigating anyone until they have 100% proof. Mr Cox stated, by allowing unlicensed contractors to work under them they are jeopardizing their license. He asked aren't the majority of the unlicensed contractors using licensed subcontractors. It was stated the general contractor on the job is required to monitor all monies on the job. Mr. Cox stated basically what we have discussed here, I don't see what we can do except maybe put some pressure on those we know are using unlicensed subs. The board discussed journeyman and apprentices and the requirements for them to work on a job. They also discussed how many laborers a journey- man may have working under them on one job. Mr. Hall asked if the city did not have a licensing inspector. He stated that most cities have a licensing inspector that goes out and checks the license and comp cards. Mr. Ciaffoni suggested that Mr. DiLeva could check comp cards. He stated you do not have to be qualified to check for comp cards. Mr. Cox made a motion to table this subject of unlicensed contractors. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. Motion APPROVED 5-0. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Ogram stated the County is using a new system of sending out postcards to all subcontractors whose name has been used to pull a permit. They have a 3 X 5 card which they mail out stating the registration number or certification number, the address and the contractor whom pulled permit. He added he has received some of these where he didn't know his name was being used to pull a permit. Mr. Ogram asked the secretary if she thought the city would consider using a method of sending out postcards to the subcontractors. The secretary replied this would be an added cost which has not been budgeted but she did not know what the city would consider at this time. The Board discussed the subject of sending out the postcards to sub- contractors at length. They decided the postcards should be sent to all subcontractors on all permits, swimming pools, houses, screen rooms, or anything that requires a permit. Mr. Hall made a motion to recommend that the Building Official send out postcards to the subcontractors notifing them that their name has been used to pull a permit and the address of the construction. Motion seconded by Mr. Cox. Motion APPROVED 5-0. Building Trades Regulatory And Appeals Board Minutes October 15, 1987 -3- o o VACANT BOARD SEAT The secretary related to the Board that Mr. Bumpus whom had been appointed to the Board, has not responded to any correspondence or phone calls notifing him of his appointment. She informed the Board Mr. Bumpus telephone has now been disconnected. The Board discussed the appointment and Mr. Hall made a motion to send a letter to the Council requesting they appoint the Boards alternate choice, John Ciaffoni, to the board seat since Mr. Bumpus has not responded to any efforts to reach him. Motion was seconded by Mr. Cox. Motion APPROVED 5-0. There being no further business to corne before the Board, Mr. Hall made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Cox seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.. Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Janet Morris Building Trades Regulatory And Appeals Board Minutes October 15, 1987 -4- \