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04-18-1985 (.) o CITY OF EDGEWATER Building Code Board April 18, 1985 Minutes Vice Chairman Ogram called the regular meeting of the Building Code Board to order at 7:08 p.m. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Members present: Messrs. Ogram, Vanzin and Hall. Excused: Messrs. Howard. Absent: Mr. Cole. Also present: Mr. Dennis Fischer, Building Official and Joan Taylor, Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Vanzin moved to approve the minutes of the January 17, 1985 meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hall and approved UNANIMOUSLY. OLD BUSINESS At the last meeting the members discussed the need to research the duties of the Board. A committee, headed by Mr. Ogram, was asked to work on this suggestion. Mr. Fischer, Building Official, provided the members with a copy of the Building Code from New Smyrna Beach. He suggested one area which the Board should consider is registration for subcontractors. A brief history should be provided to the Building Department. The building trades boards in other vicinities review new contractors prior to issuance of a compentency card. If the contractor is State certified he can work anywhere, but generally they take the H. H. Block exam and are State registered. If they have taken the Block exam they must apply to the counties and cities for com- petency cards. The cities have the prerogative to issue a license in that instance, Mr. Fischer explained. This review process for new contractors and new trades people should be addressed by the Board; such a process would let the City know if there have been any previous complaints against the contractor. Mr. Ogram asked if there was a system whereby complaints against a builder are recorded and Mr. Fischer responded that a lot of complaints go unrecorded. Mr. Fischer suggested that a system be initiated whereby offenders are brought before the Board. Following a review the Board could recommend that further investigation be done by the State. Discussing the policy in other areas, Mr. Hall said that some cities require a .financial statement and references before issuing a license. Mr. Fischer agreed that some municipalities require a person who does not have a previous year's competency car to appear before the board to prove their competency and also produce a financial statement. A two-day seminar scheduled for May 17 and 18 and sponsored by the Volusia County Inspector's Association, will present the proposed revisions for 1985. Mr. Fischer urged all members to attend and said that he would talk to other local people to urge their attendance at this important seminar. The proposed revisions may be adopted by a munic.ipality as they see fit, he stated, and additional revisions above and beyond the standard code may be adopted. The Board will need to review the code revisions and recommend changes and additions to the City Council. Mr. Fischer spoke about the efforts being made by the Inspectors Asso- ciation and the Home Builders Association to unify the building codes. Locally, this Board can review and make recommendations and he suggested that each member work on that section in which their expertise lies. This could be scheduled for the next meeting of the Board. The members may wish to talk to others in the trades and come to the next meeting prepared to make recommendations. He suggested that the Board's recommendations could be adopted at the same time as the 1985 Code which the SPCCI has adopted. Q o The 1985 revisions have not been received to date, Mr. Fischer reported. He pointed out that drastic changes have been made, and again urged attendance at the May l:;]th and 18th seminar, which is being held at the Holiday Inn Surf Side. Referring again to the issuance of competency cards, Mr. Fischer said he would like to see registration in the fall before the new cards are issued. He would like to be able to do some "on the job spot checking" of registration cards. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Fischer said that he has received a complaint against one of the local builders concerning payment for services rendered. He asked for the Board's input on the manner of handling this complaint. Mr. Vanzin read a section from the Code which says that it shall be unlaw- ful for any contractor defined by this article operating within the city to fail to fulfill contractual oblication through inability to pay all creditors for material furnished or work or services performed in the opera- tion of his business for which he is licensed hereunder. The building official may revoke or suspend a certificate of competency if, after due hearing, it is found that the holder thereof has committed any of the violations named in section 7-349. Any person charged shall have the right of a hearing before the board. Mr. Vanzin said it is a very bad situation when these people don't pay their bil~and he is strongly in favor of clamping down on them. The members discussed their responsibilities in this type of a case. Mr. Ogram suggested that a special meeting be scheduled to discuss the duties and responsibilities of the Board. The question of whether a builder can use more than one or two names was brought up. Mr. Hall said he has been advised by the State license inspector that with one license you can represent two companies. Mr. Fischer explained that the builder under discussion tonight uses the same name when pulling a permit, but does operate under other company names. The members agreed to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. and to ask the City Attorney to attend. This meeting is needed to determine the duties and responsibilities of the Board. Mr. Fischer said that regarding the financial problems of the local builder and the complaint from Mr. Gary Robinson, he would talk to the Licensing Board in Tallahassee to ascertain the procedure which they recommend. He will also talk to people in other cities to see how they handle similar situations. The owner/builder subject was reviewed by Mr. Fischer and he advised the members that he presently has 13 instances of owner/builders pulling a permit, building a home and selling same within the 12-month period, which is a direct violation of the 481 ruling. He asked for direction from the Board members on how to handle these violations, whether to turn them over to the State's attorney or the City attorney. He advised that these people are required to sign an affidavit when the permit is pulled, so they are aware of the ruling. Under new business, also, Mr. Ogram welcomed Mr. Hall to the Board. Mr. Gary Robinson, present in the audience, said that he would like to see the Board send a letter to Mr. Barrett, of ponderosa Homes, advising him that a complaint has been filed. This may prompt him to do something. He should be advised that he is in violation of the Code and is in jeopardy of losing his license, Mr. Robinson suggested. Mr. Fischer said that in most cases of this type a written complaint is filed with his office, he investigates the case and if he is of the opinion that a violation does exist, he turns the matter over to the Code Enforcement Board, or in this case, the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Building Code Board April 18, 1985 - 2 - o o MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Fischer referred to the proposed revisions for 1985 Code and asked each member of the Board to review the section which pertains to their field, suggesting that they also talk to others in that trade to get feedback on what revisions they would like to see. The local ordinance can include these recommendations. Mr. Vanzin moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Minutes prepared by Joan Taylor Building Code Board April 18, 1985 - 3 -