05-29-1986
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CITY OF EDGE.WA'IER
CITIZEN CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
May 29, 1986 7:00 p.m.
Corrmmity Center
The Chairman, Mr. Phillip Williams, called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.
ROLL CALL
The members present were: Roberta Moses, Lois Kane, Mary Ciccarello,
Delores Cucanich, Vince Turano, Paul Biggerstaff and Phillip Williams.
Mr. Williams announced he would like to rrove the meeting to the case of
Pappy's Place, 86--CC-18, Mr. Joseph Kopec, electrical violations. Mr.
Kopec was sworn in by the secretary and Mr. Fischer then explained the
letter of May 13 from the Fire Safety Inspector, David Jones, to Mr.
Kopec, concerning 1090 South Ridgewood Avenue in Edgev.!ater. He added
the letter really refers back to a March 13th letter, stating the
fire safety inspection had been completed March 11th, and listed all
the violations to be attended to that had not been corrected as of
May 13th, 1986. Mr. Fischer continued the case was given to the
Code Enforcement Board on April 22, and on Monday, the 21st of April,
Mr. Fischer reinspected Pappy's Place and .found many electrical
violations still existed from tl!e March 13th inspection, which really
gave Mr. Kopec rrore than thirty days to make the necessary corrections.
Mr. Fischer than read from a merro given to the Code Enforcement Board
and Building Official from Mr. Jones, as far as listing from the Codes
and the Code Sections of the N.F.P.A. the various violations as of
April 22nd. He continued another letter was written to Mr. Kopec
from the Board dated April 25th, notifying him the case was tabled
until another inspection could be done, and that since the last
meeting on May 13th, an additional fire inspection was done to the
building by Mr. Jones and Mr. Fischer, who found the violations of
the March 13th letter still existed. Mr. Fischer then explained he
and Mr. Jones asked Mr. Kopec to hire an electrical contractor for
the necessary corrections and that it was also necessary to remove
the roof sign, prohibited under Ordinance 79-0-25, this information being
contained in their letter dated May 13th, 1986.
Mr. Williams asked if Mr. Kopec had made some improvements, and Mr. Fischer
stated that as of May 13th Nr. Jones and Mr. Fischer did a casual re-
inspection and a lot of the electrical extensions being used about the
bar are still there, and in the kitchen.
Mr. Kopec then asked where Mr. Jones was, as Mr. Kopec had traveled 1200
miles to be here and see Mr. Jones. Mr. Fischer answered that he is Mr.
Jones's supervisor and had just finished another electrical inspection,
to which Mr. Kopec replied he did not think Mr. Fischer was qualified. Mr.
Fischer replied he is a Building Official of the City and also a Certified
Building Inspector for the State, that he is not a fire marshall. Mr. Kopec
stated he has constantly been harassed and Mr. Williams answered that we are
not a jury; all we are saying is you are out of Code and our job is to get
you into Code; it is not our job to say you are right or \vrong; we go strictly
by the Code. Mr. Kopec continued with all the violations existing on U. S. 1,
that Mr. Jones has not talked with him, that the Board is taking Mr. Jones's. and
Mr. Fischer's word. Mr. Kopec said he was subPOenaed without cause and
Mr. Williams stated you have now had thirty days rrore. Mr. Kopec then asked
how many of the charges he has not brought into compliance and Mr. Fischer
said he has not done any of them. Mr. williams then asked the Board if they
had any questions and Mr. Turano asked Mr. Kopec how w.any of his violations
he has corrected and Mr. Kopec listed the roof and plug lights were dis-
connected and put out of cornnission; the light in the hall near the hot
water heater was disconnected; the receptacles for the panel bracket were also
secured, all done before May 13th, before he was subpoenaed. The rear and
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side yards have been cleaned up, he continued; the refrigerator belongs
to the tenant, Mr. John Gibson, and it has been rerroved. Mr. Turano then
asked Mr. Kopec if he had the list of violations in front of him, to which
he replied yes, and the Board continued to discuss each item and what has
or has not been done. r-tr. Fischer then stated the corrections to be made
and Mr. Williams asked if this is an expensive operation and Mr. Kopec
stated this building is old, that he could not go through this, that he
cannot possibly bring this up to Codes, and that he especially resented
noving his outside lights as they have been there for ten or twenty years.
Mr. Fischer replied that just because something has been there does not
make it correct, that it must be addressed; that they must be looked at
periodically.
Mr. Biggerstaff then asked if someone was hurt in this building by electric
, cr slippy decks, or whatevex; and they find out the City was aware this was
not properly wired, or the deck should have been made unslippy; he could
then sue the City for not requiring the owner to bring this building up
to Code. Mr. Biggerstaff continued that if this person sued the owner
for one million dollars and the owner only had five thousand dollars, the
next person in line to be sued would be the City; therefore the city is
responsible for the safety of various people who use these places. Mr .
Biggerstaff then asked if we couldn't get tog-ether and protect the owners
and the City. He continued that when he opened a business some years
ago he had to comply with the Code and thinks we are duty bound to try
and protect everyone.
Mr. Williams then asked the Board for their recornnendations and Mr.
Fischer stated Mr. Kopec mentioned several things may be finished, but
what needs to be done actually is an aplication for permit must be taken
out for electrical VvDrk in the building to supply the proper circuits
where extensions are now. Mr. Kopec answered that bringing the building
into compliance would cost nore than the building VvDuld be worth. Mr .
Kopec went back to the subj ect of illegal signs in the City and Mrs.
Ciccarello stated that is just one of the things not in compliance, that
Mr. Kopec stated a lot of the violations are just picky and that he was
not going to comply. Mr. Kopec replied he did not say he was not going
to comply; he stated he was being threatened, was told that when he noves
out he will not be able to use it for anYthing; that he is really tired
of this hassle. Mrs. Kane asked if signs are grandfathered in and Mr.
Fischer said no, when the sign ordinance was passed it gave a period of
five years which was up last year, for compliance. He also stated there
are probably numerous violations in the City but you have to start some-
where, and places of asserobl y tend to be one of the areas that he deems
necessary to start. Mr. Fischer also stated there are other facilities
similar to this man's up and down Ridgewood Avenue and the corrections
have been made, that this situation is just taking a little bit longer
than the others have. After further discussion, Mrs. Kane suggested the
Board must determine two things, in compliance or not in compliance. Mr .
Williams asked the Board their pleasure and !-trs. Ciccarello said she would
nove that it is not in compliance and the Board should take some action
on it. Mr. Kopec then went into further discussions as to what he has
taken care of, that he has taken care of four out of five of the violations.
Mr. Turano then noved this case is not in compliance; that another re-
inspection .or examination by the Building Official or Mr. Jones be made
within fifteen days and that it be brought into compliance by June 26th.
Mr. Fischer recorrmended we do the electrical problems now as it might be
premature to go into the sign problem. Mrs. Kane then seconded the notion
of Mr. Turano, notion CARRIED 7-0.
Bernard Perzan, 86-CC-7A Electrical Violations
Mr. Fischer spoke in reference to this case and stated it should be John
Perzan, also, as John Perzan is the father of Bernard; that John has alrrost
completely repaired what should be repaired; that he has just a few
things to be done before the Board can say it is in compliance and
Citizen Code Enforcement Board
Minutes of May 29, 1986
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Mr. Fischer carmot issue an In Corrpliance letter. After a brief
discussion ~'lrs. Ciccarello IIDVed we table the Perzan case until
next meeting, June 26th, and that a reinspection take place at
that time to detennine if the property is in compliance. Motion
was seconded by Mrs. Moses and CARRIED 7-0.
Ross Kotakes, 86-CC-lS - Failure to file revised site plan and failure
to notify Building Official
After a five minute intermission, the meeting was reconvened and the
Kotakes case was brought into discussion by Mr. Williams, who asked
Mr. Fischer to bring the Board up to date. Mr. Fischer referred the
Board to a merro written by Mr. Fischer to the Board, asking the Board
table this case until all evidence can be presented. He further explained
that after reviewing this case, he discovered other areas that have not been
addressed and suggested this be organized so that a complete case to
address all violations at one time can be presented. Mrs. Ciccarello asked i~
Mr. Kotakes' s attorney. has contacted anyoneand'Mr. Fischer stated his
attorney had contacted Attorney AI varez and asked for an extension and
that in the meantime the attorney has not been supplied with the new
violations which have to be addressed. Mrs. Kane IIDved we table this
matter until the next meeting, seconded by Mrs. CUcanich. Motion
CARRIED 7-0.
Ventiniglia, Joseph, 86-CC-86-CC-12, Four lots with grass in excess of
two feet high
Mr. Williams read from a merro of Mr. DiLeva who had to attend another
meeting wherein Mr. DiLeva had sent Mr. Ventiniglia a letter March 11th; that
Mr. Ventiniglia signed for the letter; that the property was reinspected
April 1, with no reply; that Mr. DiLeva talked with his daughter in New
York but as of this date the gentleman has made no effort to cut the
weeds and it is Mr. DiLeva' s opinion that we should have the weeds cut.
The Board then discussed the various actions they could take to have these
weeds cut, and Mrs. Ciccarello IIDVed we contact one of the three outside
concerns who do this work, and ask them to clear the lots and bill Mr.
Ventiniglia. Mr. Fischer corrected this to read "bill the City". Said
IIDtion was then seconded by Mrs. Kane and IIDtion CARRIED 7-0.
C.A.R. Enterprises, James Conley, 86-CC-17, Failure to file site plan approval
for setback encroachment
Mr. Fischer explained this is C.A.R. Enterprises on Guava, and that Mr.
Conley was scheduled for a Variance in May but failed to appear at the
Board of Adjustment meeting, at which time he was to ask for a Variance
to the front setback requirements for the canopy he has erected. He
explained this was then tabled until the next Board of Adjustment meeting;
that Mr. Conley stated he was never informed to appear, although Mr. Fischer
believes he was; that he is now scheduled to appear on the next agenda for
the June 12th meeting of the Board of Adjustment. Mr. Fischer stated he
explained to Mr. Conley it is necessary he appear at the June 12th meeting,
as the outcome of the meeting will determine if he must appear before the
Code Board. Mr. Fischer then suggested we table this until Mr. Conley's
appearance before the Board of Adjustment. Mrs. CUcanich then IIDVed we
table this matter until the next meeting, seconded by Paul Biggerstaff.
Motion CARRIED 7-0.
Mr. Williams then armounced under miscellaneous the cases were now all
in corrpliance. There being no further business, Mrs. Kane IIDved the meeting
be adjourned, seconded by Mrs. CUcanich. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes subrni tted by
Dorothy C. Garrity
Citizen Code Enforcement
Board Minutes of May 29, 1986
Meeting.
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