There shall be an Examining Board of Plumbers who shall have all the powers and authority conferred by this chapter and by Article 4 of the General City Law.
A.
The Board shall consist of five persons to be appointed by the Mayor,
of whom two shall be employing or master plumbers of not less than
10 years' experience in the business of plumbing, and one shall
be a journeyman plumber of like experience, and the other members
of the Board shall be the Plumbing Inspector and a qualified person
from the Office of the City Engineer.
B.
The term of office of each member of the Board shall be three years
from the first day of January following his or her appointment. Vacancies
occurring by expiration of a term shall be filled by the Mayor for
a full term. Vacancies by death, removal, inability to act, resignation
or removal from the City of any member shall be filled by the Mayor
for the unexpired term.
C.
The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)
To meet at regular intervals and as directed by the Mayor.
(2)
To have jurisdiction over and to examine all persons desiring or
intending to engage in the trade, business or calling of plumbing
as an employing or master plumber as provided herein.
(3)
To conduct examinations of persons applying for certificates of competency
as employing or master plumbers, to determine their fitness and qualifications,
and to issue certificates of competency to all such persons who shall
have passed examination.
(4)
To adopt procedural rules and regulations, not in conflict with this
chapter, to provide for the orderly conducting of its business.
There shall be an official known as the Plumbing Inspector,
who shall be appointed by the Mayor. The Mayor may appoint additional
Plumbing Inspectors on a temporary or permanent basis. The Plumbing
Inspector shall be qualified to render determinations in accordance
with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Codes,
and shall have the following powers and duties:
A.
To administer and enforce those provisions of the New York Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Codes dealing with plumbing work.
B.
To administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
C.
To enter upon all premises where plumbing work is being done, and
to inspect that plumbing work to insure compliance with applicable
law.
D.
To issue notices of violation, stop-work orders and orders to remedy, and to issue appearance tickets pursuant to Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law, for all matters within the Plumbing Inspector's authority, in the manner of Code Enforcement Officers pursuant to Chapter 118 of the City Code, and to work with the Office of the City Attorney to prosecute violations of matters within his or her authority.
E.
To receive and review applications for certificates of competency,
and to issue same upon authorization by the Examining Board of Plumbers.
F.
To receive and review applications for plumbing permits, plans for
plumbing work to be done, and any drawings, descriptions, and other
information relative to any permit or plan, and to approve in writing
any of those items.
G.
To keep records of inspections, authorizations, enforcement actions,
and other business of his or her Office.
A.
A certificate of competency may be denied or revoked by the Board,
or suspended by either the Board or by the Plumbing Inspector, upon
due notice and hearing, for violation of any of the provisions of
this chapter, or for any conduct which evidences the inability of
the holder to safely and responsibly perform plumbing work.
B.
Notice of denial, suspension or revocation shall be sent by certified
mail to the holder of the certificate of competency or plumbing permit
at the address filed in the office of the Plumbing Inspector. Said
notice shall state the reason for the denial, suspension or revocation
and shall state the date by which the holder may request a hearing
before the Board. Requests for hearings shall be made to the Board
in writing. A holder who requests a hearing shall be granted one within
a reasonable time. The Board shall have authority to determine, in
its discretion, whether a suspension or revocation shall take effect
immediately pending the hearing.
C.
The holder shall have the right to produce evidence and/or witnesses
at the hearing, and to be represented by legal counsel, and the Board
shall cause a record to be made.
D.
After the hearing, the Board shall issue its findings and determination
in writing, and shall send a copy thereof to the holder by certified
mail. If a suspension or revocation stands, the determination shall
state the effective date thereof.
E.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to limit the
powers of the Plumbing Inspector to prosecute, under any other applicable
law, any matter within his or her authority.
Fees for certificates of competency, plumbing permits, and other
fees and charges pertinent to this chapter shall be established from
time to time by resolution of the City Council, following public notice
and hearing.
