[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Dobbs Ferry as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-1-1966 (Ch. 162, Art. I, of the 1984 Code)]
This article is enacted to regulate the installation,
alteration and repair of wiring for electric light, heat or power
and for signal systems operating on 50 volts or more in or on all
real property within the Village.
A.
Establishment.
(1)
An Electrical Licensing Board, hereinafter referred
to in this article as the "Board," consisting of five members, is
hereby established. The Board of Trustees shall appoint the members
of the Board and shall have authority to remove any member for cause
and after public hearing. The membership of the Board shall consist
of the following:
(a)
An officer or employee of the Building Department.
(b)
An electrical contractor or journeyman who has
worked at least five years at his trade.
(c)
An inspector of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters.
(d)
An electrician regularly employed by an industrial
firm.
(e)
A graduate electrical engineer.
(2)
The Board shall elect a Chairman and a Secretary from
its membership.
B.
Members first appointed and their successors. Of the
members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of one
year, two for terms of two years, and two for terms of three years.
Their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years.
C.
Vacancies. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than
by expiration of term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired
term.
D.
Compensation. Each member of the Board shall be paid
$5 for each examination given for a Class A or Class B license pursuant
to the provisions of this article, except the officer or employee
of the Building Department.
E.
Powers and duties.
(1)
The Board shall meet at such times, in the opinion
of the Chairman or a majority of the Board, as are necessary or desirable
for the effective discharge of the business of the Board.
(2)
Three members, including the Chairman, shall constitute
a quorum of the Board for the transaction of business. No determination
in regard to the issuance, modification, suspension or revocation
of a license shall be made except by the majority vote of at least
three members.
(3)
The Board shall issue the licenses required by this
article in accordance with its provisions and shall have the power
to modify, suspend or revoke such licenses upon a violation of any
of the provisions of this article.
(4)
The Board shall keep a record of all of its meetings,
proceedings, determinations and decisions.
A.
Class A licenses (master electricians' licenses). Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, no person shall contract to, or conduct a business to, maintain, install or repair any electrical wiring or equipment in the Village until such person shall apply for and obtain a Class A license (master electrician's license) to engage in such business as herein provided.
B.
Class B licenses (limited master electricians' licenses).
No institution, commercial, industrial or business establishment or
multiple residence located in the Village shall permit the owner or
its personnel to engage in the installation, alteration or repair
of electrical wiring and equipment within its building, buildings
or property limits until such establishment shall apply for and obtain
a Class B license (limited master electrician's license) to engage
in such activities as herein provided.
C.
Class C licenses (limited licenses for owners of one-,
two- and three-family houses). Owners of one-, two- and three-family
houses may be permitted to replace existing electrical switches and
fixtures in their houses, which shall constitute minor repairs. If
such owners decide to change the electric service or add any additional
permanent wiring in their houses, they shall apply for and obtain
a Class C license (limited license for owners of one-, two- and three-family
houses).
A.
Class A licenses. An applicant for a Class A license
shall be 21 years of age or over, of good moral character, a citizen
of the United States and shall be at least one of the following:
(1)
An employing electrical contractor who has had an
established business for at least five years in the installation,
alteration and repair of electrical wiring or equipment or whose experience
working with his tools on the installation, alteration and repair
of electrical wiring and equipment as a journeyman electrician and
as an employing contractor totals at least five years.
(2)
An electrician who has worked at least five years
with his tools on the installation, alteration and repair of electrical
wiring and equipment as a journeyman electrician.
(3)
A graduate engineer of a college or university who
holds at least a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering
and has, in addition, worked at least one year with his tools on the
installation, alteration and repair of electrical wiring and equipment.
(4)
A graduate of a vocational, industrial or trade school
in electrical wiring or design and who has, in addition, worked at
least three years with his tools on the installation, alteration and
repair of electrical wiring and equipment.
B.
Class B licenses. An applicant for a Class B license
must be a partner, officer, chief electrician or other authorized
representative of the firm who is in a position to supervise or perform
the projected installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring
and equipment.
C.
Class C licenses. An applicant for a Class C license
must be the owner of a one-, two- or three-family house.
An application for a Class A, Class B or Class
C license shall be made in writing by furnishing all of the information
required on the appropriate form supplied by the Building Department.
An applicant shall receive written notice of the time and place to
appear before the Board for investigation as to his qualifications
for the license applied for.
[Amended 10-2-1984 by L.L. No. 6-1984]
A.
Every applicant for a Class A, Class B or Class C
license shall be required to answer a reasonable number of questions,
written or oral, as devised by the Board, to show that he has sufficient
knowledge and technical ability to perform or supervise the installation,
alteration and repair of electrical wiring and equipment; and no license
shall be issued unless the applicant obtains the minimum passing score
established by the Board. The minimum passing score shall be the same
and the examination shall be identical in scope for all applicants
for the same class of license.
B.
Should an applicant fail to attain the minimum passing
score established by the Board, he may initiate a new application
not less than 30 days from the date of the examination.
[Amended 10-2-1984 by L.L. No. 6-1984]
A.
Application and first-year fees.
(1)
Class A and Class B electricians' licenses. Upon applying
for a Class A or Class B license, the applicant shall deposit with
the Village, in cash or certified check, a fee as set from time to
time by the Board of Trustees, which shall be the fee for the examination
or test to obtain a license. If the applicant successfully passes
the test, an additional fee shall be paid in cash or certified check
to the Village, which shall be applied as a fee for the first year
of the license. Said additional fee shall be paid within 10 days of
the date of the test.
[Amended 12-2-1969; 10-7-1980 by L.L. No. 20-1980]
(2)
Class C licenses. Upon applying for a Class C license,
an applicant shall deposit with the Village a fee as set from time
to time by the Board of Trustees, which shall constitute the fee for
the license. Should the license be denied, said sum shall be returned
to the applicant.
B.
Renewal fees. The annual renewal fee for all Class
A and B licenses after the first year shall be as set from time to
time by the Board of Trustees, provided that such renewal is requested
by and issued to the same person as the original license. Such renewal
shall be due on January 1 of each year. Applicants awarded Class A
and B licenses during the month of December shall not be required
to pay the renewal fee for the year immediately following.
[Amended 11-18-1980 by L.L. No. 24-1980]
C.
Certified copies of licenses. The fee for a certified
copy of a Class A license shall be as set from time to time by the
Board of Trustees.
B.
No person shall lend, rent, transfer or assign in
any manner his license to any other person; nor shall any person make
use of a license which is not his own.
C.
No person, unless issued a Class A license, shall
represent himself as a master electrician or licensed electrical contractor
on signs, cards, stationery, vehicles, in advertising or in any other
manner for the purpose of pursuing such business in the Village.
D.
A Class B license shall be valid only as it pertains
to work performed within the property limits of the firm to which
it is issued.
A.
Before any Class A or Class B license is issued, certificates
of insurance protecting the Village, satisfactory to the Building
Inspector, shall be filed with him covering workers' compensation
as per New York State laws, public liability with limits of $100,000
to $300,000, and property damage with limits of $25,000 to $50,000.
B.
Before any Class C license is issued, such certificates
of insurance and/or affidavits as may be required by the Board shall
be filed with the Building Inspector.
[Amended 10-2-1984 by L.L. No. 6-1984]
Licenses issued by other municipalities which
are equivalent to Class A licenses will be considered as the equivalent
of Class A licenses in the Village, provided that such municipalities
within their boundaries accord the same recognition to Class A licenses,
and provided that such license holders obtain from the Building Inspector
reciprocal Class A licenses, for which an annual fee will be charged.
The provisions of this article shall not apply
to electrical installations in mines, ships, railway cars and automotive
equipment or the installation of electrical equipment employed by
an electrical or communications public utility in the exercise of
its function as a utility and located outdoors or in buildings used
exclusively for that purpose. This article shall not apply to any
work involved in the manufacture, assembly, test or repair of electrical
machinery, apparatus, materials and equipment by a person, firm or
corporation engaged in electrical manufacturing as its principal business.
It shall not apply to any building which is owned or leased in its
entirety by the government of the United States or the State of New
York.
This article shall not be construed to relieve
from responsibility nor lessen the responsibility of any person owning,
operating, controlling or installing any electric wiring, devices,
appliances or equipment for loss of life or damage to person or property
caused by any defect therein, nor shall the Village be deemed to have
assumed any such liability by reason of any license issued pursuant
to this article.
Any person aggrieved by any order, requirement,
decision or determination made by the Electrical Licensing Board may,
within 20 days from the date of such order, requirement, decision
or determination, file a petition in writing with the Village Clerk
for a review of such action by the Board of Trustees, and such Board
shall thereupon hold a hearing in regard to such action upon written
notice to all parties concerned and reverse, modify or affirm such
action.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 19-3-2,
Penalties, which followed this section, was repealed 10-2-1984 by
L.L. No. 6-1984.
[Adopted 2-1-1966 (Ch. 162, Art. II, of the 1984 Code)]
A.
Before the installation or alteration of wiring for
electric light, heat or power and for signal systems operating on
50 volts or more is commenced, the owner or lessee, or the agent of
either, shall obtain a written permit therefor, and for that purpose
shall file an application in the office of the Building Inspector.
B.
Ordinary repairs to electric wiring systems may be
made without permit, but ordinary repairs shall not be construed to
include cases involving changes in the electric service or additions
of permanent wiring.
A.
An application for an electrical permit shall be filed
in duplicate, together with two copies of the specifications, two
sets of photographic copies of the working drawings of the proposed
system or alteration, and such additional drawings and information
as the Building Inspector may require. The specifications shall, if
required, be on blanks provided by the Building Inspector.
[Amended 12-16-1969]
C.
A separate permit will be required for each building
or unit, such as each boiler, gasoline pump, elevator, etc. Any special
electrical work not referred to in this section shall also require
a permit, with the fee to be determined by the Building Inspector,
with the applicant having the right to appeal the amount of said fee
to the Electrical Licensing Board.
[Amended 12-16-1969]
D.
The working drawings shall be drawn on a scale of
not less than 1/8 inch to one foot, with all dimensions plainly indicated
thereon, and they must consist of such floor plans and vertical cross
sections as may be necessary to show clearly all the electrical work
to be done.
E.
Every application shall contain a verified statement
giving the full name and residence of the owner or owners and a description
of the lot where the work is to be done, by section, block and lot
number.
F.
The plans and specifications upon which a permit has
been issued may be amended at any time before the completion of the
work for which the permit was sought, and such amendments, after approval,
shall be deemed part of the application and included in the permit.
G.
The Building Inspector shall approve or reject any
application for a permit within a reasonable time and, if approved,
shall promptly issue a permit therefor to the applicant, together
with two certified copies of the approved specifications and drawings.
H.
The work of construction or alteration of any electrical
system shall be carried out in accordance with the specifications
and drawings for which the permit was issued. A certified copy of
the approved specifications and drawings shall be kept at all times
on the premises from the commencement of the work to completion.
I.
Where electrical work is to be done in conjunction
with new building construction or in conjunction with alterations
of an old building, no electrical permit shall be granted until both
the building and the electrical specifications and plans have been
filed and approved.
Before commencing any work for which a permit is sought or has been obtained, the electrician engaged to do the work shall certify to the Building Inspector, in writing, that he has been engaged to do such work and is the person who will have the actual immediate charge of the work to be done; and no person, corporation or partnership holding a license issued pursuant to the provisions of Article I of this chapter shall, for the benefit of any other person, corporation or partnership engaged in the electrical business who is not so licensed, apply for, receive or make use of any permit granted to him by reason of holding such license.
A permit under which no substantial work has
been done within one year from the date of its issuance shall expire
by limitation.
The Building Inspector may, by written notice,
revoke any permit in case of any false statement or misrepresentation
as to a material fact in the application therefor or upon a violation
of any of the provisions of this Code, and thereupon all work shall
be stopped.
Upon the completion of the installation of electrical
wiring, devices and equipment, it shall be the duty of the person,
firm or corporation installing the same to notify the Building Inspector,
who shall inspect or cause to be inspected the installation promptly
after such notice is given.[1] If it is found to be fully in compliance with the provisions
of this Code, he shall endorse or countersign the certificate issued
by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters and issue to such person,
firm or corporation a certificate of completion as a final approval
authorizing connection to the electric service and the turning on
of the current and the use of the installation, and shall send written
notice of such authorization to the public utility corporation furnishing
the electric service. When a certificate is issued authorizing the
connection and use of temporary work, such a certificate shall be
issued to expire at a stated time and may be revoked by the Building
Inspector at his discretion. A preliminary certificate may be issued
authorizing the connection and use of certain specified portions of
any uncompleted installation. Such a preliminary certificate shall
be revocable at the discretion of the Building Inspector. If, upon
inspection, the installation is not found to be fully in compliance
with this Code, the Building Inspector shall at once forward to the
person, firm or corporation installing the wiring a written notice
stating the defects which have been found to exist.
