[Amended 12-3-2019 by Ord. No. 6-2019]
A.
Membership. The Board of Examining Plumbers shall consist of five
persons to be appointed by the Mayor, of whom two shall be master
plumbers of not less than 10 years' experience in the business of
plumbing, and one shall be at least a journeyman, and the other members
of such Board shall be the Plumbing Inspector or officer performing
duties of such inspector and either the City Engineer or his designee.
B.
Duty of City Clerk. The City Clerk shall act as Clerk of the Board
of Examining Plumbers.
C.
Chairman. The Board of Examining Plumbers shall choose its own Chairman
and, in his absence, a Vice Chairman. All meetings of the Board of
Examining Plumbers shall be held at the determination of the acting
Board Chairman.
D.
Operating rules. The Board of Examining Plumbers shall have the power
to make and promulgate its own rules governing its meetings and proceedings,
including selection of a Chairman, subject to the provisions of this
chapter. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Three
affirmative votes shall be necessary to carry any business of the
Board.
E.
Conflicts of interest. Employment of one member of the Board by another
member of the Board for two consecutive calendar months shall automatically
disqualify the employed member for as long as he is so employed.
The term of office of each member of the Board of Examining
Plumbers shall be three years from the first day of January following
his 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, for the unexpired
term.
The members of the Board of Examining Plumbers shall receive
no compensation for their services.
Powers and duties. The Board of Examining Plumbers shall have
the power and it shall be its duty:
A.
To meet at stated intervals and also to meet whenever the City Manager
shall, in writing to the Chairman, request it so to do.
B.
To have jurisdiction over and to examine all persons desiring or
intending to engage in the trade or business of plumbing, HVAC or
fire suppression contracting in the City of Oneonta; to examine persons
applying for licenses as master and journeyman tradespersons in the
above-referenced fields; to determine the fitness and qualifications
of such applicants to conduct the business of plumbing, HVAC and fire
suppression contracting; and to issue certificates of competency to
all such persons who shall have passed an examination approved by
such Board and shall be by it determined to be qualified as plumbers,
HVAC and fire suppression contractors.
C.
To formulate, in conjunction with the City Engineer, a code of rules
regulating the work of plumbing, HVAC and fire suppression systems
in the City of Oneonta, including any such systems located on private
property, including the materials, workmanship and manner of executing
such work and amendments thereto.
D.
Appeals. Any person shall have the right to appeal a decision of
the Plumbing Inspector to the Board of Examining Plumbers. An application
for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this
code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly
interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, or an
equally good or better form of construction is proposed. The application
shall be filed on a form obtained from the Plumbing Inspector within
20 days after the notice was served.
A.
Time; time limit on issuing certificate. Examinations shall be at
the discretion of the Board of Examining Plumbers and no less than
once per year. However, the Board shall give such examinations more
frequently and at such times as may be necessary to ensure that applicants
will not be delayed unreasonably in the taking of such examinations.
Said examinations shall be proctored by at least one Board member.
Grading shall take place after the exam, and all grades shall be reviewed
by the majority of the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
If a passing grade of 70% is attained, a certificate of competency
shall be issued within 45 days of the date of such examination.
B.
Required proof.
(1)
Required proof shall consist of signed, notarized or otherwise certified,
verifiable documents attesting to each qualifying factor. Applicants
shall provide names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons, businesses,
or institutions capable of verifying the integrity of said documents.
A full year of full-time work shall consist of not less than 1,500
hours of work. Each applicant for examination for a master plumber's
license must submit to the City Clerk proof of either:
(a)
At least eight years of full-time work experience, or the equivalent
over a longer period of time, at least four as a journeyman plumber,
working under the supervision and control of a master plumber; or
(b)
At least six years of full-time work experience, or the equivalent
over a longer period of time, at least four as a journeyman plumber
working under the supervision and control of a master plumber, and
attendance at, and certification from, an accredited school of plumbing
training for at least two full years, with affidavits supporting such
qualifications; or
(c)
Proof of at least eight years of full-time work experience,
or the equivalent over a longer period of time, working independently
as a plumber, not necessarily under the supervision and control of
a master plumber, and attendance at, and certification from, an accredited
school of plumbing training for at least two full years, with affidavits
supporting such qualifications; or
(d)
Proof of at least 12 years of full-time work experience, or
the equivalent over a longer period of time, working independently
as a plumber, not necessarily under the supervision and control of
a master plumber.
(2)
Each applicant for examination for a residential plumber's license
must submit proof to the City Clerk of either:
(a)
At least two years of full-time work experience, or the equivalent
over a longer period of time, as a journeyman working under the supervision
and control of a master plumber or residential plumber, and attendance
at, and certification from, an accredited school of plumbing training
for at least two years; or
(b)
At least six years' full-time work experience, or the equivalent
over a longer period of time, working independently as a plumber,
not necessarily under the supervision and control of a master plumber.
(3)
Each applicant for examination for a heating, ventilating and air
conditioning license must submit proof to the City Clerk of at least
two years of full-time work experience, or the equivalent over a longer
period of time, as a journeyman working under the supervision and
control of a master plumber and attendance at, and certification from,
an accredited school of plumbing or HVAC training, for at least two
years; or an equivalent combination of experience and education, with
affidavits supporting such qualifications.
(4)
Each applicant for a fire suppression contractor's license must submit
proof to the City Clerk of four years of full-time work experience,
or the equivalent over a longer period of time, as a journeyman working
under the supervision and control of an individual or company holding
a valid fire suppression contractor license or proof of at least eight
years of full-time work experience in the fire suppression field;
or a combination of equivalent experience and education, with affidavits
supporting such qualifications. Any applicant for a fire suppression
contractor's license shall hold a current and valid NICET III certification
in either "Water-Based Systems Layout" or "Inspection and Testing
of Water-Based Systems."
C.
Approval by The Board of Examining Plumbers required. All applications
shall be reviewed by the City Clerk to ensure the application and
all supporting documents are complete. If the application and supporting
documents are found to be complete the City Clerk shall provide the
applicant information to the Board of Examining Plumbers who shall
certify that said applicant is qualified or not qualified to take
the examination. If an applicant is not qualified, their examination
fee shall not be refunded. No applicant shall be entitled to take
the examination unless their application has first been approved by
both the City Clerk and the Board of Examining Plumbers.
D.
Submission of applications. Applications shall be made at the office of the City Clerk on forms supplied by the City and all questions thereon answered in full and fee paid as provided in § 210-7A at the time of filing of the application.
E.
Scope. All written examination questions shall be based upon the
New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code applicable
to plumbing and HVAC and principles and practices common to the trade
of plumbing and heating, ventilating and air conditioning.
F.
Grading. The grading valuation of each question shall be predetermined,
and the record of this determination shall be on file with the City
Clerk prior to any examination time and available for the inspection
of examinees following receipt of their grades.
G.
Failure
to apply for licensure. Failure to apply for licensure. Any applicant
who, upon successful completion of the City of Oneonta Plumbing Exam
and approval by the City of Oneonta Board of Examining Plumbers, fails
to apply for licensure within 90 days of the Board's approval shall
be required to reapply for examination. The Board of Examining Plumbers
may grant an extension of no more than 90 days for the following:
[Added 2-1-2022 by Ord. No. 1-2022]
