[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Watervliet 4-20-1972
as Div. 2 of Art. II of Ch. 6 of the Code of Ordinances of 1972. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
There is hereby designated in the city a public official to be known
as the "Inspector of Buildings," who shall be appointed by the General Manager.
The General Manager may appoint one (1) Deputy Inspector of Buildings
or more, as the need may appear, to act under the supervision and direction
of the Inspector of Buildings and to exercise any portion of the powers and
duties of the Inspector of Buildings as directed by him. The compensation
of such employees shall be as fixed by the Council.
The Inspector of Buildings shall not engage in any activity inconsistent
with his duties, or with the interest of the Building Department; nor shall
he, during the term of his employment, be engaged directly or indirectly in
any building business, in the furnishing of labor, materials, supplies or
appliances for or the supervision of the construction, alteration, demolition
or maintenance of a building or the preparation of plans or specifications
thereof within the city, except that this section shall not prohibit said
official from engaging in any such activities in connection with the construction
of a building or structure owned by him for his own personal use and occupancy
or for the use and occupancy of members of his immediate family and not constructed
for sale.
A.
Except as otherwise specifically provided by chapter,
this Code or other city ordinance, rule or regulation, or except as otherwise
provided in this chapter, the Inspector of Buildings shall administer and
enforce all of the provisions of laws, this Code or other city ordinances,
rules and regulations applicable to the plans, specifications or permits for
the construction, alteration and repair of buildings and structures and the
installation and use of materials and equipment therein and the location,
use and occupancy thereof.
B.
The Inspector of Buildings shall promulgate rules and
regulations subject to the approval of the Council to secure the intent and
purpose of this chapter and a proper enforcement of the laws, provisions of
this Code and other city ordinances, rules and regulations governing building
plans, specifications, construction, alteration or repairs.
C.
The Inspector of Buildings shall receive applications,
approve plans and specifications and issue permits for the erection and alteration
of buildings or structures or parts thereof and shall examine the premises
for which such applications have been received, plans approved or such permits
have been issued for the purpose of ensuring compliance with laws, ordinances,
rules and regulations governing building construction or alterations.
D.
The Inspector of Buildings shall issue, in writing, all
appropriate notices or orders to remove illegal or unsafe conditions, to require
the necessary safeguards during construction and to ensure compliance during
the entire course of construction with the requirements of such laws, ordinances,
rules and regulations and such notices or orders may be served upon the property
owner or his agent personally or by sending, by certified mail, a copy of
such order to the owner or his agent at the address set forth in the application
for permission for the construction or alteration of such building and by
posting the same upon a conspicuous portion of the premises to which the notice
applies; he shall make all inspections which are necessary or proper for the
carrying out of his duties, except that he may accept written reports of inspection
from other employees of the Department of Buildings or from generally recognized
and authoritative service and inspection bureaus or agencies, provided that
the reports are certified by a responsible official thereof.
E.
Whenever it may be appropriate to determine compliance
with the provisions of applicable laws, provisions of this Code and other
city ordinances, rules and regulations covering building construction or alteration,
the Inspector of Buildings may, in his discretion, accept and rely upon written
reports of tests in the field by experienced, professional persons or by accredited
and authoritative testing laboratories or service and inspection bureaus or
agencies.
F.
The Inspector of Buildings shall issue a certificate
of occupancy where appropriate for a building constructed or altered in accordance
with the provisions of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, which
certificate shall certify that the building conforms to the requirements of
the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.[1]
A.
The Inspector of Buildings shall keep permanent official
records of all transactions and activities conducted by him including all
applications received, plans approved, permits and certificates issued, fees
charged and collected, inspection reports, all rules and regulations promulgated
by him with the consent of the Council and notices and orders issued. All
such records shall be public records open to public inspection during normal
business hours.
B.
The Inspector of Buildings shall annually
submit to the Council a written report and summary of all business conducted
by the Department of Buildings, including approvals, permits and certificates
issued, fees collected, orders and notices promulgated, inspections and tests
made and appeals or litigation pending or concluded.
