There is hereby created by the Town Board of
the Town of Shandaken an office of the town to be known as the "Code
Enforcement Officer." Said Officer shall have the responsibility for
administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter and of
other applicable laws of the town.
There shall be appointed by the Town Board a
Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall appoint
and supervise such assistants or other employees as shall be necessary
for the administration and execution of the responsibilities of said
office.
The Code Enforcement Officer or his assistants
or employees shall not, while acting for the town, render himself
liable personally because of any act or omission as required or permitted
in the discharge of his official duties. Any suit instituted against
such Code Enforcement Officer, assistant or employee because of any
act performed by him in the lawful discharge of his duties shall be
defended by the Town Attorney, and in no case will said Officer, assistant
or employee be liable for costs in any action, suit or proceeding.
An official record shall be kept of all business
and activities of the Code Enforcement Officer, and all such records
shall be open to the public for inspection at all appropriate times,
except that no individual, owner, operator, occupant or other person
shall be subject to unwarranted invasion of privacy and except that
all evidence or information obtained in the course of any inspection
shall be considered privileged information and shall be kept confidential.
Such evidence or information shall not be disclosed except as may
be necessary in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Officer for the
proper and effective administration and enforcement of the provisions
of this chapter and shall not otherwise be made public without the
consent of the owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge
of the premises inspected.