A.
No person,
firm or corporation shall engage in the trade of plumbing within the
Town of Grand Island prior to being licensed in a manner provided
by this chapter. A licensed master or licensed journeyman plumber
shall be present at all times when plumbing work is being performed
on any premises within the Town of Grand Island and during all inspections
and testing in connection with such plumbing work.
B.
It shall
be unlawful for any contractor or subcontractor to employ or engage
an unlicensed plumber to perform any plumbing work in the Town of
Grand Island.
The following situations shall not require a
licensed plumber to perform the work; provided, however, that only
a licensed plumber may make a connection with any public system:
A.
A homeowner doing plumbing in a single-family residence
that shall be occupied by him, provided that he has obtained a building
permit, submits to ordinary rough and final inspections, paid regular
fees and obtained a Homeowner's Plumbing Certificate. A Homeowner's
Plumbing Certificate shall be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer
upon passing the Town's Homeowner's Plumbing examination.
B.
The installation of a fire-protection system, from
the supply side of the point of backflow protection or fire pump into
and/or throughout a structure. The portion of the fire protection
system leading up to the initial backflow-prevention devices must
be done by a licensed plumber. All work performed by fire-protection
contractors shall be in compliance with all applicable laws, codes
and regulations and, in particular, with current National Fire Protection
Association and insurance industry standards. A contractor must have
five years' experience in the field of fire-protection system installations
to be deemed qualified to perform such work in the Town of Grand Island.
C.
The installation of lawn sprinkler systems that do
not utilize the Town's water system as a source of water.
D.
The installation of private sewage disposal systems
which are regulated by the Erie County Health Department.
E.
A homeowner
installing a storm drainage system on the homeowner's private residence.
A licensed master plumber may engage in the
trade of plumbing in the Town of Grand Island. A master plumber's
license shall be issued by the Town Clerk to any applicant upon:
A.
Issuance
of a certification of qualification by the Plumbing Board of Examiners;
B.
Passing
the examination held by the Plumbing Examining Board for such license
or presentation of a current plumbing license issued by a governmental
entity recognized by the Town Board as having professional standards
equal to or exceeding the standards of the Town of Grand Island;
C.
Receipt
of the license fee as listed on the current fee schedule, as adopted
by the Town Board; and
D.
Filing
certificates of insurance as set forth in this chapter.
The Plumbing Board of Examiners shall issue
a certificate of qualification to any applicant for a master plumber's
license upon confirmation that such applicant has a minimum of six
years of satisfactory plumbing experience. The Board of Plumbing Examiners
may accept, at its discretion, an equivalent combination of training,
education and experience in lieu of such requirement. Proof of satisfactory
plumbing experience or satisfactory equivalent training, education
and experience shall be submitted to the Board of Plumbing Examiners
for consideration. Issuance of a certificate of qualification will
be at the discretion of the Board of Plumbing Examiners after having
thoroughly reviewed the applicant's qualifications, experience and
character. The Board shall refuse to issue a certificate of qualification
to any applicant who:
A licensed journeyman plumber, employed by a
licensed master plumber, shall be permitted to act as said master
plumber representative and may engage in the trade of plumbing in
the Town of Grand Island while in the employ of said master plumber.
A journeyman plumber's license shall be issued by the Town Clerk to
any applicant upon:
A.
Issuance
of a certification of qualification by the Plumbing Board of Examiners;
B.
Passing
the examination held by the Board of Plumbing Examiners for such license
or presentation of a current plumbing license issued by a governmental
entity recognized by the Town Board as having professional standards
equal to or exceeding the standards of the Town of Grand Island; and
C.
Receipt
of the license fee, as listed on the current fee schedule, as adopted
by the Town Board.
The Plumbing Board of Examiners shall issue
a certificate of qualification to any applicant a journeyman plumber's
license upon confirmation that such applicant shall has a minimum
of four years of satisfactory plumbing experience in the trade or
business of plumbing. The Board of Plumbing Examiners may accept,
at its discretion, an equivalent combination of training, education
and experience in lieu of the requirements of four years of satisfactory
plumbing experience. Proof of age and practical experience or satisfactory
equivalent training, education and experience shall be submitted to
the Board of Plumbing Examiners for consideration. Issuance of a certificate
of qualification will be at the discretion of the Board of Plumbing
Examiners after having thoroughly reviewed the applicant's qualifications,
experience and character. The Board shall refuse to issuance of a
certificate of qualification to any applicant who:
A.
The Board
of Plumbing Examiners shall hold examinations during the first week
of November. The Board of Plumbing Examiners shall publish in the
official Town newspaper notice of the date and place where the regular
examination shall be held. Said notice shall be published at least
60 days before the examination date. Before an applicant shall be
admitted to an exam, an application must be filed with the Building
Inspector at least 21 days prior to the examination date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board of Plumbing Examiners may, in its discretion,
schedule a special examination. Notice of such a special examination
shall be published in the official Town newspaper, and an applicant
shall file an application with the Building Inspector, at least 14
days before the examination date.
B.
All applications
shall be made upon oath and shall be forwarded to the Board of Plumbing
Examiners for review. Applicants who are deemed qualified to take
an exam shall pay an examination fee to the Town Clerk as set forth
in the fee schedule adopted by the Town Board and then in effect.
A grade of 75% or higher shall be required to pass an exam. An individual
may sit for only one exam in any six-month period.
C.
An applicant
holding a current valid plumbing license issued by a governmental
entity which has been recognized by the Town Board as having professional
standards equal to or exceeding the standards of the Town of Grand
Island shall be exempt from any examination required under this chapter.
The Town Board may by resolution designate the plumbing licensure
issued by another governmental entity as equal to or exceeding the
standards of the Town of Grand Island. The Town Clerk shall maintain
a list of all plumbing licensure recognized by the Town Board as equal
to or exceeding the standards of the Town of Grand Island.
Prior to the issuance or renewal of a master plumber's license, certificates of insurance naming the Town of Grand Island as an additional insured shall be filed with the Building Department, naming the Town of Grand Island as an additional insured in the following amounts: $1,000,000 in an amount specified for each occurrence for bodily injury liability, and $250,000 each occurrence for property damage liability, as well as proof of workers' compensation coverage or proof of exemption. It is the responsibility of the master plumber to keep current certificates of insurance on file with the Town of Grand Island. Any master plumber who fails to submit current insurance certificates within 14 days of notification of said lapsed coverage shall be deemed as inactive. In order to reactivate a license, current insurance certificates must be submitted as well as a submission of the license fee, as described in § 246-17 of this chapter. It shall be deemed a violation of this chapter for any person, firm or corporation to do plumbing work in the Town of Grand Island without the required insurance in effect.
A.
No license holder shall allow his name or license
to be used by any other person or party either for the purpose of
obtaining permits or the performance of plumbing-related activities.
B.
Licenses shall not be transferable.
C.
The Board of Plumbing Examiners may revoke any license
issued pursuant to this chapter or suspend it for such term as it
may deem proper if it finds that the holder thereof or an employee
of said holder has violated any provision of this chapter or has made
a false statement in connection with a material fact in an application
for any license required under this chapter. The Board of Plumbing
Examiners may further revoke any such license for cause. The Board
of Plumbing Examiners may take the foregoing action at any regular
meeting thereof or at a special meeting called for that purpose. The
holder of the license shall be given notice, in writing, setting forth
the charge and the date, time and place of the hearing at which the
licensee shall have an opportunity to appear and be heard in relation
to such revocation or suspension. The notice shall either be served
personally upon the holder not less than five days prior to the meeting
or hearing in which the charge is to be heard or shall be mailed by
either registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the holder of the license at the last known address thereof at least
10 days prior thereto. Refusal to accept or inability to deliver the
mailed notice shall not prevent the Board of Plumbing Examiners from
proceeding to hear and determine the charge. The holder of the license
shall in all cases be entitled to counsel if they desire. Upon evaluating
the information presented, the Board of Plumbing Examiners shall determine
if any action is required. A majority vote of the Board of Plumbing
Examiners shall be required to either revoke or suspend a license.
Action taken by the Board of Plumbing Examiners either to revoke or
suspend a license shall be in addition to any other penalty authorized
by this chapter or other provisions of law.
A renewal license shall be issued by the Town
Clerk each year to any person, firm or corporation holding a license
at the expiration of the previous year without examination upon payment
of the license fee as listed on the fee schedule then in effect. The
renewal of a master plumber's license shall require proof of insurance
coverage as set forth herein. Any license that is not renewed by January
31 shall be deemed to be inactive. The license fee shall be doubled
when an inactive license is renewed. Additionally, if a license has
been inactive for more than one calendar year, all past license fees
are due prior to renewal of said license.
A.
All plumbing licenses issued by the Town of Grand
Island prior to December 19, 1994 shall be considered to be master
plumbers upon adoption of this chapter.
B.
Master plumbers shall be required to be on site for
all inspections and testing and, after June 1, 1995, shall be required
to be on site when all plumbing work is being done, unless a licensed
journeyman is present as described elsewhere in this chapter.