[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Solvay 11-25-1969; amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1,
General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
The chief inspector and each of the duly appointed inspectors
of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters or such other agency as
authorized by the Board of Trustees are hereby authorized and deputized
as agents of the Village of Solvay to make inspections and reinspections
of all electrical installations heretofore and hereafter described
and to approve or disapprove the same. In no event, however, will
the cost or expense of such inspections and reinspections be a charge
against the Village of Solvay.
[Amended 5-28-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024]
A.
Coverage. This chapter shall apply to all electric wiring, apparatus,
fittings, appliances and equipment, the installation and maintenance
thereof and the distribution and utilization of electrical energy
to consumers by the Village of Solvay Electric Department, excepted,
however, from its provisions are the placing, connecting and renewal
of approved fuses, of incandescent lamps and portable appliances,
together with their cables and attachments, unless otherwise specified
herein.
B.
APPROVED
BUILDING
COMMISSIONER
DEPARTMENT
DESIGNEE
MASTER ELECTRICIAN
OWNER
Definitions. In this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
If not otherwise qualified, means approved by the Commissioner
or other authorized representative of the Village of Solvay Electric
Department.
Includes any structure, fenced area or open space within
which, upon which or to the outside of which an electrical installation
is made.
The authorized Commissioner of Village of Solvay Electric
Department or his duly designated deputy.
If not otherwise qualified, means the Village of Solvay Electric
Department.
If not otherwise specified shall mean an individual designated
by the Commissioner, including, without limitation, a Village of Solvay
Code Officer so designated by the Commissioner, to inspect any building
and to enforce the provisions of this Code section.
A person who holds a master electrician's license issued by the Village as provided in § 72-2F of this chapter.
Includes the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of any building,
as herein defined, and any consumer of current or customer supplied
with current by the Solvay Electric Department.
C.
Conformity with certain regulations. All electrical wiring, apparatus,
fittings, appliances and equipment shall conform in all respects to
the regulations for controlling electrical installations for service
adopted by the Department, together with the applicable rules and
regulations of the National Electrical Code current at the time of
installation.
D.
Powers of Commissioner; duties of owners.
(1)
Enumerated. Authority is hereby vested in the Commissioner to enforce
the provisions of this chapter, and in the performance of the duties
thus authorized, the following powers, in addition to those provided
elsewhere herein, are conferred:
(a)
To inspect and reinspect, either individually or through a Designee,
any building at any reasonable hour to determine whether there has
been full compliance with this chapter and the regulations of the
Department and to designate such additional agents to make such inspections
and to enforce the provisions of this chapter and an rules or regulations
of the Department. Such inspection authority shall include, but shall
not be limited to, the right to require a passing inspection of any
building that has had an interruption or cessation of electrical service
for any reason and shall include such inspections as may be requested
from time to time by the Mayor of the Village or in accordance with
a duly adopted policy of the Electric Commission.
(b)
To make such rules and regulations on behalf of the Department
as the Commissioner shall deem necessary, subject to review and approval
of the Electric Commission, to effectuate the purposes of this chapter,
to provide for public welfare and safety and further the efficiency
of the Department, and such rules shall be enforceable as a provision
of this chapter.
(c)
To issue orders directing owners and others, who may be responsible,
to remedy any violation of this chapter and to correct any defects
of maintenance or installation and to issue orders suspending or terminating
electric service for a failure to comply with this chapter and any
rules or regulations of the Department.
(2)
Duty of owner; service of order. Failure by an owner or other responsible
person to permit access to a building, as herein provided, or to obey
an order served upon him in writing and signed by the Commissioner
shall constitute a violation of this chapter. Compliance shall be
within the time specified in an order or, if no time is specified,
within a reasonable time. Service shall be deemed effective either
if made personally upon the person designated therein, if affixed
to the main entry to the building, or if sent by mail to his last
known owner address as filed in the records of the Department.
E.
Rules pertaining to service. Applicants for electrical service shall
be bound to an observance of the following rules:
(1)
Certificate of approval. Each applicant must submit, with his application
to the Commissioner, a certificate of approval by the New York Board
of Fire Underwriters, or other qualified inspection agency approved
by the Village of Solvay, of the proposed installation.
(2)
Plans; specifications. For a primary installation, an applicant must
submit plans of the building to be serviced with specifications of
its electrical requirements. Such specifications are subject to approval,
modification or rejection by the Commissioner in conformity with the
standards approved by the Department. Acceptable standard specifications
will be provided by the Department upon request.
(3)
Commissioner's approval. No primary service connection will
be made until said Commissioner's approval has been given to
the wiring.
(4)
Special apparatus. No special machinery or apparatus, such as elevators,
conveyor motors, motion-picture projectors, x-ray apparatus and the
like, requiring special electrical installation shall be installed
until application therefor has been filed with the Department and
approval has been granted by the Commissioner.
(5)
Temporary emergency service. For temporary emergency service, the
Department must be notified of the details involved so that proper
arrangements for service may be provided and a proper assessment of
the costs to the owner may be determined.
(6)
Service at 2,400 volts. Where service at 2,400 volts is required,
the Commissioner must be consulted before any equipment is bought
or work undertaken.
(7)
Alterations. Application for an approval of the electrical plans
should be made whenever a building is to be substantially altered
or an existing electrical installation is to be substantially changed.
(8)
Liability of Village. All service is furnished with the express understanding
that no liability shall be incurred by the Village because of any
interruption or cessation thereof.
F.
Performance of electrical work.
(1)
Except as herein provided, no one shall install, alter or repair
electrical wiring, apparatus, fittings, appliances or equipment, as
provided in this chapter, for others, other than:
(a)
A master electrician.
(b)
A person hired by or working under the general supervision of
a master electrician.
(c)
A person who is not a master electrician but either is the employer
of a master electrician or is associated with a partnership in which
one of the partners is a master electrician or with a corporation
in which one of whose officers is a master electrician. Such a person
may do electrical work, as herein comprehended, but only upon compliance
with the following conditions:
[1]
The licensed electrician shall submit his master electrician's
license to the Village Clerk for endorsement thereon of the fact that
the master electrician authorizes his employer or some designated
person associated with him in a partnership or corporation to do such
electrical work.
[2]
The master electrician will be held fully liable for the work
performed by his designee as though he himself had done the work.
[3]
The master electrician shall agree to work for no other person
during the efficacy of the endorsement.
[4]
Immediately upon the termination of the employment relationship
or severance from the partnership or from the corporation, the master
electrician's designation of another person shall be void and
of no effect. The master electrician shall immediately present his
license to the Village Clerk for endorsement thereon of the cancellation
of the authority vested in another to do electrical work.
[5]
Cancellation of the authority, as granted herein, shall, for
a period of three months, annul the right of the master electrician
to designate still another person. This period may be shortened by
the Electric Commission upon showing of good cause therefor.
[6]
A fee of $20 shall be paid for each endorsement or cancellation
thereof as provided herein.
(2)
Exceptions. The provisions of this section do not apply:
(a)
To the installation, repair or maintenance of electrical lines,
equipment or apparatus in, upon or connected with any school building
when such work is performed under the direction of the Board of Education
and by a qualified electrician regularly on the payroll of the Board.
(b)
To the installation, repair or maintenance of electronic lines,
equipment or apparatus by an electric utility or telephone or telegraph
company on its own property whenever such operation is under the jurisdiction
of the Public Service Commission.
(c)
To work performed by or under the direction of the Village of
Solvay.
G.
Emergency disconnection; restoration of service. In case of fire
or other catastrophe or emergency, the Electric Department, the Code
Officer, a police officer or fireman shall have the right to disconnect
service, and when this has been done, it shall remain disconnected
until ordered restored, in whole or in part, by the Commissioner,
who may require, as a condition precedent to certification by the
New York Board of Fire Underwriters or other qualified inspection
agency approved by the Village of Solvay, that any repairs made to
damaged property meet the required standard of safety and that any
building from which service has been disconnected undergo an inspection
as provided for in this chapter to determine whether or not the building
meets the requirements of the chapter and the rules and regulations
of the Department.
H.
Prohibited conduct. The following practices and uses are hereby prohibited,
but these specific provisions do not exempt offenders from liability
for violating other prohibitions either in this or any other applicable
law or ordinance:
(1)
Misuse of poles. No one shall attach any article, radio antenna,
apparatus, sign or other thing to a pole erected, issued or maintained
by the Electrical Department or in any way climb upon it or damage
it or interfere either with it or with the devices, wires, apparatus
and equipment it may bear.
(2)
Antenna installation. No one shall erect an aerial or antenna for
sending or receiving radio or television broadcasts or for any other
electronic purposes, either above a Village power line or under it,
or in any other place where its location will create interference
or cause damage or danger.
(3)
Tampering with apparatus. Any tampering with service connections
or with apparatus or equipment of the Department, unless by persons
authorized therefor, shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(4)
Interference. Any use of electrical equipment which causes dangerous
or objectionable interference with the safety or rights of others
is prohibited and shall, upon order of the Commissioner, be corrected
by methods to be designated in the order.
(5)
Household apparatus. No person shall connect any apparatus or appliance
unless said equipment complies with the requirements of the National
Electric Code, latest edition.
I.
Effect of violation. For violation of any provision of this chapter,
in addition to the penalties generally applicable, the Commissioner
is authorized to disconnect an owner's service and to withhold
restoration thereof until the violation has been removed.
J.
Required insurance.
(1)
No licensed electrician shall perform any work hereunder unless there
shall be on file with the Village Clerk a certificate of insurance
issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State
of New York, and affording coverage as minimally set forth below.
Such certificate of insurance shall contain a provision that coverage
will not be reduced, canceled or nonrenewed unless the Village of
Solvay Village Clerk is given at least 10 days' written notice
thereof.
(2)
The licensed electrician also agrees to hold the Village of Solvay
harmless against any and all liability, including defense costs, resulting
from personal injury and/or property damage caused by the licensee,
his agents or his employees in the performance of such work.
(3)
A certificate of insurance evidencing such coverage in the limits
and manner above specified shall be furnished the Village and shall
indicate the Village of Solvay as an additional insured.
K.
Compliance with other ordinances and laws. Each applicant hereunder
must comply with all provisions under any other ordinance regulating
the work to be done and shall furnish evidence of compliance with
the applicable provisions of the Labor Law and of the Workers'
Compensation Law.
L.
Powers and duties of inspectors designated by Commissioner and Code
Enforcement Officer.
(1)
It shall be the duty of the inspector to report, in writing, to the
Commissioner and, if applicable, the Code Enforcement Officer regarding
the results of any inspection.
(2)
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the duty to enforce all provisions
of this chapter and all violations or deviations from or omissions
of the electrical provisions of the State Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code and of all local laws, ordinances and the Building
Code as referred to in this chapter insofar as any of the same apply
to electrical wiring.
(3)
The inspector shall make inspections and reinspections of electrical
installations in and on properties in the Village of Solvay upon the
written request of an authorized official of the Village of Solvay
or as herein provided.
(4)
The inspector is authorized to make inspections and reinspections
of electrical wiring, installations, devices, appliances and equipment
in or on properties within the Village of Solvay where he deems it
necessary for the protection of life and property.
(5)
In the event of an emergency, it is the duty of the inspector to
make electrical inspections upon the oral request of an official or
officer of the Village of Solvay.
(6)
It shall be the duty of the inspector to furnish written reports
to the proper officials of the Village of Solvay and to owners and/or
lessees of property where defective electrical installations and equipment
are found upon inspection.
(7)
The inspector shall authorize the issuing of a certificate of compliance
when electrical installations and equipment are in conformity with
this chapter and shall file same with the Department and the Code
Enforcement Office.
A.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm or corporation
to install or cause to be installed or to alter electrical wiring
for light, heat or power in or on properties of the Village of Solvay
until an application for inspection has been filed with the New York
Board of Fire Underwriters or such other agency as authorized by the
Board of Trustees.
B.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for a person, firm or corporation
to connect or cause to be connected electrical wiring in or on properties
for light, heat or power to any source of electrical energy supply
prior to the issuance of a temporary certificate or a certificate
of compliance by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters or such other
agency as authorized by the Board of Trustees.
An offense against the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than
15 days, or both.
