City of Beverly, MA Article X Municipal Inspections Department

§ 7-26 Establishment.

There shall be a Department of Municipal Inspections (as provided in Section 5-8 of the Charter) which shall be responsible for the coordination and management of the inspection-related activities of the City and for the supervision and coordination of all activities of all City agencies in relation to any inspection service.

§ 7-27 Scope of activities.

The Department of Municipal Inspections shall be responsible for and shall include the following functions:

A. Coordination of all inspection functions carried out by any municipal agency or by any officer or employee of the City.

B. Maintenance in a central place of all records relating to inspections, having a common index.

C. Coordination of enforcement actions for violations of any provision of state statute, Code of Massachusetts Regulations provision, City ordinance or a rule or regulation of the City pertaining to buildings or structures, municipal inspections or any other inspection which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Municipal Inspections.

D. Put in place a system designed to lead to the development of a single application process which would indicate all inspections which might be necessary for a particular project and provide for a consolidated, coordinated review and processing of each such application.

E. The rendering of advice, assistance and guidance to all other City offices and agencies in any matter relating to City inspection services and City buildings and structures.

F. The rendering of advice, assistance and guidance to all members of the public relating to City inspection services, and the development of "user friendly" systems for the convenience of the public.

§ 7-28 Coordination of inspections. [1]

It is the intention of this article that all inspections performed by or under the authority of the Director of Municipal Inspections, Conservation Commission, Fire Chief, Board of Health, Historic Districts Commission, Gas/Plumbing Inspector, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Zoning Enforcement Officer and every other local inspection as may otherwise be authorized is to be coordinated through the Municipal Inspections Department. All personnel performing such inspection services shall continue to serve as employees and members of the department or agency to which they have traditionally been assigned, but all such personnel performing inspection services shall, when in the performance of those functions, be subject to the administrative direction and control of the Director of Municipal Inspections.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

§ 7-29 Operating offices.

The Department of Municipal Inspections shall consist of the following offices:

A. Building Code Office. The Building Code Office shall be headed by a Director of Municipal Inspections appointed by the Mayor, subject to the review of the Council as provided in Section 2-10 of the Charter, for a term not to exceed three years. The Building Code Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Building Code of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the City of Beverly.

B. Gas/Plumbing Office. The Gas/Plumbing Office shall be headed by a Gas/Plumbing Inspector who shall be appointed by the Director of Municipal Inspections, subject to the approval of the Mayor. The Gas/Plumbing Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations applicable to plumbing and gas fitting and gas appliances.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

C. Electrical Office. The Electrical Office shall be headed by an Inspector of Wires appointed by the Director of Municipal Inspections, subject to the approval of the Mayor. The Electrical Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations applicable to electrical wires and electrical fixtures.

[Amended 9-6-2012 by Ord. No. 131[2]]

[2] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

D. Sanitary Office. The Sanitary Office shall be headed by a Director of Public Health, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the review of the Council as provided in Section 2-10 of the Charter, for a term not to exceed three years. The Sanitary Office shall be responsible for enforcement of all provisions of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations promulgated by the Department of Public Health of the Commonwealth (the so-called "State Sanitary Code") and all rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Health of the City of Beverly.

E. Weights and Measures Office. The Weights and Measures Office shall be headed by a Sealer of Weights and Measures, appointed by the Director of Municipal Inspections, subject to the consent of the Mayor. The Weights and Measures Office shall be responsible for the inspection and sealing of all scales and measuring devices used in the City of Beverly.

F. Zoning Enforcement Office. The Zoning Enforcement Office shall be headed by a Zoning Enforcement Officer, who shall be the Director of Municipal Inspections. The Zoning Enforcement Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 300, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Beverly as provided in MGL c. 40A, § 7.

G. Historic Districts Commission. The Historic Districts Commission shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 168, Article I, Historic Districts, of the Code of the City of Beverly as provided in MGL c. 40, § 8D.[3]

[3] Editor's Note: See also Ch. 15, § 15-37, Historic Districts Commission.

H. Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 287, Wetlands Protection, of the Code of the City of Beverly and the enforcement of orders issued by the Conservation Commission as provided in MGL c. 131, §§ 40 and 40A, and in 310 CMR.[4]

[4] Editor's Note: See also Ch. 15, § 15-23, Conservation Commission.

I. Fire Safety Office. The Fire Safety Office shall be headed by the Fire Chief or by a fire safety officer appointed by the Fire Chief, subject to the approval of the Mayor. The Fire Safety Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 148 of the General Laws and 527 CMR in the City of Beverly.[5]

[5] Editor's Note: Original Section 6.17 of the Code of Ordinances, Parking Clerk Office, which immediately followed this section, is now included in Art. IX, § 7-23F, of this chapter.