Town of South Hadley, MA Chapter 418 Inspectional Services

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Building Department of the Town of South Hadley 3-13-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 418-1 Building Department organization.

The Building Department has three divisions: plumbing (including gas), wiring (including electrical) and building. The department is directed and managed by the Building Commissioner.

§ 418-2 Weekly project meetings.

All inspectors are required to attend weekly project meetings as called by the Building Commissioner or Town Administrator.

§ 418-3 Filing of completed applications with clerk.

All completed applications submitted to an inspector regarding a building project in the Town will be submitted directly to Building Department clerk by the respective inspector within five working days following submission. An exception to this timing requirement must be noted, in writing, and must be for good cause (which may include an instance where the inspector was absent from work).

§ 418-4 Log-in numbers for applications.

All applications will be assigned a log-in number with a designation code for the appropriate division and/or action.

§ 418-5 Application fees.

All application fees will be processed (recorded and submitted) during the week in which the fee was received, with the log-in number printed in the memo line or otherwise clearly displayed on the check. All fees submitted will be secured immediately in a lock box or locked file. Because the log-in information must be recorded on the check, no cash may be accepted.

§ 418-6 Applications requiring multiple permits.

No permit will be considered or issued if an additional permit from another division may be required. The Building Commissioner has systemic authority on whether a permit is required for all divisions.

§ 418-7 Outside work by inspectors prohibited.

Unless permitted by law, no inspector shall accept outside work within the Town of South Hadley. This legal provision covers and includes any firm or corporation in which an individual may have a financial interest.

§ 418-8 Projects where permission is in question.

All projects known to any inspector where the existence of a permit or application for a permit is not obvious, is unclear, or is in question must be brought up at the Building Department weekly meetings to enable the Town to provide consistent enforcement of regulations and procedures.

§ 418-9 Inspector logs.

A. All inspectors must keep a log of all work performed, including their schedule. The log is intended for the purpose of establishing consistent enforcement by the Town should any applicant or individual ever challenge or question the manner in which the Building Department is performing its required services. The inspector logs must indicate the location where work was performed, the nature of the work performed, and the hours associated with the work performed.

B. Logs of work performed must be made contemporaneously and submitted to the Building Commissioner each week.

§ 418-10 Record of hours worked.

A. All Town employees are also required to record their hours worked for purposes of wage and hour law compliance.

B. The time sheets or submittals must be signed off by the Building Commissioner or his/her designee. Administration also has authority to sign off on time.

§ 418-11 Additional rules and regulations.

All other procedures, policies, ordinances, laws, local rules, or regulations relevant to the Building Department and the role of the inspector must be followed.