Town of Westerly, RI Chapter 17 Development Services Department

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Westerly 8-1-2016 by Ch. No. 1871. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 17-1 Director of Development Services.

There shall be a Director of Development Services, who shall be appointed by and report directly to the Town Manager. The Director shall be responsible for overseeing the offices of planning, zoning, building and code enforcement. The duties of the Director shall be to:

A. Direct the Town Planner, Zoning Official, Building Official, and Property Maintenance Code Official;

B. Enforce relevant Town codes and ordinances that are within the purview of the Department;

C. Administer grants; and

D. Perform additional duties as directed by the Town Manager.

§ 17-2 Town Planner.

There shall be a Town Planner, who shall be appointed by the Town Manager, and who shall report to the Director of Development Services. Inclusive of the duties outlined in § 260-22 of this Code, the Town Planner shall assist applicants proceeding before the Planning Board to assure that the proceedings are efficient and thorough. The Town Planner shall have the authority to make administrative subdivision review and approval and shall have such other duties as provided by statute and ordinance.

§ 17-3 Zoning Official.

There shall be a Zoning Official, who shall be appointed by the Town Manager, and who shall report to the Director of Development Services. Inclusive of the duties outlined in § 260-21 of this Code, the Zoning Official shall be responsible for zoning determinations, conducting investigations to ascertain compliance with zoning ordinances and to recommend actions to enforce the same to the Director.

§ 17-4 Property Maintenance Code Official.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

There shall be a Property Maintenance Code Official, who shall be appointed by the Town Manager, and who shall report to the Director of Development Services. The Property Maintenance Code Official shall review all concerns raised by individuals and the public relating to the condition and habitability of buildings and structures used for human habitation. He or she shall have the authority to conduct investigations and inspections to ascertain compliance with the State of Rhode Island Property Maintenance Code and such other statutes and ordinances establishing minimum conditions permitting habitability and to recommend actions to enforce the same to the Director. The Property Maintenance Code Official shall have the authority to issue fines and penalties, per § 162-7 of this Code.

§ 17-5 Building Official.

There shall be a Building Official and such other inspectors as may be required, who shall be appointed by the Town Manager, and shall report to the Director of Development Services. The Building Official shall review all concerns raised by Town officials and the public relating to the compliance of buildings and structures and accessory uses, whether residential or otherwise, with the statutes of the State of Rhode Island, codes and ordinances of the Town of Westerly, and, whenever necessary, to recommend actions to enforce the same to the Director. It shall be the duty of the Building Official to:

A. Issue all building and other such permits in accordance with ordinances passed by the Town Council;

B. Maintain a record of all business transacted by him in the course of his or her duties and to turn over to the Director of Finance forthwith all fees collected by said office; and

C. Act as the Fence Viewer for the Town.

D. Have charge of the enforcement of building and such other ordinance relating thereto as may be ordained by the Council and to institute legal proceedings, both civil and criminal on behalf of the Town for violation of building, plumbing, drainage, electrical, and other similar ordinances or until such time as other inspectors are established by ordinance.

[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]