[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Muhlenberg 4-21-2003 by Ord. No. 381; amended in its entirety 6-14-2004 by Ord. No. 393[1] (Ch. 103 of the 1982 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. I, Adoption of Standards; Modifications; portions of Art. II, Administration and Enforcement; Art. III, Permits; Art. IV, Modifications to Standards; and Art. V, Enforcement and Penalties, were repealed by Ord. No. 393. The remaining portions of former Art. II are retained in this chapter at the direction of the Township.
A. 
Plumbers' Examining Board.
(1) 
Board personnel. A Plumbers' Examining Board, properly qualified and existing in a Berks County municipality, shall be designated by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Muhlenberg to act as the official examining board for the Township of Muhlenberg.
(2) 
Examination and certification. The examining board as designated by the Board of Commissioners shall establish standards and procedures for the qualifications, examination and licensing of master plumbers and journeyman plumbers. Upon notification from the examining board that such person who meets the qualifications has successfully passed the examination given by the examining board, the Township of Muhlenberg may issue an approved license to such person applying for such license. The designated examining board shall keep official records of all its transactions. Applicants should present themselves to the designated examining board for the purpose of qualifications and examinations.
B. 
Master plumber. No person desiring to engage in the business of plumbing shall engage in such business as a master plumber in the Township of Muhlenberg unless:
(1) 
He/she shall hold a valid master plumber license after having successfully passed an examination from the designated board of examiners; and
(2) 
He/she shall submit to the Township of Muhlenberg a certificate of insurance establishing that the master plumber is currently insured by a reputable insurance company acceptable to the Township of Muhlenberg, covering said master plumber for property damages in the amount of not less than $50,000 for any one claim and not less than $100,000 for multiple claims arising from the same undertaking, as well as public liability insurance in the amount of not less than $100,000 from any one claim and not less than $300,000 for more than one claim arising from the same undertaking. The Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities' requirements go into effect on August 31, 1993. Act 44 requires the submission to the municipality of proof of workers' compensation insurance or an affidavit that insurance as not required before issuing a permit. Said certificate shall be for continuous coverage unless canceled by said insurance company, at which time the Township of Muhlenberg shall be notified in writing by said insurance company.
C. 
Journeyman plumber. A person desiring to engage as a journeyman plumber in the Township of Muhlenberg must hold a valid journeyman plumber license after successfully passing an examination from the designated board of examiners.
D. 
Apprentice plumber.
(1) 
An apprentice plumber shall be employed by a registered master plumber and shall be registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Apprenticeship Training, United States Department of Labor.
(2) 
An apprentice plumber shall not be permitted to install plumbing or house drainage work unless under the supervision of a registered plumber.
E. 
Heating/HVAC contractor. No person desiring to engage in the business of heating/HVAC contractor shall engage in such business in the Township of Muhlenberg unless:
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 567]
(1) 
He/she shall have served at least two years as a registered heating/HVAC contractor.
(2) 
He/she shall hold a valid heating/HVAC contractor license after successfully passing the examination therefor with the designated examining board.
(3) 
He/she shall deposit with the Township of Muhlenberg a certificate of insurance establishing that such heating/HVAC contractor is currently covered by a reputable insurance company acceptable to the Township of Muhlenberg, insuring such heating/HVAC contractor for property damages in an amount not less than $100,000 for any one claim and not less than $300,000 for multiple claims arising out of the same undertaking, as well as general public liability insurance in the amount of not less than $250,000 for any one claim and not less than $500,000 for multiple claims arising from the same undertaking. In addition, each heating/HVAC contractor shall submit to the Township of Muhlenberg that it has workers' compensation coverage, as required by Pennsylvania law. Each certificate of insurance shall provide for 30 days' prior notice of cancellation to the Township of Muhlenberg.
F. 
Heating/HVAC installer. No person desiring to engage in the business of a heating/HVAC installer shall engage in business in the Township of Muhlenberg unless:
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 567]
(1) 
He/she shall be in the employ of a heating/HVAC contractor.
(2) 
He/she shall hold a valid heating/HVAC installer license after successfully passing the examination therefor with the designated examining board.
Any person desiring to be licensed as a master plumber, journeyman plumber, apprentice plumber, appliance contractor or appliance installer shall make written application to the Township of Muhlenberg. Fees for license applications shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Commissioners. Payment of such fee should accompany each application. The license application fee shall include the first yearly license fee.
The Township of Muhlenberg may issue a temporary operating permit pending examination, provided the applicant holds a current license from an equivalent board. Such temporary operating permit shall not be valid for more than 30 days and may be revoked at any time by the Township of Muhlenberg.
All licenses issued by the Township of Muhlenberg shall be issued annually and shall expire December 31 at the end of the year following the year in which such licenses were issued, but the same may be renewed upon satisfactory showing of an intention to continue the business of plumbing and payment of the prescribed fee to the Township of Muhlenberg within five days of the expiration date of the issued license.
All licenses issued by the said Township of Muhlenberg shall expire on December 31 of the year following the year in which such licenses were issued but may be renewed upon payment of the annual fee. Expired licenses may be renewed at any time upon payment of a penalty of a sum equal to the annual license fee.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Muhlenberg, acting as the governing body of the Township of Muhlenberg, may revoke any license if obtained through nondisclosure, misstatement or misrepresentation of fact, or for noncompliance with any of the provisions of this chapter. Notice of such revocation shall be given by mailing the same to the licensee at the address shown on his license. The notice of revocation shall include a statement of the reasons for the action taken. The licensee shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board of Commissioners if he requests same in writing within 10 days after the date of said notice of revocation. Said hearing shall be held within 20 days after the date of receipt of the request for hearing. After the hearing, the Board of Commissioners shall render its decision either reinstating the license or sustaining the revocation. A person whose license has been revoked and not reinstated shall not be permitted to apply for another license for a period of one year from the date of revocation.
No person who has obtained a license shall allow his name to be used by another person either for the purpose of obtaining permits or for doing business or work under the license. Every person licensed shall notify the Board of Commissioners of the address of his place of business, if any, and the name under which such business is carried on and shall give immediate notice to the Board of Commissioners of any change in either.