Editor's Note: Former Section 2-16, Department of Inspections, previously codified herein and containing portions of 1971 Code § 2-9 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2003-37.
[Ord. No. 2003-37 § 2]
There shall be a Department of Code Enforcement and Zoning established
within the Township of Lakewood.
Appointment. The head of the Department of Code Enforcement and Zoning
shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Township Committee, subject
to Department of Personnel procedures.
Qualifications. The head of the Department of Code Enforcement and
Zoning shall have seven years supervisory experience in enforcement
of various municipal codes and ordinances including the Uniform Construction
Code. The Department Head shall have experience in supervision, direction,
planning and organizing all inspection and code enforcement activities,
such as plumbing, electrical, building, zoning, public health, pollution
control and code enforcement. The Department Head shall also have
experience as a department head or supervisor of building inspections,
housing inspections, zoning official, fire inspections, and plumbing
inspections. Certain experience may be accepted by the Township in
lieu of the foregoing qualifications which would include 10 years
experience as a builder or general construction official to include
residential or commercial development or 10 years of experience as
a superintendent of construction for a construction company engaged
primarily in general residential or commercial development or a combination
of experience as a builder or supervisor which totals 10 years.
The Department Head of Code Enforcement and Zoning shall have the
responsibility to act as a supervisor of local code enforcement, zoning,
property maintenance, and Uniform Construction Code duties.
The Department Head must coordinate and direct the activities of
the various inspection divisions, inspection offices, and zoning officers
of the Township to include property maintenance and Uniform Construction
Code activities and promote the coordinated efforts of the Inspection
Departments, Zoning Department, and require reports of activities
of those divisions/offices to ensure the thorough and efficient performance
of those departments.
The Department Head shall be directly responsible to the Municipal
Manager and Township Committee for the proper performance of his duties
and those duties of those whom the Department Head shall supervise.
The Department Head shall coordinate the Township Inspection, Zoning,
Health Department, Construction official, subcode officials, and all
other inspection officials to include assignment of workloads in the
Township for the purpose of the thorough and efficient working of
the Department. The Department Head shall receive all reports, necessary
from any or all employees, to ensure efficient and thorough work logs.
The Department Head shall submit to the Municipal Manager a budget
at the appropriate time and make budget recommendations for the efficient
workings of the Department.
The Department Head shall assume the supervisory responsibility for
the Construction Official, Housing Inspector, Fire Inspector, Code
Enforcement or Zoning Officials when necessary.
The Department Head shall direct, plan, organize and supervise all
inspection activities for the Township including but not limited to
plumbing, electrical, building, zoning, public health, code enforcement
and property maintenance.
The Department Head must have the ability to conduct investigations,
inspections and prepare reports regarding the same as well as supervise
those matters which must proceed to court or enforcement jurisdictions.
Responsibilities. The head of the Division of Construction Code Enforcement
shall have the responsibilities as outlined by the Uniform Construction
Code and shall be in charge of all inspections and licensing pursuant
to the aforesaid code. The Construction Official shall be responsible
for field inspections and special investigations to ensure compliance
with the various codes and subcodes. The division head shall attend
meetings of municipal agencies as requested and shall appear and testify
in municipal court or other appropriate boards and agencies to ensure
compliance with all Uniform Construction Code regulations.
The Division of Construction Code Enforcement shall be responsible
for responding to calls for Uniform Construction Code inspections
and the issuance of Certificates of Occupancies and Approvals.
The Construction Code Enforcement Division Head shall perform the
duties and responsibilities pursuant to New Jersey statutes to ensure
the thorough and efficient operation of the division.
Qualifications. The Director of the Division of Local Code Enforcement
and Zoning shall have three years experience supervising and working
with property maintenance code enforcement and zoning enforcement.
The Director shall have experience in supervising Board of Adjustment
Administration, inspections for commercial occupancy inspection, liquor
license inspections, Health Department and sanitary inspections, as
well as resale and other certificate of occupancy inspections pursuant
to Lakewood Township ordinances. The Director shall have three years
experience in the full time inspection and enforcement of zoning and/or
building construction/property maintenance. A license in a building
subcode is preferred.
Responsibilities and Duties. The Director of the Division of Local
Code Enforcement and Zoning shall have the responsibility to supervise
field inspections of Property Maintenance Code violations and zoning
violations. The Director shall be responsible for coordinating the
activities of various field inspection and supervising investigations
of violations, including filing court complaints and making court
appearances in various jurisdictions. The Director shall be responsible
for examining the working plans of proposed buildings for compliance
with State, County and local regulations to ensure compliance with
the same.
Established. There is hereby created the dual office of Code Enforcement
Officer/Parking Enforcement Officer. Current and future Code Enforcement
Officers shall also be Parking Enforcement Officers.
As Parking Enforcement Officer, the Code Enforcement Officer/Parking
Enforcement Officer shall enforce State, County, or municipal statutes
and resolutions, ordinances or regulations related to the parking
of vehicles within the Township of Lakewood and shall possess the
power and authority to:
Issue a parking ticket pursuant to State or local ordinances
for a parking offense, as those two terms are defined in the Parking
Offenses Adjudication Act P.L. 1985, c. 14 (N.J.S.A. 39:4-193.2 et
seq.).
Cause any vehicle parked, stored, or abandoned in the Township
in violation of a statute, resolution, ordinance or regulation to
be towed away from the scene of the violation and to collect from
the vehicle's owner or the owner's agent, on behalf of the Township,
the costs of the towing and subsequent storage of the vehicle before
surrendering the vehicle to the owner or agent.
As Code Enforcement Officer, the Code Enforcement Officer/Parking
Enforcement Officer shall possess the power and authority to enforce
all other ordinances of the Township of Lakewood. He or she shall,
in his or her discretion, issue warnings for ordinance violations
reported to him or her. He or she shall cause a complaint to be sworn
out in accordance with law for violations of Township ordinances that
occur in his or her presence or which he or she personally observes.
Uniform and Insignia. Prior to the commencement of duties, the Code
Enforcement Officer/Parking Enforcement Officer shall be furnished
with insignia that shall clearly identify the Officer's function.
The insignia shall include an appropriate badge together with a nametag
and identify the officer's status as a Code Enforcement Officer/Parking
Enforcement Officer.
Exclusion from Police Department and Retirement System; Use of Firearms.
No person appointed Code Enforcement Officer/Parking Enforcement Officer
shall concurrently hold the position of police officer nor shall such
person be a special law enforcement officer. He or she shall not carry
or use a firearm while on duty. He or she is not eligible for membership
in the Police and Fireman's Retirement System established pursuant
to P.L. 1944, c. 255.