[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 403-2020]
There is hereby created, in the City of Cape May, the position of "Historic Preservation Compliance Officer."
Within the Historic District or at historic site(s), the Compliance Officer shall inspect properties to which construction or other building permits have been issued by the Construction Official and for which the permit has been issued pursuant to Historic Preservation Commission approval. These inspections shall be made prior to completion of the construction. The Compliance Officer will review the HPC resolution, certificate of appropriateness, or Review Committee approval, as well as the architectural plans or drawings that were submitted to the HPC, to ensure conformity of construction with all approvals, conditions, and plans/drawings
If a project is found not to be in conformance, the Compliance Officer shall take all lawful measures to ensure that the construction is brought into conformance with HPC terms and conditions. The Compliance Officer shall have the power to issue notices of violations and/or summonses, when appropriate, in cases where he or she has probable cause to believe a violation of those terms and conditions exists. The Compliance Officer shall also have the power to seek penalties for violations as authorized by §§ 1-17 through 1-22 of the Cape May City Code.
The Compliance Officer shall be appointed by the City Manager, with the advice of City Council and the HPC. If possible, he shall have appropriate expertise in, and knowledge of, historic structures and historic preservation. The Compliance Officer position may be held by one of the City's existing code enforcement officers.
City Council shall provide for the terms and conditions of the Compliance Officer's employment, including the establishment of a salary range or appropriate stipend.
Should any portion of this article be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or repeal the remainder of this article.
This article shall take effect 20 days after passage and publication, according to law.