[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Chester 8-7-1973. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention and building construction — See Ch. 50.
[Amended 10-8-1991 by L.L. No. 6-1991; 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
Duly appointed inspectors of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, Middle Department Inspection Agency or such other qualified agency as may be from time to time designated by the Town Board are hereby authorized and deputized as agents of the Town of Chester to make inspections and reinspections of all electrical installation heretofore and hereafter described and to approve or disapprove the same. In no event, however, will the cost or expense of such inspections and reinspection be a charge against the Town of Chester.
[Added 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004[1]]
All electrical installations pursuant to this chapter shall be made in conformity with the requirements of the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code (NYSFPBC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC), as amended from time to time and as adopted by the National Fire Prevention Association. In the event of any conflict between the NYSFPBC and the NEC, the provisions of the NEC shall govern and shall be deemed in compliance with this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also renumbered former § 45-2 as § 45-4.
[Added 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004[1]]
A. 
Any person or legal entity may apply to the Town Board for permission to conduct electrical inspections. This application shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the Town Board by resolution and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $150, together with an insurance certificate showing statutory workers' compensation coverage and automobile and public liability coverage for property damage and personal injury, including wrongful death, naming the Town of Chester as additional insured, in an amount not less than $1,000,000 or whatever amount the Town deems necessary.
B. 
The application shall be submitted to the Building Inspector, who shall review the same and who shall make an investigation as to qualifications of the applicant. Within 30 days after the submission of the completed application, the Building Inspector shall deliver copies of the complete application to the Town Board with a recommendation for approval or disapproval. Within 30 days after receipt of the application and recommendation, the Town Board shall approve the application. Failure to act within said period shall be deemed an approval of the application.
C. 
Upon approval, the Building Inspector shall issue a letter of certification addressed to the applicant that the Town Board of the Town of Chester has found the applicant to be a qualified electrical inspector. Such certification shall remain in full force and effect until rescinded for cause pursuant to a hearing held on not less than 10 days' written notice to the inspector. Notice may be delivered personally or by regular and certified mail. Upon delivery of such notice or upon the mailing of the same, certification shall be suspended pending a determination.
D. 
In the event that an applicant is not approved, the Town Board may grant the applicant an opportunity to be heard on the merits of the application at a regular or special meeting of the Town Board to be held within 60 days after notice of disapproval is made to the applicant.
E. 
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to maintain a current list of all qualified electrical inspectors for the Town of Chester, including their addresses, telephone numbers, dates of approval by the Town Board and the dates of issuance of the certification. The Building Inspector will be responsible for providing a current list of all certified inspectors to the Town Clerk of the Town of Chester, on an annual basis or upon certification or decertification of an inspector.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also renumbered former § 45-3 as § 45-7.
A. 
Duties.
[Amended 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the approved inspector and/or the duly appointed inspectors to report in writing to the Building Inspector of the Town of Chester, whose duty it shall be to enforce all provisions of this chapter, all violations or deviations from or omissions of the electrical provisions of the Building Code applicable to the Town of Chester[1] and of all local laws, ordinances, regulations and the Building Code as referred to in this chapter insofar as any of the same apply to electrical wiring.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 50, Fire Prevention and Building Construction.
(2) 
The approved inspector and/or the inspectors shall make inspections and reinspections of electrical installations in and on properties within the Town of Chester upon the written request of the Building Inspector of the Town of Chester or the Supervisor of the Town of Chester.
(3) 
The approved inspector and/or inspectors are authorized to make inspections and reinspections of electrical wiring, installations, devices, appliances and equipment in or on properties within the Town of Chester where they deem it necessary for the protection of life and property.
(4) 
In the event of an emergency, it is the duty of the approved inspector and/or inspectors to make electrical inspections upon the oral request of the Building Inspector or the Supervisor of the Town of Chester.
(5) 
It shall be the duty of the approved inspector and/or inspectors to furnish written reports to the Building Inspector of the Town of Chester and the owners and/or lessees of property where defective electrical installations and equipment are found upon inspection.
B. 
Certificate of compliance. There shall be authorized the issuance of a certificate of compliance when electrical installations and equipment are in conformity with this chapter. A copy of the certificate of compliance shall be sent to the Town of Chester to the attention of the Building Inspector.
[Added 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
This chapter shall not be construed to relieve or diminish the responsibility of any person owning, leasing, operating, controlling or installing any electrical installations or configurations pursuant to § 45-1 of this chapter for loss of life or injury or damage to any person or property caused by any defect or negligence therein, nor shall the Town or any of its agents, servants or employees be deemed to have assumed any such liability for any reason, including any inspection, reinspection or the issuance of any certificates pursuant to this chapter.
[Added 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the electrical installations in mines, ships, railway cars, cable television or automotive equipment or the installations or equipment employed by a railway, electrical or communications utility or cable television company in the exercise of its function as a utility or cable television company and located outdoors or in buildings used exclusively for that purpose. This chapter shall not apply to any work involved in the manufacture, assembly, testing or repair of electrical machinery, apparatus, materials and equipment by a person, firm or corporation engaged in electrical manufacturing as its principal business. It shall not apply to any building which owned or leased in its entirety by the United States government or the State of New York.
[Amended 12-10-1980; 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
It shall be an offense against this chapter for any person, firm or corporation to install or cause to be installed or to alter electrical wiring for heat, light or power in or on the properties of the Town of Chester until an application for inspection has been filed with the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. It shall be an offense against this chapter for a person, firm or corporation to connect or cause to be connected electrical wiring in or on properties for light, heat or power to any source of electrical energy supply prior to the issuance of a temporary certificate or a certificate of compliance by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. An offense against any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be deemed a violation pursuant to the Penal Law of the State of New York, punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both. In addition to the above-provided penalties, the Town Board may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or to restrain by injunction any offense against the terms of this chapter.