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if an individual fails to identify a possible safety hazard, even though he did <br />not physically perfonn the work, he has certainly failed to perform his job. Mr. <br />Rindflesch agreed, but stated that if the licensing was ba.sed on having <br />insurance, a new inspector could not get errors and omi.ssion insurance until they <br />have been in the field for some time which discourages some people from entering <br />the businessm Mr. Conway advised that they are not addressing insurance at this <br />tir.ie. His main intent is safety, and the licensing allows the city to lmow who is <br />working in the city and gives the residents the ability to lmow who is licensed. <br />Mr. Rindflesch stated it is not usually the residents who are hiring them. Mr. J. <br />Nemastil, president of Nemastil Home Inspections, is also opposed to the <br />licensing of home inspectors, both in North Olmsted and in the State of Ohio. He <br />is co-chair for the legislative corranittee of A.S.H.I. and was one of the founding <br />fathers of a local chapter. He maintained that there is no need for licensing, <br />since the public has not been harmed in North Olmsted or Ohio. He called the <br />Attorney General's office and found that there were no complaints on file against <br />home inspectors. He believed that licensing would add to government bureaucracy <br />within city government, and would raise the fees of home inspectors. It is wrong <br />to assume that just because a person passes a test, he is qualified to do the <br />job. Texas did pass legislation that required a person to take a test before he <br />could becom a home inspector and, as stated in the Houston Business Journal, it <br />increased the rnunber of inspectors because people who had the ability to pass the <br />test, but had never done a home inspection, went into the business and had quite <br />a few problems. He believed that if the city wanted guidelines for inspectors, <br />they could use the A.S.H.I. standards. If an inspector misses something there are <br />laws that will deal with that. He believed that it was the responsibility of the <br />city, and since the city is concerned, it should set up point of sale <br />inspections, ongoing inspections, such as in Cleveland Heights where homes are <br />inspected every 7 years. In reference to Texas' licensing procedure, Mr. Conway <br />clarified that he had a concern with a statewide procedure, since that is mainly <br />a case of mailing a check once a year. The only tinie the State would call in an <br />inspector would be if there had been complaints filed against him. He intended to <br />do follow-up inspections on a random basis, to see if an inspection is performed <br />up to a certain standard in order for the city to have r.iore control, not unlike <br />that of a contractor when city inspectors inspect the work that was performed. <br />Mr. Nemastil responded that if a home inspector is not competent, he will not be <br />in the business very long, realtors will not hire him, and they will also get <br />sued out of business. He has seen electrical work done improperly, and probably <br />by a licensed inspector. Mr. M. Ryglewicz, Castle Inspections, explained that the <br />whole basis of A.S.H.I. was a standard of ethics and its Standard of Practice is <br />a guideline of what should be done on home inspections. He asked the board to <br />look carefully as to what A.S.H.I. has to offer. He explained what is required <br />to become a member of A.S.H.I: one must perform at least 250 paid inspections; <br />then an inspector becomes a candidate for a period of not less than 6 months <br />during which time he must pass a series of grueling tests. As a trainer for <br />Castle Inspections, he attends frequent meetings and seminars on various subjects <br />given by the Society. Castle Inspections focuses on education, and a prospective <br />inspector must do over 100 inspections under the supervisions of a senior <br />inspector. They believe that they have an obligation through A.S.H.I's Code of <br />Ethics and Standards of Practice, and their company's policies and procedures, to <br />provide the buyer with the best knowledge possible of the condition of the hcme. <br />He clarified for Mr. Conway that Castle Inspections has 7 people who can do <br />actual inspections (4 who are members of A.S.H.I., 2 are candidates, and 1 <br />trainee), 1 state certified structural engineer, 2 field representatives, and 2 <br />office personal. In order for an inspector to go out on his own, he must be <br />3