01/27/1994 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

"`- passed by him, then do 3 inspections according to the specifications of the- president, and finally with those of the C.E.O. Mr. Rindflesch clarified that a current prospective inspector must have a minimum of 2 years of college, 10 years of construction related experience, he must take an intern's review test forriulated by Mr. Ryglewicz, a former teacher with a degree in industrial education, then is accepted as a trainee for 8 to 12 weeks during the first 2 to 4 weeks of this time he would touch nothing during an inspection only watch, then he would go out with a senior inspector. Mr. Ryglewicz would be willing to discuss their training with Mr. Conway and also take him on an inspection tmder A.S.H.I. specifications. P1r. J. Liggett, Premier Inspections Inc., has no problem with licensing inspectors if the city will share in the liability that they have. He believed that the best way to protect the residents is to institute a point of sale inspection. Home inspectors are consultants, and inspectors can miss things because of the way houses are designed and things are hidden and they are not responsible for moving things. He would like to know what caused the fires that happened in homes after they had been inspected, because they could have been started by something the inspector could not have caught or by something outside of the realm of the inspections. Mr. Conway advised that he has been inspecting since 1979, and he would not be here if this were a frivolous issue, he was here out of concern for the citizens of North Olmsted. Mr. E. Maller, Multi-Spect U.S.A. Inspections out of Canton Ohio, explained that they cover all of northeastern Ohio. He gave a resume of his experience: in construction since 1972 both as a carpenter and a general contractor; was a candidate of A.S.H.I. in 1989, a member since 1990; he took both the new 8 hour closed book test for A.S.H.I. and also 2 of the 3 open book tests for class 3 building inspectors in the State of Ohio. He explained that they advise the consumer that they are not doing a code enforcement inspection, spend 2 to 3 hours in each home, and give advice about the maintenance and service of their home and equipment. If there is an electrical problem, they cannot tell them if it is a code violation, ho«ever they can inform them of an unsafe condition, but they have no way of knowing if it gets corrected. There is protection for the consumer through the courts. As an A.S.H.I. members he carries a million dollar policy under their errors and omissions insurance. He is concerned about the cost of inspections in North Olmsted. In response to his questions, Mr. Conway advised that there were about 35,000 residents in North Olmsted and an average of 600 homes transfer per year. Mr. Ligett stated that a private inspector must do at least 500 inspections a year to make a profit, and statistically only about a half of the homes in an area are inspected, so basically this discussion is about 350 homes in North Olmsted. The cost involved in this would come from the consumer. He also noted that a contractor was in a home for several weeks, but the city would be following up on a home inspector who was in the house for 3 hours. Mr. L. Thompson, Thompson Home Analysis, explained that he was a licensed electrical safety inspector by the State of Ohio, has been in code enforcement for a rnamber of years, and has been in home inspections for the last 12 years. He agreed that standards are needed in the industry, if an inspector does not do the job he will not be called back. He is not a member of A.S.H.I. or any other organization, and he does not advertise. He is a Christian and answers to a higher authority. He is concerned about giving his report to a public official who can go over it and he would stand liable if there is something wrong in the future. Frequently, when he goes into a home, items are covered up and also he can tell people the defects that are in the house, but a lot of it goes over their head, and then they come back to him. His report does not say that this inspection is a code inspection and using that report is putting a double liability on him and he does not believe that the city should take his report and make him liable to the city considering that he only has a limited time in the house. Mr. Conway asked what 4