09/28/1995 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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organizations which do have standards along require continuing education to maintain membership. Mr. Piar again stated that private inspectors are consultants, the form that a licensed inspector was supposed to file with the city included areas where many inspectors are not licensed, such as electrical, and he believed that this might be illegal. Chairtnau Burk stated that this board is concerned about health, safety, and welfare, and some homes in the city are getting older. IVIr. Piar repeated that this could be accomplished by a point of sale inspection. It was noted that the' city did not have the manpower for point of sale inspections. Mr. Engoglia noted that not many city inspectors would be qualified in all the trades to do a total inspection. Mr. Gareau believed that a home inspection is a cursory inspection, the inspector can only look at what is obvious. He represents an engineer who does private inspections, and there is a caveat in the agreement that states that they do not pull back rugs, etc. If the inspector misses something he should have seen, he usually gets sued. Chaii7nau Burk admiuistered the oath to the members of the audience: Mr. Lynch, Cleveland Area Board of Realtors and a plan consultant with H[TD; Ms. Hess, Government Affairs Director of the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors; 1VIs. Mykyhik, Director of Cleveland Area Board of Realtors; Ms. DiBaggio; J. Jagger, home inspector, Mr. Rindfleisch, chairman of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Realtor, and home inspector; and Mr. Kiczek, real estate agent. Mr. Rindfleisch advised that there is no municipality in the State of Oluo that registers home inspectors, he agreed with Mr. Gareau that licensing would have to be based on a set of standards. He also agreed with Mr. Piar, that home inspectors are not code enforcement officials, they are private consultants, offering a professional opinion. He believed that the true health, safety and welfare of the city lies in an ongoing safe and sanitary inspection of all homes, not just homes being sold and the city could use fireman to supplement the Buildiug Department inspectors. This could be offered to the residents on a voluntary basis, most importantly, to senior citizens who have been in their homes for many years. He stated that if the city is going to require licensing, they will probably require permits, and if someone has to pull a permit, then go back and dc the inspection, then go back and drop offthe report at city hall, it would be far more costly to the client. He noted that most clients have to have it done within a time period and this procedure would take far more time. Mr. Burk stated that it would be no different than a contractor getting an emergency call in the middle of the night and having to respond and get the permit the next day. Mr. Rindfleisch noted that frequently buyers have difficulty paying the standard $200 fee. Mr. Gareau stated that, ideally, every inspector should be qualified in every discipline, but he doubts the city could develop a standard to cover that. He would not want any licensing without standards to insure that people are qualified to inspect and he would not like the city to have liability for an inspection that was not done properly by a licensed inspector. He wondered if the city could develop standards to cover all that was necessary. Mr. Kazak responded that, it appeared, that the A.S.H.I. organization seems to be qualified. Mr. Rindfleisch explained the training involved to be certified by A.S.H.I. Mr. Gareau advised that it would be difficult for the city to require certification by an organization for a licensing requirement. Mr. Rindfleisch advised that North and South Carolina have adopted State licensing programs and are using the A.S.H.I. test as their guidelines or will acknowledge A.S.H.I. membership providing the inspector can prove he passed the A.S.H.I. test. He further explained that A.S.H.I. also had mandatory continuing education. Mr. Engoglia stated that in Florida they had State licensing that would allow all contractors to work throughout the State after taking a course. He agreed that licensing could make the city liable. Mr. Gareau responded that he was not as concerned about the city being liable as he was about setting up standards to qualify. It was noted that all persous could be required to take the A.S.H.I. test, but uot to join the group, even structural eugineers or architects. Mr. Rindfleisch clarified that A. S.H.I. developed the test, but the test was given by a testing corripany and A.S.H.I. can give permission to allow individuals, other than A.S.H.I. candidates to take the test for State certification. There are othe qualifications that a person must meet before he can take the test. Mr. Piar pointed out that the average fee for a home inspection is about $200.00 and an inspector travels all over the area and would have to 2