01/27/1994 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF NORTfi OLMSTED BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEALS MINUTES-JANUARY 27, 1994 I. ROLL CALL: Vice Chairman Kazak called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.me Present: J. Kazak, W. Piar, and D. Spoerke Absent: R. Burk and P. Engoglia Also Present: Building Commissioner Conway and Clerk of Commissions Oring II. REVIEW AND CORRECTION OF MINUTES: W. Piar moved to accept the minutes of December 9, 1993 as written, seconded by D..Spoerke, and unanimously approved. III. COMMUNICATIONS: Vice-Chairman Kazak read letters from Metro Home Inspections Inc. which would not be represented this evening, and he noted that there was also a letter from Castle Inspections, who had enclosed a copy of A.S.H.I. Standards of Practice, however since the president was in attendance, Mr. Kazak did not read the letter out loud. There were also copies of correspondence sent to the Building Comni.ssioner regarding electrical inspections for each member. IV. HEARINGS: Discussion of requirements and information necessary to implement. a program for the licensing of private home inspectors by the City of North Olmsted. Building Commissioner Conway explained that this program will 1e directed toward controlling the people who are performing private home inspections in the city of North Olmsted. He was concerned since some of these inspection were performed by people who did seem to know what they were doing. There have been two fires within a month or two after new owners moved into a dwelling that had been inspected. The Building Department has followed up on some of these inspections and some of the things which were missed were basically criminal. He would like to weed out the individuals who are not capable, and he believed that the best way to accomplish this was to license these inspectors, and have them file a report with his department so that a follow up inspection could be done occasionally. At this point, the board has not determined how to proceed with a licensing program as far as testing, interviewing, or establishing the criteria to be used. The reason for the meeting is to gather information. He realized that there was a possibility that licensing might happen at a State level, but he did not believe it would be in the near future. Mr. Conway determined that there were no realtors present, even though some had been invited. Mr. P. Hartman, North Shore Home Inspections, stated that he did not believe that membership in an organization should have any bearing on whether or not a person is qualified to do a home inspection, neither should an inspector be precluded from doing an inspection because he is not a member of an organization. He believed that any registration should be based on qualifications, either a test, an interview, or whatever. Mr. T. Stull, owner of Brady and Henderson Inspections, advised that he is chapter president of the Ohio Chapter American Society of Home Inspectors (A.S.H.I.). He explained that A.S.H.I. is concerned about having licensing done just for licensing's sake. Too much licensing is being done with no concern for the needs of the consumer. In the case of faulty inspections, he can see a need, however it is A.S.H.I.'s position that licensing should not be based purely on a