PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
PACO has now existed for approximately five years. A common
conversation I hear at our quarterly meetings is concerns about the
elected officials. I would like to encourage our membership to
develop a better relationship with our elected officials. The number
one concern of the majority of code officials and inspectors is that
most elected officials do not have a good understanding of our jobs.
I believe it is our responsibility to educate them. How often have you scheduled a meeting with existing or newly elected officials to communicate your department’s goals and objectives? Have you taken the time to describe your code enforcement program? We should do everything we can to educate our elected officials about the benefits of a strong code enforcement program.
This education process must also include an explanation of the various legal limitations we must abide by.
We must also recognize that the elected official is voted into office by their constituents. They can be removed from that position at the next election if they are not viewed as supportive of their constituents. They have a responsibility to their constituents. If we are viewed as the code official that is unreasonable and not willing to listen, we will never gain the respect of the elected officials or the residents who vote for them.
It is important to take the time to educate our elected
officials and provide them with an opportunity to understand the benefits
of a strong code enforcement program, and in return, it is hopeful that
elected officials will be in a much better position to provide us with the
support that is necessary for us to continue to be effective.
It is possible to earn the respect of the elected official and the
residents of your community and still have a strong code enforcement
program. This should be a goal for everyone in the code enforcement
profession. ●
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DATE CHANGED |
On June 28, 2001 the PACO membership unanimously voted to endorse the following individuals as candidates to serve as officers and directors for BOCA International for the term 2001 –2002.
President – James T. Ryan
Vice President – Steven Shapiro
Sec./Tres. – William R. Bryant
Director – Robert F. Loeper, Jr.
Director – Wayne R. Jewell
Director – Ronald E. Estepp
Director - Kenneth W. Andrews
Thank you to the PACO nominations committee for all their time and hard work reviewing all of the resumes and letters of interest. Good Luck to all BOCA candidates! ●
CO-SPONSORED SEMINARS!
Every year PACO co-sponsors approved / accredited seminars with BOCA International. Please note that the Accessibility Seminar has been rescheduled to January 2002. Here is the list of the remaining seminars for the 2001 co-sponsored seminars with BOCA International:
September 25, 2001 – International Fire Code;
December 12, 2001 – Day Care/Assistant Living Center Use;
January 8, 2002 - Accessibility;
Check out the PACO web site and click onto the link PA Code Training Consortium for more information, or contact Lee Miligan at 610-933-9179.●
HOUSE BILL 1219
This Bill is now before the Senate, but it will have to wait because the
legislature has adjourned for summer recess and will reconvene on
September 24, 2001. House Bill 1219 would amend the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code to permit planning commission members to
receive limited compensation as set by the municipality. However, the
compensation may not exceed the compensation of the municipality’s elected
officials.
This bill will also require municipalities to notify all affected property
owners of any hearings related to a zoning ordinance amendment which
involves a zoning map change, and the notice must be by mail. If a
municipality is doing a comprehensive rezoning then this clause under
House bill 1219 would not apply. ●
BOOK ORDERS
Paco is now accepting code book orders for all current PACO members.
Please place your next order before September 7, 2001. You will receive a
10% discount on any orders of ICC or BOCA code books and CD’s. Please
contact Robert Duncan at 610-645-6162 for more information.●
ENERGY SEMINAR
The PACO Education Committee has announced that the Energy Seminar has
been scheduled. Executive Director, Mr. C. Douglas Fish from Building
Codes Assistance Project in Washington D.C. has confirmed the date of
November 6, 2001. The seminar will be based on the International Energy
Code/2000 and it will be held at the ASTM Building in West Conshohocken,
PA. Stay tuned for more details. ●
VOTE FOR BOB AT BOCA’S 86th
CONFERENCE
PACO Past President Robert Loeper, Jr., M.C.O. has announced his intent to
run for a seat on the BOCA Board of Directors at the Annual Conference in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Robert is a Master Code Official and he is the Code
Administrator for Radnor Township, which has a population of 30,000.
Robert has served on the ICC Certification Committee, Training and
Certification Committee, Fire Prevention Code Change Committee and he has
served as a mentor for BOCA C.B.O candidates. So remember, in September to
VOTE FOR BOB at the BOCA Annual Conference! ●
HOUSE BILL 1235
The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1235, which provide an
exemption from the residential electrical requirements established by the
Uniform Construction Code if the tenants and teachings of the property
owner’s religion conflict with the electrical requirements of the Code. If
the property is subsequently sold or leased to a person who is not a
member of the religious sect, the property must be brought up to Code. The
bill was
signed into law as ACT 43 of 2001. ●
CODES OFFICIAL
Radnor Township, located on the Main Line in the Philadelphia Region (population 31,000), is accepting applications to fill the position of Codes Official for the Township. The person filling this position is responsible for the enforcement of rental housing and property maintenance standards, zoning and fires safety regulations, construction standards, and other technical codes and regulations of the Township.
Candidates for this position must have excellent written and interpersonal communications skills, technical knowledge of the principles and practices of model code language and code enforcement; thorough knowledge of property maintenance and zoning regulations, safety practices, and construction techniques required for inspections. Four years of related experience and BOCA certification required. Salary range is $35,000-$40,000 per year depending upon qualifications supplemented by an excellent fringe benefit package.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter with a resume and references to Radnor Township Municipal Building, Attention Michael D. Fleig, 301 Iven Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, or e-mail to mfleig@radnor.org. A full job description is available upon request.
Deadline for Applications: November 1, 2001. Radnor Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer.