[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Moosic 8-8-1995 by Ord. No. 17-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. .
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 268.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOROUGH
The Borough of Moosic, Lackawanna County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a municipal corporation of the commonwealth, acting by and through its Council or, in appropriate cases, acting by and through its authorized representative.
COMMONWEALTH
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
CONTRACTOR
Any person who undertakes or offers to undertake or agrees to perform any construction of a new home or any type of construction of a commercial nature. The following shall be included in the definition of "contractor," but not limited to these:
[Amended 6-9-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
A. 
General contractor;
B. 
Moving or demolition contractor;
C. 
Mechanical contractor;
D. 
Masonry contractor;
E. 
Painting and decorating contractor;
F. 
Roofing and siding contractor;
G. 
Structural steel contractor;
H. 
Plastering and stucco contractor;
I. 
Fire protection contractor;
J. 
Subcontractors;
K. 
Tradesmen;
L. 
Journeymen;
M. 
All other categories.
COUNCIL
The duly elected Council of the Borough of Moosic.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
[Amended 6-9-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
A. 
The term "home improvement" includes all of the following done in connection with land or a building or a portion of the building which is used, or designed to be used, as a private residence for which the total cash price of all work agreed upon between the contractor and owner is more than $500:
(1) 
Repair, replacement, remodeling, demolition, conversion, modernization, improvement, rehabilitation or sandblasting.
(2) 
Construction, replacement, installation or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, pool houses, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, solar energy systems, security systems, flooring, patios, fences, gazebos, sheds, cabanas, landscaping of a type that is not excluded under Subsection B(6) of this definition, painting, doors and windows and waterproofing.
(3) 
Without regard to affixation, the installation of central heating or air conditioning or storm windows or awnings.
B. 
The term "home improvement" does not include:
(1) 
The construction of a new home.
(2) 
The sale of goods or materials by a seller who neither arranges to nor performs, directly or indirectly, any work or labor in connection with the installation or application of the goods or materials.
(3) 
The sale of services furnished for commercial or business use or for resale, if the service takes place somewhere other than at a private residence.
(4) 
The sale of appliances, including stoves, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and others, which are designed for and are easily removable from the premises without material alteration.
(5) 
Any work performed without compensation by the owner on the owner's private residence or residential rental property.
(6) 
Any work performed by a landscaper certified by the Department of Agriculture under the Act of December 16, 1992 (P.L. 1228, No. 162), known as the "Plant Pest Act,"[1] except to the extent that the work involves any of the following at a private residence:
(a) 
The construction, replacement, installation or improvement of buildings, driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, solar energy systems, security systems, flooring, patios, nondecorative fences, doors, lighting systems, concrete walkways and windows.
(b) 
The placement of retaining walls, fountains or drainage systems.
(7) 
Emergency work pursuant to Section 7 of the Act of December 17, 1968, known as the "Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law."[2]
(8) 
The conversion of existing commercial structures into residential or noncommercial structures.
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT
An agreement, whether oral or written, or contained in one or more documents, between a contractor and an owner for the performance of a home improvement, and includes all labor, services and materials to be furnished and performed thereunder.
OWNER
Any homeowner, tenant, or any other person who orders, contracts for or purchases the home improvement services of a contractor, or the person entitled to the performance of the work of a contractor pursuant to a home improvement contract.
PERSON
Includes an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, association, owner, contractor, salesman, or any other legal entity.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 258.1 et seq.
[2]
See 73 P.S. § 201-1 et seq.
A. 
License required. Except as otherwise specifically exempted by the provisions of this chapter, all contractors doing business and/or providing services within the Borough of Moosic are hereafter required to obtain a license from the Secretary of the Borough prior to commencing any work within the Borough.
B. 
Application. Application for said license shall be made to the Secretary of the Borough, on a form provided by the Secretary. Said license shall be valid for a one-year period of time, commencing on the date of issue.
C. 
Requirements.
(1) 
No license shall be issued by the Secretary of the Borough unless the applicant files an application on forms supplied by the Borough setting forth:
(a) 
Satisfactory proof of property damage and public liability insurance amounting to $500,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence and workmen's compensation insurance, as required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(b) 
Name, address and telephone number of applicant.
(c) 
Trade name, business address and business telephone number of applicant.
(d) 
Proof of the amount of any technical school training in contracting work received by the applicant.
(e) 
Proof of the amount of practical experience received in contracting work gained by the applicant.
(f) 
State and federal employer identification numbers.
(g) 
A notarized statement by the applicant that there are no outstanding liens and/or judgements against them for faulty, unfinished or inadequate work before any court of competent jurisdiction.
(h) 
Such other information as the Borough deems necessary to determine the eligibility of the applicant.
(2) 
Failure of the applicant to provide all the required information, and necessary proof, or providing false information to the Borough, will result in the denial and/or revocation of a license.
An annual fee of $75 shall be charged for each application for a license, to cover the administrative costs associated with the issuing of such license. All charges and fees are to be paid to the Secretary of the Borough of Moosic and are to be deposited into the general fund of the Borough, from which all expenses are paid. Any duplicate or replacement licenses requested shall be made available by the Secretary of the Borough for a fee of $5.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Every applicant granted a license by the Borough shall be issued a signed license. This license must be available for inspection on any job site or project undertaken by the licensee in the Borough of Moosic upon the request of any police officer, Council member, administrative official, or citizen of the Borough.
Every contractor receiving a license will indemnify and save harmless the Borough of Moosic, its officials, servants and employees, of and from any and all damages caused by any negligence in pursuing and protecting his or her work, or by any unfaithful, imperfect or inadequate work done by virtue of the license issued to him or her.
A. 
For the protection of the people of the Borough of Moosic, no license shall be issued where:
(1) 
The person or the management personnel of the person are untrustworthy or not of good character; or
(2) 
The home improvement transactions of the person have been marked by a practice of failure to perform contracts, or the manipulation of assets or accounts or by fraud or bad faith; or
(3) 
Where proof is presented that the applicant has a judgment and/or lien outstanding from any court of competent jurisdiction for work inadequately performed, breach of contract, and/or fraudulent business practices.
B. 
The Borough shall have the power to refuse, suspend or revoke any licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter, where the Borough finds that the licensee has violated any of the provision of this chapter or is performing or attempting to perform any act(s) prohibited by this chapter.
C. 
Any violation of any provision of this chapter upon the part of any director, manager, partner, officer, salesman, agent or employee of a contractor shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the license of the contractor, unless it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Borough that the individuals engaged in the management of the contractor:
(1) 
Had no knowledge of the wrongful conduct; or
(2) 
Were unable to prevent the violation.
No license shall be required of any person when acting in the particular capacity or particular type of transaction set forth in this section:
A. 
An individual who performs labor or services for a contractor for wages or salary.
B. 
An architect, or any other such person who is required by state or local law to attain standards of competency or experience as a prerequisite to engaging in such craft or profession, and who is acting exclusively within the scope of the craft or profession for which he is currently licensed pursuant to such other law.
C. 
Any homeowner who is performing work, renovating, or remodeling his/her own property.
D. 
Any work performed by a contractor for home improvements shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter, provided that the person shall not be exempt if he owns three or more private residences in this commonwealth, and shall only be exempt with respect to the person's primary residence, or the part of the building that houses the primary residence of the owner, and those private residences that the person uses for personal recreational purposes.
[Added 6-9-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
A. 
No person shall perform any contracting work within the Borough of Moosic unless a permit is first obtained in compliance with the zoning code,[1] and applicable ordinances of the Borough.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 300, Zoning.
B. 
It shall be the responsibility of the licensed contractor to secure all necessary permits.
A. 
The following acts are prohibited:
(1) 
Abandonment or willful failure to perform, without jurisdiction, any home improvement contract or project engaged in or undertaken by a contractor; or willful deviation from or disregard of plans or specifications in any material respect without the consent of the owner;
(2) 
Making any substantial misrepresentation in the procurement of a home improvement contract, or making any false promise of character likely to influence, persuade or induce;
(3) 
Any fraud in the execution of, or in the material alteration of, any contract, mortgage, promissory note, or other document incident to a home improvement transaction;
(4) 
Preparing or accepting any mortgage or promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness upon the obligation of a home improvement transaction with knowledge that it recites a greater monetary obligation than the consideration for the home improvement work, which consideration may be a time sale price;
(5) 
Directly or indirectly publishing any advertisement relating to home improvements which contains an assertion, representation or statement of fact which is false, deceptive or misleading; provided that any advertisement which is subject to and complies with the then-existing rules, regulations or guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission shall not be deemed false, deceptive or misleading; or by any means advertising or purporting to offer the general public any home improvement work with the intent not to accept contracts for the particular work or at the price which is offered to the public;
(6) 
Willful or deliberate disregard and violation of the building laws and codes of this commonwealth or of this Borough or of the safety or labor or workmen's compensation insurance laws of this commonwealth;
(7) 
Doing any home improvement business with or through any person who is subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter with the knowledge that such person is not licensed as required;
(8) 
Misrepresentation of a material fact by an applicant in obtaining a license;
(9) 
Willful failure to notify the Borough of any change of control in ownership, management or business name or location;
(10) 
Conducting a home improvement business in any name other than the one in which the contractor or salesman is licensed;
(11) 
Willful failure to comply with any order, demand or requirement lawfully made by the Borough under and within the authority of this article.
B. 
Violation of any of the prohibitions of this section:
(1) 
Shall subject any violator to whom the licensing provisions of this chapter apply to the administrative sanctions of this chapter; and
(2) 
Shall subject any violator, whether or not required to be licensed by this chapter, to criminal prosecution.
Upon notice from the Borough that work on any building or structure is being done contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or in an unsafe or dangerous manner, such work shall stop immediately. The stop-work order shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property involved, or to the owner's agent, and to the person doing the work; and shall state the conditions under which the work may be resumed.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any contractor solely providing services within the Borough of Moosic under contact with, and for, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Lackawanna, and/or the Borough of Moosic.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this chapter or the codes adopted by the commonwealth or Borough, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of a summary offense and shall be fined not to exceed $600 for any one offense, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be subject to imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, and immediate revocation and loss of their license for a period of one year. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
A. 
Any applicant or licensed contractor aggrieved by any decision of the Borough Secretary, including but not limited to refusal or suspension of an application for a license under this chapter, or any other appeal, may appeal from such decision to the Borough Council within 10 days from the date of decision.
B. 
Whenever a Borough official or police officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of other applicable codes and ordinances, or of any rules and regulations adopted thereto, they shall proceed as follows:
(1) 
Serve notice in writing of the alleged violation(s) which shall be signed by the building official or his authorized representative. Said notice shall be in writing and shall be served personally to the responsible party; or served by registered mail or certified mail with a return receipt requested; or, where such responsible party cannot be found, service may be made by publishing such notice in a newspaper of general circulation for a period of three consecutive days; or served by any other method authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) 
Said notice shall contain the reasons why the notice is being issued, and the remedial actions required.
C. 
Any person making an appeal to the Council of the Borough of Moosic will be notified when to appear before the Council within 30 days. The Council shall hold a public hearing and upon evidence of testimony submitted will, within 30 days after the hearing, reach a decision. The decision shall be in writing, stating the reasons therefor.
D. 
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Council of the Borough of Moosic, whether or not a previous party to the decision, may appeal to the Court the Common Pleas of Lackawanna County from such decision. Appeals shall be made to the proper court within 30 days after the filing of the Council's decision in the office of the Secretary of the Borough of Moosic, and notification to the parties of said decision.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to relieve any person, corporation, or partnership from the duty of taking out a license, or from the payment of any license tax imposed or authorized by any other statute of this commonwealth.