All master plumbers performing the work described in § 356-7, above, must be licensed in the City of Middletown. A master plumber is permitted to employ nonlicensed plumbers to assist the master plumber in performing the work described in § 356-7, above. It is a violation of this chapter to open a plumbing business in the City of Middletown, or to display a sign or other advertisement in the City, before a license has been obtained pursuant to this chapter.
Master plumbers licenses may only be issued to:
A. 
Persons who pass the examination as prescribed below in this article; or
B. 
Persons holding a masters plumbers license from another city or county in New York State who are approved for a Middletown license by the Commissioner of Public Works. Such persons may apply for a Middletown license by submitting proof of the out-of-City license, together with a financial and trade reference, and a listing of the largest five projects completed with contact information, to the Commissioner or his/her designee for evaluation. The Commissioner has sole discretion whether to approve or disapprove this application.
Persons who wish to receive a master plumbers license by examination must first take and pass a standardized, written examination approved by the Commissioner of Public Works and administered by a private entity, such as Prometric. All examinations shall be written by the applicant and must be in English. The time and place of holding examinations shall be left to the discretion of the testing entity.
A. 
Persons applying for such examination shall file with the City Board of Plumbers an application on such forms as may be prescribed by the Board and approved by the Commissioner of Public Works. All such applicants shall furnish to the Board such information as it or the Commissioner of Public Works may require concerning the applicant's fitness and qualifications to receive a license. All applications must be under oath. Applications will be received by the Board at times and locations to be maintained on the City of Middletown website and/or posted in City Hall.
B. 
Each applicant shall be required to furnish two references who must be master plumbers licensed in the City of Middletown or in another city or county in New York State. The application must include written proof of such license in the current calendar year. One of these references shall appear before the Board of Plumbers and sign under oath on forms prescribed by the Board and approved by the Commissioner of Public Works certifying to the time the applicant has been employed by such reference as a journeyman plumber.
C. 
The Board of Plumbers shall refuse to receive an application from any person who at the time of making the application may be unlawfully engaged in business as a master plumber in the City of Middletown. The Board shall refuse any application from a person who cannot read or write in the English language.
D. 
Any applicant who is aggrieved by any action or decision of the Board, including the failure of the Board to provide an application form, may appeal to the Commissioner of Public Works within a period of five business days following the day upon which the decision of the Board is first made known to him/her. On any appeal so taken, the Commissioner shall have the authority to approve, modify, or vacate any such decision.
A. 
No person shall be examined unless he/she shall have had an experience of at least five years as a journeyman plumber and is able to furnish satisfactory evidence of such fact.
B. 
No application will be received from any person who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. All applicants must submit proof of citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.
An applicant who fails in the practical or written examination shall not be eligible for another examination until the expiration of three months; should he/she fail in the second examination, he/she will not be eligible for a third examination until the expiration of six months; should he/she fail in the third examination, he/she will not be eligible for a fourth examination until the expiration of one year.
All applications will expire and be canceled after a period of three months if the applicant does not appear for a noticed examination within that time period.
Each applicant for examination shall pay the sum of $1,000 at the time of making his/her application. When an applicant has paid the first $1,000 for examination and failed, he/she shall pay an additional sum of $500 for each subsequent examination given to him/her.
A. 
If a written license is lost by the holder thereof, the Board of Plumbers must issue a duplicate license. The charge for such duplicate license shall be $100.
B. 
Upon request for proof of licensing, the Board shall issue a written statement indicating that the records of the Board show that a license was issued to a specific person on a specific date. The charge for such written proof shall be $10.
C. 
All licenses of master plumbers must be renewed on a yearly basis.
(1) 
For licenses in effect on the effective date of this chapter, the renewal fee shall be $200 before January 1 of each year. If such a license is not renewed until after January 1, the charge shall be $400.
(2) 
For licenses issued after the effective date of this chapter, the renewal fee shall be $1,000 before January 1 of each year. If such a license is not renewed until after January 1, the charge shall be $2,000.
No license, after being issued to a master plumber, shall be leased, loaned, rented, transferred or sold. A person not actually engaged in the field of plumbing for a six-month time period must surrender his license to the Board of Plumbers.