[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 2-18-1975
by Res. No. 131-1975. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created a Homeowners' Protection Board in and for
the County of Rockland and in the interest of all its residents.
Such Board shall consist of, be constituted and have a membership appointed
by the Legislature as follows:
A.
Four members to be selected from the public at large.
B.
One member of the Rockland County Builders Association,
or such other individual to be selected by the Legislature as, in general,
to be representative of persons engaged in home building contracting and/or
alteration and improvement in Rockland County.
C.
One member of the Rockland County Board of Realtors,
Inc.
D.
One member of the Rockland County Building and Construction
Trades Council.
Such Board shall meet monthly and at such other times as it shall deem
appropriate and upon complaint by a homeowner, homebuyer or other member of
the public and upon recommendation of the Legislature.
Such Board shall, as stated above, seek to actively advance and protect
the rights and interests of such consumers by receiving and reviewing all
complaints by homeowners and/or homebuyers with regard to purchase, sale,
construction, renovation, alteration, improvement or other matter and, after
initial consideration, by attempting to mediate and arbitrate disputes between
the involved parties (builders, contractors, realtors, tradesmen and consumers)
and, in lieu of reaching a mutually acceptable settlement to the parties after
taking such action, by referring the consumer to the appropriate agency, department
and/or official either in County government or other appropriate municipal
unit and by attempting to follow up and cooperate with said consumer to the
pursuit of a satisfactory result and conclusion of the special problem or
complaint at issue.
In furtherance of a speedy and equitable resolution of the problems,
disputes and/or complaints of consumers seeking aid from the Board, the Board
shall consult with the County Attorney's Office to determine the proper
statutes and regulations applicable to any particular referral and shall also,
in the consumers' best interest, seek the advice, aid or action of such
other agency, department and/or official of the County government or such
other appropriate municipal unit as shall best be able to protect and provide
assistance to the consumer.
In the implementation of its primary purpose, the goal of the Board
herein created and the function of said Board shall be primarily advisory
and protectory, and its membership, as controlled herein, shall be voluntary
and uncompensated. In order to avoid any additional duplication, waste or
expense, the Homeowners' Protection Board hereby created shall, in all
practical instances seek aid and advice from existing County agencies and
departments.
The Board shall make a semiannual report to the Legislature of its activities
through the Public Service Committee of the Legislature, which shall have
the purview of this area of program activity.
