[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Muhlenberg 4-21-2003 by Ord. No. 381.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 61.
Sewage holding tanks — See Ch. 114.
Sewers — See Ch. 117.
Water — See Ch. 150.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded
former Ch. 103, Plumbing Standards, adopted 11-18-1996 by Ord. No.
311.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. I, Adoption of Standards; Modifications; portions of Art. II, Administration and Enforcement; Art. III, Permits; Art. IV, Modifications to Standards; and Art. V, Enforcement and Penalties, were repealed 6-14-2004 by Ord. No. 393. For current provisions, see Ch. 61, Construction Codes, Uniform. The remaining portions of former Art. II were redesignated as Art. I, §§ 103-1 through 103-7, at the direction of the Township.
A.
Plumbers' Examining Board;
(1)
Board personnel. A Plumbers' Examining Board properly
qualified and existing in a Berks County municipality shall be designated
by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Muhlenberg to act
as the official Examining Board for the Township of Muhlenberg.
(2)
Examination and certification. The Examining Board
as designated by the Board of Commissioners shall establish standards
and procedures for the qualifications, examination and licensing of
master plumbers and journeyman plumbers. Upon notification from the
Examining Board that such person who meets the qualifications has
successfully passed the examination given by the Examining Board,
the Township of Muhlenberg may issue an approved license to such person
applying for such license. The designated Examining Board shall keep
official records of all its transactions. Applicants should present
themselves to the designated Examining Board for the purpose of qualifications
and examinations.
B.
Master plumber. No person desiring to engage in the
business of plumbing shall engage in such business as a master plumber
in the Township of Muhlenberg unless:
(1)
He/She shall hold a valid master plumber license after
having successfully passed an examination from the designated Board
of Examiners; and
(2)
He/She shall submit to the Township of Muhlenberg
a certificate of insurance establishing that the master plumber is
currently insured by a reputable insurance company acceptable to the
Township of Muhlenberg covering said master plumber for property damages
in the amount of not less than $50,000 for any one claim, and not
less than $100,000 for multiple claims arising from the same undertaking,
as well as public liability insurance in the amount of not less than
$100,000 from any one claim and not less than $300,000 for more than
one claim arising from the same undertaking. The Pennsylvania League
of Cities and Municipalities requirements go into effect on August
31, 1993. Act 44 requires the submission to the municipality of proof
of workers compensation insurance or an affidavit that insurance as
not required before issuing a permit. Said certificate shall be for
continuous coverage unless canceled by said insurance company, at
which time the Township of Muhlenberg shall be notified in writing
by said insurance company.
C.
Journeyman plumber. A person desiring to engage as
a journeyman plumber in the Township of Muhlenberg must hold a valid
journeyman plumber license after successfully passing an examination
from the designated Board of Examiners.
D.
Apprentice plumber.
(1)
An apprentice plumber shall be employed by a registered
master plumber and shall be registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau
of Apprenticeship Training, United States, Department of Labor.
(2)
An apprentice plumber shall not be permitted to install
plumbing or house drainage work unless under the supervision of a
registered plumber.
E.
Heating/HVAC contractor. No person desiring to engage in the business
of heating/HVAC contractor shall engage in such business in the Township
of Muhlenberg unless:
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 567-2017]
(1)
He/she shall have served at least two years as a registered heating/HVAC
contractor.
(2)
He/she shall hold a valid heating/HVAC contractor license after successfully
passing the examination therefor with the designated examining board.
(3)
He/she shall deposit with the Township of Muhlenberg a certificate
of insurance establishing that such heating/HVAC contractor is currently
covered by a reputable insurance company acceptable to the Township
of Muhlenberg insuring such heating/HVAC contractor for property damages
in an amount not less than $100,000 for any one claim, and not less
than $300,000 for multiple claims arising out of the same undertaking,
as well as general public liability insurance in the amount of not
less than $250,000 for any one claim and not less than $500,000 for
multiple claims arising from the same undertaking. In addition, each
heating/HVAC contractor shall submit to the Township of Muhlenberg
that it has workers' compensation coverage, as required by Pennsylvania
law. Each certificate of insurance shall provide for 30 days'
prior notice of cancellation to the Township of Muhlenberg.
F.
Heating/HVAC installer. No person desiring to engage in the business
of a heating/HVAC installer shall engage in business in the Township
of Muhlenberg unless:
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 567-2017]
Any person desiring to be licensed as a master
plumber, journeyman plumber, apprentice plumber, appliance contractor,
or appliance installer shall make written application to the Township
of Muhlenberg. Fees for license applications shall be designated from
time to time by the Board of Commissioners. Payment of such fee should
accompany each application. The license application fee shall include
the first yearly license fee.
The Township of Muhlenberg may issue a temporary
operating permit pending examination, provided the applicant holds
a current license from an equivalent board. Such temporary operating
permit shall not be valid for more than 30 days and may be revoked
at any time by the Township of Muhlenberg.
All licenses issued by the Township of Muhlenberg
shall be issued annually and shall expire December 31, at the end
of the year following the year in which such licenses were issued,
but the same may be renewed upon satisfactory showing of an intention
to continue the business of plumbing and payment of the prescribed
fee to the Township of Muhlenberg, within five days of the expiration
date of the issued license.
All licenses issued by the said Township of
Muhlenberg shall expire on December 31 of the year following the year
in which such licenses were issued but may be renewed upon payment
of the annual fee. Expired licenses may be renewed at any time upon
payment of a penalty of a sum equal to the annual license fee.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Muhlenberg, acting as the governing body of the Township of Muhlenberg,
may revoke any license if obtained through nondisclosure, misstatement
or misrepresentation of fact, or for noncompliance with any of the
provisions of this chapter. Notice of such revocation shall be given
by mailing the same to the licensee at the address shown on his license.
The notice of revocation shall include a statement of the reasons
for the action taken. The licensee shall be entitled to a hearing
before the Board of Commissioners if he requests same in writing within
10 days after the date of said notice of revocation. Said hearing
shall be held within 20 days after the date of receipt of the request
for hearing. After the hearing, the Board of Commissioners shall render
its decision either reinstating the license or sustaining the revocation.
A person whose license has been revoked and not reinstated shall not
be permitted to apply for another license for a period of one year
from the date of revocation.
No person who has obtained a license shall allow
his name to be used by another person either for the purpose of obtaining
permits or for doing business or work under the license. Every person
licensed shall notify the Board of Commissioners of the address of
his place of business, if any, and the name under which such business
is carried on and shall give immediate notice to the Board of Commissioners
of any change in either.
