[Adopted 5-26-1977 by Ord. No. MC-1218 (Ch. 190, Art. I, of the 1987 Code)]
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
A. 
There is hereby established in the City of Camden a City of Camden Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as and part of the "Bureau of the Construction Code Official of the Department of Code Enforcement," (said Bureau to be hereinafter referred to as the enforcing agency), which shall further consist of a Construction Code Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code (hereafter referred to as the "code") and pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act (hereafter referred to as the "Act").[1]
[Amended 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289; 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.
B. 
The Bureau of Inspections, Department of Public Works, shall be transferred to and become part of the Bureau of the Construction Code Official within the Department of Housing and Community Development.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
C. 
The Fire Chief shall assign a Fire Marshal to the Division of Code Enforcement, Department of Community Development. Such person is hereby appointed as the Fire Protection Subcode Official and, for purposes of the administration and enforcement of the code, shall be under the direct supervision and authority of the Construction Code Official.[2]
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
[2]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 363, Fire Prevention and Protection.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994; 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint a Construction Code Official for a term of four years. The Construction Code Official shall be the head of the Bureau of the Construction Code Official and shall be the chief administrator of the enforcing agency.
A. 
The Chief Plumbing Inspector is hereby appointed as the Plumbing Subcode Official. The Chief Building Inspector is hereby appointed as the Building Subcode Official.
B. 
All subcode officials shall serve for terms of four years.
C. 
The Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development shall designate a subcode official as Assistant to the Construction Code Official in such capacity as directed by the Construction Code Official in the day-to-day administration of the enforcing agency pursuant to the Act and the regulations thereunder. The Assistant to the Construction Code Official shall serve as Construction Code Official in the Construction Code Official's absence but shall in no event exceed the number of days permitted by law for acting in said capacity.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
D. 
In the event that the Construction Code Official or any subcode official cannot fulfill his or her term, or should any such position become vacant, the Mayor shall appoint a qualified replacement(s) for said position(s) to serve therein for the remainder of the unfulfilled term.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
E. 
In the absence of any subcode official, with the exception of the Fire Subcode Official, the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development is hereby authorized to designate a qualified party to temporarily act as subcode official. In the absence of the Fire Protection Subcode Official, the Business Administrator shall order the Fire Chief to immediately assign a qualified party to act as Fire Subcode Official.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766]
Each official position created in §§ 270-1 through 270-3 hereof shall be filled by a person qualified for such pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 217, as amended,[1] and N.J.A.C. 5:23, provided that, in lieu of any particular subcode official, an on-site inspection agency may be retained by contract pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23. More than one such official position may be held by the same person, provided that such person is qualified pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 217, and N.J.A.C. 5:23 to hold such position.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
The City is hereby authorized to hire such additional personnel to aid the Construction Code Official and subcode officials as is deemed necessary.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
The public shall have the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location designated by the Construction Code Official, except for emergencies and unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.
[Amended 10-9-2018 by Ord. No. MC-5147; 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
A. 
The Construction Code Official, in his capacity as the chief administrator of the enforcing agency, shall:
(1) 
Establish the day-to-day operating routines, procedures and policy of the enforcing agency;
(2) 
Coordinate the activities of the subcode officials, including on-site inspection agencies, establish directives and deadlines for inspections;
(3) 
Issue construction permit(s) as required by the Act and regulations;
(4) 
Issue certificates of occupancy, certificates of continuing occupancy, and temporary certificates of occupancy as required by applicable law;
(5) 
Collect all fees and penalties provided for pursuant to the Code of the City of Camden, as well as the Act and regulations thereunder; and
(6) 
Exercise all powers vested in him by the Act and the regulations thereunder.
B. 
Furthermore, all subcode officials and personnel, and on-site inspection agencies, are subject to procedures and policies of the enforcing agency as set forth by the Act and/or Construction Code Official and are primarily responsible to the Construction Code Official.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
A. 
Each subcode official shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the appropriate subcode, subject to the procedures of the enforcing agency as administered by the Construction Code Official. However, each subcode official shall have exclusive decision-making authority with respect to the technical provisions of the subcode for which he has been appointed the official.
B. 
In addition to any and all duties, responsibilities and requirements imposed upon subcode officials by the Act, the regulations thereunder, this article and the Construction Code Official, subcode officials shall be responsible for complying with the following specific duties:
(1) 
To meet any and all time deadlines set forth by law and/or the Construction Code Official.
(2) 
To make any and all inspections required by their individual subcodes, the Act and regulations or as ordered by the Construction Code Official.
(3) 
To submit any and all information, reports, data and correspondence requested by the Construction Code Official to the Construction Code Official. Such materials shall be properly filled out and properly completed as determined by the Construction Code Official and shall meet the Construction Code Official's approval.
(4) 
To obtain all state amendments and changes to their subcode and to further do what is necessary to keep their subcodes current at all times. Each subcode official shall submit copies of all subcode changes and amendments to the Construction Code Official.
(5) 
To attend court and Construction Board of Appeals proceedings as required by the Act, the regulations thereunder, their individual subcode and/or as directed by the Construction Code Official.
(6) 
To keep proper records and files in their respective offices as required by the Act and/or the Construction Code Official.
(7) 
To attend required courses provided for by the state for training for subcode officials.
A. 
There is hereby established a Construction Board of Appeals to hear appeals from decisions by the enforcing agency.
B. 
Such Board shall consist of five members.
C. 
At least one Board member shall be a registered architect or licensed professional engineer of building construction experience, and at least one Board member shall be as qualified as a Plumbing Subcode Official, and one shall be as qualified as an Electrical Subcode Official. No more than two Board members shall be selected from the same business or profession.
D. 
Each Board member shall have had at least three years' experience in construction, design or supervision as a licensed engineer or registered architect or supervision as a licensed engineer or registered architect or, in the alternative, five years' experience in construction, design or supervision as an architect or engineer with a bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering, respectively, from an accredited institution of higher education or, as a further alternative, 10 years' experience in construction, design or supervision as a journeyman in a construction trade or as a construction contractor, subcontractor or inspector.
A. 
The Mayor shall appoint the Board members and any alternative members.
B. 
For the members first appointed, the Mayor shall designate the appointees' terms so that one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years and two for terms of four years. At the expiration of such terms and thereafter, appointments shall be made for terms of four years.
C. 
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term.
D. 
The Mayor shall appoint such number of alternates as may be appropriate for terms not to exceed four years or may, in the alternative, appoint alternates on a case-by-case basis.
No regular or alternate Board member may be a member of the enforcing agency, the decisions of which are subject to the review of the Board.
A. 
Regular and alternate members shall not be compensated; however, they shall be paid for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
B. 
The Mayor may appoint outside counsel to assist and advise the Board of Appeals.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
The Construction Code Official shall designate a Clerk to serve as Secretary to the Board of Appeals and to maintain its records.
A. 
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to act as Chairman of the Board of Appeals.
B. 
The Board of Appeals shall follow the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10 in performing its duties and responsibilities under the Act and shall meet any and all other obligations and requirements under the Act, and the regulations thereunder, for Construction Board of Appeals.