[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 2-18-1975 by Res. No. 131-1975. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Office of Consumer Protection — See Ch. 35.
Home-improvement contractors — See Ch. 286.
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.