HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-28-2011 Minutes MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING
JUNE 28, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Godek called the workshop meeting of the Ocoee Code Enforcement Board to
order at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall.
PRESENT: Chairman Godek, Vice -Chair M. Godek, Members Amey, Hopper, Kelley,
Lowery, Owen and Alternate Members Blynder & Sais. Also present were
Fire Chief McNeil, Code Enforcement Officers Loeffler, Delgado, Rodriguez,
and Siegrist; Administrative Assistant Bridgett Ballard, Senior Administrative
Assistant Cam Hall, Board Attorney Mary Sneed, and Recording Clerk Stella
McLeod.
GUESTS: Doug Gaines, Assistant to the City Manager
Attorney Sneed gave a lengthy presentation and provided a hand -out that covered the
following:
✓ Chapter 162, Florida Statues
• Main Purpose for Code Enforcement
• Conduct of Hearing
• Attendance & Quorum Requirement
• Powers of the Board Members
• Administrative Fines, Costs of Repair, and Liens
• The Board's Role at the Hearing — "Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law"
• Repeat Violations
✓ Sunshine Law/Ex Parte Contacts/Financial Disclosure
• Violations to the Sunshine Law
• Disclosure of any Contact with a Respondent/Officer on the Record
• Conflicts of Interest
✓ Standard Motions and Order Imposing Fine/Lien
✓ Meetings
QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
Member Osborne asked who was responsible for verifying the compliance of a respondent.
Board Attorney Sneed answered that the responsibility belongs to code enforcement.
Chairman Godek asked about the longest length of time for a lien (recorded). Board
Attorney Sneed answered that the longest duration is 20 years; a fine, however, can accrue
Code Enforcement Board Workshop Minutes
June 28, 2011
until compliance is reached. Member Osborne said that the imposition of a daily fine does
not become a lien unless . . . Board Attorney Sneed finished, `unless a certified copy
imposing fine is recorded.'
During the discussion of the Sunshine Law, Chairman Godek asked if a case can be
discussed among board members (outside of a meeting) after fine has been imposed. Board
Attorney Sneed answered no, because the same case could come back before the board.
Discussing it would be a violation of the Sunshine Law.
Member Osborne asked what she should do when she sees a code violation. Board
Attorney Sneed answered by discussing the fact that board members do have the right to
make complaints as other citizens do. She continued that board members may call code
enforcement officers about the progress of such a complaint, but the answer from officers
should simply be `you'll be seeing it', and that is all that should be discussed.
Continuing with the Sunshine Law and public information, Member Lowery asked how he
should dispose of agenda packets. Board Attorney Sneed said the he could just leave such
documents on the dais when leaving the meeting. The city clerk's staff will then dispose of
the information.
1 Member Hopper asked how the board should respond to homeowners' associations (HOA's)
} complaints of code violations. Board Attorney Sneed said that the City's code enforcement
should get involved if the complaint is a violation of the City's code, not the HOA's covenant.
LOURNMENT
ee g adjourned at 8 5 p.m.
1 est: a APP /
Stella McLeod, Recording Cle . Ro • ert Godek, Chairman
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