HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-1986 Minutes MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD MEETING
HELD APRIL 14, 1986
(we I. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Chairman Frank Carlsson, Vice Chairman Ed Foley,
Members Joe Marbais and John Linebarier, Attorney John
Hatcher, Building Official Sam Gerace and Deputy Clerk Susan
Amesbury.
ABSENT: Members Gary Carroll, Bob Sorenson, Mary Ellen Frame
and Alternate Donald Barker.
Chairman Carlsson called the meeting to order at 7:47 p. m.
and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Mr. Linebarier led everyone in prayer.
II. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Linebarier moved to adopt the minutes of the February 10,
1986 meeting as printed and distributed, seconded by Mr.
Marbais and approved unanimously.
III. VIOLATIONS HEARINGS
Chairman Carlsson stated for the record that there were no
cases to be reviewed this month.
xf 0IV. OTHER BUSINESS
Chairman
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Chairman Carlsson stated he had been informed by Attorney
Hatcher that pursuant to Florida State Statutes the Code
Enforcement Board must meet a minimum of every other month
regardless of whether there were new cases to be reviewed.
He also questioned Attorney Hatcher about addition of this to
the Board Administrative and Hearing Rules. Attorney Hatcher
replied that he would not recommend doing this as it was not
necessary. Chairman Carlsson stated he had met the Acting
City Manager, Mr. A. B. Preston. Mr. Preston informed him
that he would attend the next Code Enforcement Board Meeting
with new cases to be reviewed.
V. COMMENTS
A. City Manager - None
B. Fire Inspector - None
C. Building Official - None
D. Board Attorney - None
E. Citizens - None
F. Board Members - Chairman Carlsson stated that he hoped
the Building and Police Department would continue to do a
professional job in bringing cases before the Board in the
interim of City Managers. Mr. Marbais questioned how cases
actually got started at City Hall. Deputy Clerk Amesbury
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explained that the City required a written complaint, either
by mail or in person at City Hall to start a case. Attorney
Hatcher stated that according to the Sunshine Law if anyone
N� cared to inquire about the person making the complaint, it is
�� a matter of public record. The Board Members discussed the
pros and cons of this method. Attorney Hatcher stated that
his recollection of the requiring of written complaints
procedure was by order of the Commission due to their concern
of the Building Department possibly overreacting to visual
violations of the Code. Attorney Hatcher also stated that
the Board was an impartial observer on the sidelines; the
City Employees vs the Commission was an area outside the
scope of this Board. He stated the Board' s function was
simply to hear cases presented properly. Chairman Carlsson
questioned Attorney Hatcher about the feasibility of having
the Board write a letter to the Commission stating that the
Board felt the Building Department had their hands tied in
reference to seeing a violation of the code and not being
able to start a case without a written complaint from a
citizen. Building Official Gerace stated he did not feel his
hands were tied and that the City handled a great number of
these cases without them ever being brought before the Board.
Attorney Hatcher stated that the Police Department also
turned over complaints to City Hall and that this was another
way of getting these cases started. He felt the current
procedure was adequate. Mr. Linebarier felt that there would
probably be a lull until the new City Manager is appointed.
Attorney Hatcher stated he was surprised the Ocoee Code
Enforcement Board had never seen a case in reference to sub-
tor standard housing problems with rentals. He stated that in
his experience with City of Orlando and Orange County these
communities had a real problem with this. Building Official
Gerace stated Ocoee had very few substandard housings.
Building Official Gerace questioned Attorney Hatcher about
the 15 days given to citizens to comply with the code before
they were cited with a formal notice of code violations, he
wondered if this was too much time. Attorney Hatcher
answered that it really depended on the complexity of the
' problem and that he should use reasonable Judgement and
common sense. Chairman Carlsson stated for the record that
June was the annual election of officers for the Code
Enforcement Board.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Linebarier made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr.
Foley and by un simous consent the Board adjourned at 8: 14
p. m. �
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li�/k Car �on, Sr. Chairman
ATTEST:
�r Deputy Clerk Amesbury, �