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04-14-1986 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 � 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 1 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. � , ._ _ i-�__ ____^,__ _ li�/k Car �on, Sr. Chairman ATTEST: �r Deputy Clerk Amesbury, �