HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-21 Public Comment - R. Lashaway - Term Limits Fire & Building Board of AppealsFrom:Robert Lashaway
To:Agenda
Subject:Boards of Appeal
Date:Monday, October 11, 2021 11:11:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
To: City Commission
From: Robert Lashaway, Chair, Building Div Board of Appeals and Fire Code Board ofAppeals
It may be important to recognize that the Building Division Board of Appeals and the FireCode Board of Appeals are not “citizen advisory boards” – they are quasi-judicial boards of
appeal and as such, their decisions are not subject to action (either affirmation or reversal) bythe City Commission. The next level of appeal for decisions of these boards is through the
court system. It is my understanding that the Commission recognized this situation as theyworked through the recent consolidation process for advisory boards.
Each of these boards of appeal meet annually to comply with ethics training requirements andto orient board members in case an appeal should be made during the coming year. Due to the
effective and professional application of the building code and fire code by the Chief BuildingOfficial and the Chief Fire Official, appeals to these boards have been appropriately infrequent
over the time these boards have been in existence.
As prescribed by each pertinent code, adopted by the state and the city, each of these boards
are composed of community professionals with knowledge and experience working with therespective codes and with the local construction industry.
It may be appropriate for the Commission to view long-term service on these boards asessential to the consistent operation of each board and the consistent application of code
provisions, and as beneficial to protecting the long-term health welfare and safety of thecommunity. Experience on these boards is an iterative process, through which we gain
experience from each appeal and each previous decision.
Therefore, it is my hope that, in recognition of the above considerations, the Commission will
not impose term limits on the member positions of these important appeals boards.
Please copy Gregg Sullivan and Tim Cooper with this email so they may correct any errors inthe above representations.
Thank you for your consideration.
--
Robert Lashaway - "Retired!"