Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 29, 1999 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~ ` T~ <br />SUBJECT: Reciprocal Inspection Agreements Between Carrboro and Orange County and Chapel <br />Hill and Orange County <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Resolutions Craig Benedict, Director <br />Agreements Ext. 2592 <br />G.S. 153A.353 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough' 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider the attached resolutions which would authorize the County Manager to sign <br />reciprocal agreements between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County and Chapel Hill and Orange <br />County to assist each other in inspection services under extenuating circumstances. <br />BACKGROUND: North Carolina Chapter 153A.353 "Joint Inspection Department: Other <br />Arrangements" permits counties to enter into and carry out contracts with one or more other counties or <br />cities to enforce those State and local laws and ordinances and regulations specified in the agreement. <br />Presently, there is an Orange County Planning and Inspections Department, Building Inspections Division <br />staff shortage primarily due to a resignation of one of four field inspectors. In addition, existing staff is <br />further stretched by increasing building permit activity, lack of cross-trade certification, and more <br />thorough review of plans and conduct of inspections. These aspects in addition to my program to provide. <br />for more accountability and measurement of staff activity has created the need for part time help to handle <br />the existing workload. <br />Typical methods of hiring part time help do not apply in the case of hiring North Carolina certified code <br />inspectors because of state statutes and the regulations associated with certified inspectors. The <br />complicating issues include individuals cannot conduct any independent building trade business in the <br />subject jurisdiction, their work should not affect their existing job duties, requirement to carry personal <br />insurance for errors, omissions and liability. <br />This proposed agreement would enable Carrboro and Orange County to reciprocate a building plan review <br />and inspections services between jurisdictions on an as-needed and agreed upon basis for a variety of <br />situations. <br />