There is hereby created a trades board consisting of seven members whose appointments shall be made by the mayor with the approval of the city council, to advise the governing body concerning the qualifications of all the persons who have applied for a city license under this chapter. The trades board shall also have the power to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or other determinations made by an inspector of this chapter, relative to the application and interpretation of the building, electrical, and plumbing codes adopted in this chapter. The trades board shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting appeals of these orders or decisions and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the appealing party, with a duplicate copy to the inspector whose order, decision, or determination is being appeal from. Appeals to the board shall be processed in accordance with the provisions contained within the respective codes. Copies of all rules and regulations adopted by the board shall be delivered to the building official, who shall make them freely accessible to the public.

(Ord. 1116, Sec. 1)

(a)   The trades board shall consist of the city superintendent; one general, building or residential contractor licensed in the city; one plumber or heating and air conditioner professional licensed in the city; one electrician licensed in the city; one person employed by the utility company which supplies gas and electricity to the city; and two members shall be appointed from the city at large. The chief building inspector shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the trades board. The chief building inspector or his or her designee shall be secretary of the board and shall keep the minutes of the board.

(b)   The members of the board shall be appointed for two year terms.

(Ord. 1116, Secs. 2:3)

(a)   It shall be the duty of the board of examiners, under such rules and regulations as they prescribe, to hold meetings at least once each quarter of the calendar year, or upon the request of the governing body, for the purpose of passing upon the qualifications of parties desiring contractor’s licenses and for the purpose of reviewing codes and ordinances adopted pertaining to the trades provided herein.

(b)   The board shall establish minimum practical experience and degree of proficiency required for obtaining a license or certification and submits the same to the City Council for approval. Written examinations for all classes of certification and/or licenses referred to elsewhere in this section shall be standard examinations for the determination of competency based upon nationally recognized codes and standards, as prescribed under K.S.A. 12-1556, et seq., as amended prepared and published by Block/Experior or the International Building Code Council.

(c)   All meetings of the trades board shall be open to the public.

(Ord. 1201, Sec. 1; Code 2005)