(A) Appointment. The office of Electrical Inspector for the city is hereby created and the Mayor, by and with consent of the Council, at the commencement of each municipal year shall appoint an Electrical Inspector. The person chosen shall be well versed in approved methods of electrical construction for the safety to life and property. The Electrical Inspector shall keep records with his or her office as provided herein, which shall be the property of the city and shall be filed and preserved by the Electrical Inspector and which shall be delivered to his or her successor in office. The Electrical Inspector may be removed from office for cause only after a hearing before the Mayor and Council. It shall be unlawful for the Electrical Inspector to engage in the business of the installation and maintenance of electric wiring, electric devices and electrical materials, either directly or indirectly, and he or she shall have no financial interest in any concern engaged in any such business in the city at any time, while holding the office of Electrical Inspector. Any violation of the provisions of this section by the Electrical Inspector shall be sufficient cause for his or her removal from office, but he or she may be removed for other just causes. If the city should contract with another political subdivision or entity for inspection services, then the entity shall designate that employee or agent of the entity or political subdivision who shall perform the electrical inspection services and the person shall be designated and appointed by the Mayor and Council as Electrical Inspector for the city. Term of office of the Electrical Inspector shall be for a period of one year, or in the event that services are contracted for with another entity or political subdivision, for the term of the contract as provided for in the contract entered into by the city.
(B) Duties. The Electrical Inspector shall have general supervision over, and is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to interpret, where necessary, and enforce all provisions of this chapter, to the end that fires and accident or injury to persons or property shall be prevented, and whenever, in the judgment of the Electrical Inspector, any electric wire or insulation, or for any other cause, the Electrical Inspector shall at once notify the owner thereof, of such defect and order him or her to repair, rearrange or remove the same, and upon the owner’s failure to do so within a reasonable time, the owner shall be deemed guilty of a violation of the provisions of this chapter and each and every day which shall elapse after the expiration of the reasonable time until the order of the Electrical Inspector is fully complied with, shall be considered a separate offense within the intent and meaning of this chapter.
(C) Right of access. The Electrical Inspector, upon proper identification and subject to requirements of search warrants, where applicable, shall have the right, during reasonable hours, to enter any building or premises and, in the discharge of his or her official duties, to inspect and test any electrical equipment or appliances therein contained. The Electrical Inspector shall have the authority to cause the turning off of electrical power and, in case of an emergency, to cut or disconnect any wire where electrical power is dangerous to life or property.
(D) Defense. Any suit brought against the Electrical Inspector or his or her subordinates because of an act performed by him or her, or an omission by him or her occurring, in the enforcement of any provision of this chapter shall be defended by the city until final termination of the proceedings.
(Prior Code, § 150.902) Penalty, see § 150.999