(A) In accordance with G.S. 160D-109, no staff member shall make a final decision on an administrative decision required by this article if the outcome of that decision would have a direct, substantial, and readily identifiable financial impact on the staff member or if the applicant or other person subject to that decision is a person with whom the staff member has a close familial, business, or other associational relationship. If a staff member has a conflict of interest under this section, the decision shall be assigned to the supervisor of the staff person or such other staff person as may be designated by the development regulation or other ordinance.
(B) In accordance with and consistent with the above-referenced statute, no officer or employee of the Inspections Division shall be financially interested in the furnishing of labor, material or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of a building or any part thereof, or in the making of plans or specifications within the city’s jurisdiction or the ETJ, unless they are the owner of the building. No officer or employee of the Inspections Division shall engage in any work which is inconsistent with their duties or with the interests of the city.
(C) In accordance with G.S. 160D-1108, staff members, agents, or contractors responsible for building inspections shall comply with G.S. 160D-109(c). No member of the Inspections Division shall be financially interested or employed by a business that is financially interested in the furnishing of labor, material, or appliances for the construction, alteration, or maintenance of any building within the city’s planning and development regulation jurisdiction or any part or system thereof, or in the making of plans or specifications therefor, unless he or she is the owner of the building. No member of an Inspections Division or other individual or an employee of a company contracting with the city to conduct building inspections shall engage in any work that is inconsistent with their duties or with the interest of the city, as determined by the city. The city must find a conflict of interest if any of the following is the case:
(1) If the individual, company, or employee of a company contracting to perform building inspections for the city has worked for the owner, developer, contractor, or project manager of the project to be inspected within the last two years.
(2) If the individual, company, or employee of a company contracting to perform building inspections for the city is closely related to the owner, developer, contractor, or project manager of the project to be inspected.
(3) If the individual, company, or employee of a company contracting to perform building inspections for the city has a financial or business interest in the project to be inspected.
(Ord. No. 23-082, § 1, passed 12-14-2023)