The Code Enforcement Board shall have the power to:
(A) Adopt rules, regulations and bylaws to govern its operation and the conduct of its hearings that are consistent with the requirements of this chapter and other city ordinances. In the absence of any specific rules the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Procedure shall apply;
(B) Conduct hearings, or assign a hearing officer to conduct a hearing, to determine whether there has been a violation of any city ordinance or zoning regulation that the Board has jurisdiction to enforce;
(C) Subpoena alleged violators, witnesses and evidence to its hearings. Subpoenas issued by the Board, or an assigned hearing officer, may be served by any Code Enforcement Officer;
(D) Take testimony under oath. The Chairman of the Board, or an assigned hearing officer, shall have the authority to administer oaths to witnesses prior to their testimony before the Board or hearing officer on any matter;
(E) Make findings and issue orders necessary to remedy any violation of a city ordinance or zoning ordinance affecting property within the city which the Board shall have jurisdiction to enforce;
(F) Impose civil fines as authorized by ordinance on any person found to have violated any ordinance that the Board has jurisdiction to enforce; and
(G) Enforce the requirements of § 156.07 that a person shall obtain a certificate of appropriateness prior to undertaking any alteration or restoration of the exterior part of any landmark, landmark site or historical property located within a designated historic district in LaGrange or prior to that person undertaking any new construction, demolition or relocation of such historic property, even if the proposed work does not require a county building permit; provided, however, the Code Enforcement Board shall have no authority to decide cases where a person alleges error in any order, requirement, interpretation, grant, refusal or decision of the Historic Districts Commission, which cases shall be heard by the city’s Board of Adjustments and Appeals. A person may obtain an opinion from the City Council whether the action of the Historic Districts Commission is consistent with the legislative intent of the enabling ordinance. Any work performed on a landmark, landmark site or property within a historic district without first obtaining and conforming with a certificate of appropriateness shall be a civil offense subject to the penalty set out in § 156.99.
(Ord. 10-2020, passed 10-5-2020)