(A) Duties and powers. The Chief Building Official charged with the administration and enforcement of this Building Code shall, in the enforcement and administration of this Building Code, act on any question relative to the make or manner of construction and the materials to be used in the erection, repair, removal, demolition, location, use, occupancy and the maintenance of, addition to, and installation of service equipment in, all buildings and structures, except as may otherwise be specifically provided for by requirements of other laws or by other provisions of this Building Code. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Chief Building Official shall, whether as included within, or as additional to the foregoing, perform the following specific duties:
(1) Application and permits. He shall receive applications and issue permits required by this Building Code and examine the premises for which such permits have been issued and enforce compliance with the provisions of this Building Code.
(2) Building notices and orders. He shall issue all notices and orders and do all things necessary to remove illegal, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions including inadequate exit facilities in buildings or structures either now existing or hereafter constructed.
(3) Inspections. He shall make, or cause to be made, inspections to insure compliance with this Building Code. All reports of inspections shall be in writing and signed by the person making same or responsible for making same. The Chief Building Official may, when so authorized by the Mayor, engage the services of such experts as he may deem necessary to report to him their opinion upon unusual technical questions that may arise.
(4) Reports. The Chief Building Official shall keep a complete set of records indicating all permits and certificates issued; all orders or notices issued; all fees collected; and his activities in general, and shall specifically, and/or as requested, promptly report to the city and/or City Council, in writing, with regard to any particular matter of interest or concern relative to his official duties. In addition to such specifically requested reports, the Chief Building Official shall submit a minimum of one report each month and one summary report each year including all relative data with regard to permits issued, fees collected and legal notices issued.
(5) Department records. He shall keep official records of all business and activities of the Department he has been appointed to administer, including, but not limited to applications, drawings and specifications received, permits and certificates issued, fees collected, reports of inspections, and notices and orders issued. File copies of all papers in connection with building operations shall be retained in the official records for a period of seven years from date of issue of permit.
(6) Periodic review. The Chief Building Official shall periodically, and at least once a year, review the standards listed in this Building Code. Whenever a new standard is issued, or when a standard is amended or revised, the date of which is different from that shown in said appendices, he shall so advise the city solicitor and bring it up to current standards.
(‘74 Code, § 150.10)
(B) Chief Building Official Qualifications. The Chief Building Official to be eligible to appointment, shall be certified by the State of Ohio as a “Chief Building Official.” Any services employed by the acting Chief Building Official such as building inspections, plans examination, permit issuance etc. shall be performed by persons certified by the State of Ohio to perform such services.
(C) Appointment of Chief Building Official and Backup Building Official.
(1) Office of Chief Building Official. There is hereby established the office of Chief Building Official who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of Council, for a period not to exceed two years, renewable as approved by the Mayor and Council.
(2) Backup Chief Building Official. The Backup Chief Building Official may employ qualified assistants, when the occasion requires, subject to the approval of Council, and these services to be paid for by the city in accordance with a pre-determined hourly or other scale.
(‘74 Code, § 150.12)
(D) Chief Building Official; liability. The Chief Building Official, and any person appointed by him and charged with the enforcement of this code, acting for the city in the discharge of his duties, shall not hereby render himself liable personally, and he is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may occur to persons and/or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his duties. Any suit brought against the Chief Building Official, and/or his authorized representative, because of such act performed by him in the enforcement of any provision of this Building Code shall be defended by the City Solicitor until the final termination of the proceeding therewith.
(‘74 Code, § 150.13)