(a) Code Official. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Code Official to enforce the provisions of the Norwood Property Maintenance Code, (NPMC) as herein provided. The Building Commissioner, Fire Chief, and Health Commissioner, or any individual designated by the Building Commissioner, Fire Chief, or Health Commissioner, each shall be responsible for all sections of the NPMC pertaining to their respective departments, and as such each shall be designated as the Code Official.
(b) Enforcement Officer. In accordance with the definitions in the Property Maintenance Code, the Code Official may delegate authority for enforcement of NPMC to any duly authorized representative, including personnel from the Fire and Health Departments, where said representative may have the need or occasion to enforce the provisions of the NPMC or issue orders for violations of the NPMC. (Ord. 7-2000. Passed 2-8-00.)
(c) Organization.
(1) The Building Commissioner and/or the Director of Safety shall appoint such number of officers, technical assistants, inspectors, representatives and other employees as shall be necessary for the administration of Norwood Property Maintenance Code (NPMC) and as authorized by Council. Inspector trainees may be appointed to work under the direct supervision of the qualified inspector. (Ord. 24-2000. Passed 4-4-00.)
(2) The Building Official may delegate authority to any duly authorized representative, including personnel from the Building Department, where such representative may have the need or occasion to enforce the provisions of the Norwood Property Maintenance Code (NPMC) or issue orders for violations of the NPMC.
(d) Official Records. An official record shall be kept of all business and activities of respective departments specified in the provisions of the NPMC, and all such records shall be open to public inspection, at appropriate times and under reasonable regulations established by the Code Official or person delegated by the Code Official to maintain the integrity and security of such records. Any record request is subject to Ohio R.C. 149.43, Public Records.
(e) Relief from Personal Responsibility. The Code Official, officer or employee charged with the enforcement of NPMC, while acting for the City, shall not thereby be rendered liable personally, and the Code Official, officer or employee is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any acts required or permitted in the discharge of official duties. Any suit instituted against any Code Official, officer or employee because of an act performed by that person in the lawful discharge of duties and under the provisions of NPMC shall be defended by the Law Director until the final termination of the proceedings. The Code Official, officer or employee shall not be liable for costs in any action, suit or proceeding that may be instituted in pursuance of the provisions of NPMC; and any Code Official, officer or employee acting in good faith and without malice, shall be free from liability for acts performed under any of its provisions or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of official duties in connection therewith.
(Ord. 7-2000. Passed 2-8-00.)