Code Assistance Officer

About the role

Enforces City codes and investigates alleged ordinance violations. Inspects rental homes and apartments to ensure compliance with City Ordinances and the International Property Maintenance Code. Provides clerical support answering phones and issuing permits as needed. Investigates, prepares and maintains correspondence and reports associated with the above. Issues citations when appropriate and represents the City to provide documentation and evidence regarding the citation in court.

Responsibilities

• Investigate all complaints by citizens of alleged violations of codes and ordinances concerning litter, blight, signs, zoning, grass and noxious weeds, fences, hedges, refuse, snow removal, garage sales, swimming pools, and parking areas.
• Take necessary steps to correct problems, including issuing violations where appropriate.
• Perform rental inspections to ensure compliance with City Ordinances and the International Property Maintenance Code.
• Regularly circulate through the city to check for violations of codes and ordinances concerning all code issues as well as the parking of commercial and recreational equipment in residential districts.
• Check business licenses for possible ordinance violations and take appropriate actions.
• Make appropriate corrective arrangements (e.g., for grass cutting or rat extermination) where violations exist on private property and the owner cannot be contacted or compliance has not been obtained.
• Investigate possible zoning violations (e.g., by watching houses to observe type of activity) to determine whether action should be taken.
• Prepare written reports for each of the above activities, properly document all evidence and actions in a manner appropriate for use in court actions.
• Notify adjacent property owners of the Board of Appeals.
• Testify in court when necessary.
• Check site plans and conduct field checks for new construction and Board of Zoning Appeals applications, and resale and occupancy permits.
• Provide clerical support as needed by answering phones and issuing permits.

Qualifications

• Degree from an accredited high school, or training equivalent sufficient for maintaining records and reports at level necessary for use in court.
• Experience in rental inspection, code compliance and enforcement.
• Knowledge of the International Property Maintenance Code.
• Knowledge of ordinances pertaining to signs, litter, blight and zoning.
• Reasonable knowledge of the geography of the city.
• Ability to assemble data and to prepare and maintain correspondence, records, and reports.
• Ability to communicate with and work effectively with the public and other employees.
• Knowledge of BS&A software, Microsoft Word and Excel and the ability to navigate through internet resources.

Special Working Conditions

• Work in areas under construction.
• Field conditions which consist of unpaved sites, muddy, dusty areas and a potentially dangerous environment.
• Work in office and field environments; field activities require inspections of occupied homes and properties, junk or abandoned vehicles, search of tool sheds, piles of lumber or wood, shrubbery etc. for evidence of rodents or other code violations.

Pay

This is a full-time, unionized position with an hourly rate of $24.7131–$28.6290.