Duties of the Code Enforcement
Office
Public Interface
The Code Enforcement Office maintains a very active
public interface. The Code Enforcement Office plays a
major role in preserving the integrity of the City of
Oneonta's neighborhoods, buildings and overall quality
of life within the City. The office is active in a
number of housing and municipal code enforcement
procedures which directly involve landlords, tenants,
and the general public. The Code Enforcement Office
performs rental and downtown building inspections,
reviews and adjusts bar occupancy levels, monitors
fraternity and sorority activities, monitors potential
and actual public assemblages in residential and other
buildings, and seeks prosecution of cases in City Court.
Rental and Downtown Housing
Inspections
General housing code inspections of rental properties
constitute a major function of the Code Enforcement
Office. Inspections are performed by various inspection
entities of electrical systems, heating systems, smoke
detector systems, and sprinkler systems (where
installed). General housing code inspections are
performed by the Code Enforcement staff. Electrical,
heating system, smoke detector systems and sprinkler
system inspections are performed by contractors,
independent inspections agencies, and property owners.
The number of property owner funded inspections has
increased dramatically due to a database monitoring
system. The Code Enforcement Office also relies on
public reporting of substandard rental and and other
housing units.
Review and Adjustment of
Bar Occupancy Levels
Bar occupancy levels are based on square footage of
floor area and number of exits. The Code Enforcement
Office has cited a need to develop a procedure for
enforcement of the occupancy limits in the City's
drinking establishments. The development and execution
of the procedure could be a cooperative effort by the
Code Enforcement Office, the Fire Department, and the
Police Department, and the general public. Fire safety
in over-occupied drinking establishments is a major
safety issue.
Monitoring of Fraternity
and Sorority Activities
The City of Oneonta, in 1987, instituted a Special
Use Permit procedure that all fraternities and
sororities had to comply with. The Special Use Permit
was put into place due to the adverse conditions of many
of the City's fraternity and sorority houses. The
Special Use Permit process has had a dramatic effect on
the functioning of the legitimate fraternities and
sororities. Day to day maintenance at these properties
has greatly improved since the permit process was
initiated.
Illegal Public Assembly
Uses of Buildings
After many years of monitoring large assemblies of
people in residential buildings, sometimes referred to
as "student parties," the Code Enforcement Office has
determined that most have been initiated by SUNY Oneonta
fraternities. These large assemblages of people are a
threat to safety. Eviction and the threat of eviction,
have had some effect on reducing the number of large
assemblages. Fire Department and Code Enforcement
meetings with fraternity and sorority group leaders has
also had the effect of stopping the use of some
buildings for this type of activity. Recent cooperative
efforts with SUNY Oneonta has been effective in
controlling off-campus behavior and has had a
significant impact on the recognition of the danger of
illegal public assemblages.
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