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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Electrical Advisory Board - 06/17/1993 City of 4::;;;;;) 7314 oc,us= Christi MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING��� OF THE IrELECTRICAL ADVISORY BOARDJune 17, 1993 e>/ BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Ashok Nadkarni, Vice Chairman W.B. Truax Eloy Salazar Michael Lippincott Curtis Proske Phillip Benavides Michael Dodson BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeanne Sughrue, Chairman Sal Vetrano STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: John Hudson, Chief Electrical Inspector Grace Amaya, Clerk Typist II Vice Chairman, Ashok Nadkarni, called the meeting to order at 3:12 p.m. , in the Committee Room on the first floor of City Hall. The first item of business was the approval and correction of the minutes of the prior meeting on May 20, 1993. A motion was made by Mr. W.B. Truax, seconded by Mr. Eloy Salazar, and passed unanimously to approve the minutes as submitted. The discussion of Retention stapling was the next item of business. Mr. John Hudson, Chief Electrical Inspector, explained that he had not completed the report on retention stapling. A discussion on electrical training was the next item of business. Mr. Hudson reminded the Board that this particular issue was brought up by Mr. Ed Rotter and Mr. James Van Kirk for which they had volunteered to administer training sessions for electricians in the electrical trade. Mr. Hudson added that the Coastal Bend Municipal Inspectors Association and I.A.E.I. have monthly training programs open to the public. The Board established the consensus that electrical training should come from individual contractors and not from the City. A discussion on possibly increasing the electrical inspection staff was the next item of business. Mr. Hudson informed the Board that a temporary inspector was to be hired for a period of 90 days beginning in July. Mr. Hudson added that presently the City is hiring additional building inspectors. SCPNNED P.O. Box 9277 • Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9277 • (512) 880-3000 - f Electrical Advisory Board City 0 June 17, 1993 Corpus Page 2 Christi sir Mr. Eloy Salazar suggested recommending to the City Council to increase the inspection staff. A lengthy discussion followed during which Mr. Michael Dodson suggested forming a committee to survey other Cities to compare population size, number of inspections and inspectors, and volume of construction to assist and support in determining the number of inspectors needed in the City of Corpus Christi. Mr. Michael Dodson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Eloy Salazar and passed unanimously to form a committee. Mr. Eloy Salazar volunteered as Chairman of the committee, Mr. Phillip Benavides and Mr. Mike Lippincott volunteered to serve on the committee, and agreed to submit a report for the Board's review by August 1993. The next item of the business was the receipt of petitions from the audience. Mr. Robert Shake, a licensed Journeyman Electrician in the City of Corpus Christi, and business manager for the I.B.E.W. #278, Joint Electrical Training Sessions, National Electrical Contractors Association, stated that they had successfully graduated 200 electricians to journeyman status through training which extensively covers the National Electrical Code. He stated that, electrical work was still being installed in violation of the Electrical Code by non-qualified workers; houses are being built and sold to the public with existing electrical violations. Mr. Shake expressed his concern that if these violations are not stopped, the City may become party to the violations and could be subject to severe penalties. Mr. Shake added that in his opinion, the inspection department does not have enough inspectors. Mr. Shake stated that the City ordinance used to have an apprentice ratio of 1 apprentice to 1 journeyman. Now the ratio is 3 apprentices to 1 journeyman, which is too lenient for electrical systems. Mr. Shake recommended that the Board consider changing the ratio back to 1 apprentice per 1 journeyman. A discussion followed during which Vice Chairman Nadkarni requested that the discussion to consider changing the ratio back to 1 apprentice per 1 journeyman be placed on next month's agenda and that staff include penalty fees for the offenders (contractors) along with the disciplinary process and that it be in written form for the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m. c-=: .-...._.... . . . , Lo nzo nzale Building Official