New Britain herald., 1926-05-15
BLDG. DEPT. SEEKS INCREASED STAFF Would Have Electrical and
 Plumbing Deputies Named RECOMMEND PROSECUTIONS
Certificates Of Occupancy Suggested 10 Curb Law Violations No Action On Naples Permit - Coal Pocket Finally Approved.

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 Action On Naples Permit - Coal
 Pocket Finally Approved.
 Appointment of full time deputy plumbing inspector and tempor- ary deputy to assist Electrical In spcctOr Cyril J. Curtin in the thous- auds of inspections made necessary Board Of Fire Underwriters. provi- sion of additional cars for the building department, issuance of Cer- tifcates of occupancy before new structures may be occupied, and sanction Of program of prosccu- tions to bring about respect for the building code, were among the recommendation made by Inspec- tors E. J. Hennessy and A. N. Rutherford at a meeting of the building commission last night.
 The inspectors advised the com missioners, all of whom have been in the service less than one month, of existing conditions in the build- ing department with regard 10 the volume of business pending,
 Their report follows:
 In order that your board may he given an outline of the work of this department, We feel that re- port of conditions of the department and of the building operations of the city at this time should be made to your board by the building inspec- tors.
 At the present time the depart ment consists of one full time build ing inspector, one deputy building inspector, one electrical inspector and one plumbing inspector.
 With the exception Of the deputy building inspector, this is the same force that the city had in the year l1914 when the total building oper- ations amounted tO $1,Q42,325, and the fees $1,003. For the year 1925 the building operations of the city amounted to approximately s6,000,- 900 and the fees S7,S00. At the pres- ent time the building, plumbing and electrical ordinances are being re- vised and will probably be ready for adoption within month and when adopted will bring return of s14,- 900 per year. or more.
 "On September Is, 1925. the common council passed zoning act dividing our city into seven dis tricts, namely, Residence A, E, and . C; Business A, B, and C, and h. dustrial district. To our minds, this is one of the best ordinances that could be enacted for this city or any other city. The worth of the zoning act will of course take con- siderable length Of time to show the benefits that a city derives from such an act.
 You will observe from the 2on- ing act that before a permit is granted the building inspectors must carefully go into all details of the zoning ordinance and build ing ordinance. When the new ordi- , nances are adopted the issuance of a building permit will become in itself serious matter.
 "The building department is without doubt one of the easiest departments for the public to criticize, for the permits that this department issues appear on every street in the city, and with the amount of construction work be- ing carried on it is q very easy matter to find fault with q depart ment, the working Of said depart | ment being of such a complicated nature.
 "At the present time there are approximately zoo building opera tions going on in the city. Ii is i'm possible to properly inspect these buildings when it requires the en- tire time of our inspector in the office and about half time of the deputy inspector.
 This department Is compelled under the zoning act to give a cer- tificate of occupancy to every building before being occupied and We would recommend that blanks be printed to carry out these de- tails, But this work can only be done by an increase of the per sonnel of the department. The building department should be provided with additional motor ve- hicles or provide some additional means Of transportation for the de- partment. The police, fire and vari- ous other departments are being continually increased in size; so must this department also be in- creased to meet the growth of the city.
 We have at the present time on the list of buildings commenced without having received building permit, two cellars erected beyond the building line, one located on Seneca street having a 35 foot build ing line, this building being con structed 15 feet beyond the setback building line, and another cellar en- tirely completed on Oneida street, projecting 20 feet beyond the 35 foot setback line. These buildings were commenced about the time zoninG went into effect. However, it seems to us that some action should be taken immediately in these cases in order that we may have these eel lars removed and placed in the proper position 10 comply with the setback building lines.