Oswego Common Council Changes City Electrical Standards

OSWEGO – The Oswego Common Council held a meeting last night, May 11, when it voted on and passed an amendment to the city code in regards to Chapter 108 Electrical Standards.

A public hearing for this amendment was planned to occur at the beginning of last night’s meeting, however, Mayor Billy Barlow received no written submissions or calls from city residents to express their thoughts on the proposed changes. He also received none for public session.

Fifth Ward Council John Gosek commented as an electrician on the change before council voted on it.

“There’s a huge difference between being able to wire a house and being a master electrician, and I know you can take a test, but experience in being out in the field working is important,” Gosek said. “So just because a man or woman has ten years of experience to pass the test, they may not be qualified to hold a master’s license… There should be a residential license in addition to a master license.”

The council then voted on and approved all resolutions on the agenda, including Resolution 134 to amend Chapter 108 Electrical Standards in the city code.

These changes to the amendment include:

• Clarifies a license is not required for an owner to perform work in an owner’s residential property. Commercial properties, however, do require a licensed electrician to perform work.
  • In addition, this change clarifies that certain types of maintenance and replacement-in-kind work does not require a licensed electrician.
• Adds a transparent, prescriptive experience requirement of a minimum of 10 years to be a master electrician.Adds moral character requirements, similar to the requirements the city of Oswego added for taxi drivers.
  • This change also introduces a statute of limitation to limit the enforceability of this provision to a conviction date after January 1, 2010.
• Introduces transparent, predictable examination requirements that will make sure the public knows when exams will occur, how applicants will be notified, and what a passing grade is.
• These changes include:
  • Fixing two regular exam dates; in January and July.
  • Creating time limits for communications regarding the examinations and the results requiring the public be notified; a minimum of 90 days prior to an exam.
  • Applicants will also be given a minimum of 60 days to submit an application and be notified of the results of the examination in writing within 20 days after the examination.
  • Simplifies and clarifies the fees for licensing and examination.

“We’re clarifying that a license is not required for a homeowner to perform work in the owner’s residential properties. So a homeowner can actually do electrical work in their own home,” Barlow said. “Commercial properties is really what we’re talking about. They do require a licensed electrician to perform work. The change clarifies that certain types of maintenance and replacement in kind [payment] work does not require a license.”

Barlow said the application/testing system before the amendments does not define or outline what is true experience.
He thanked the electrical board and plumbing board for the work they have put in for the electrical and plumbing amendments. He also thanked City Engineer Jeff Hinderliter and the Director of Code Enforcement Curt Miller who both serve on the boards.

Also in the agenda was a resolution approving to accept a donation of a memorial bench from Janet Harris, honoring her late husband, Clifford “Fritz” Harris. Seventh Ward Councilor Robert Corradino reminded the council and the public that “Fritz” Harris was a long-time councilor for the seventh ward in the 1970s and 1980s.

“He was instrumental in getting Shapiro Park built in our ward as well as doing a lot of other things during his tenure here,” Corradino said. “He loved the City of Oswego and he worked very hard to take care of the constituents in his ward as well as all the residents. I think this is a very fitting honor for a man who devoted so much time and effort to the city.”

Corradino said the bench will be able to be seen from Mr. Harris’s home where his wife still lives. It will be in Shapiro Park, which he helped to create.

The other resolutions, which were all passed can be found here and the video of the meeting is below. The next scheduled Common Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 26, and can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.

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