Oswego Common Council Proposes Change To Electrical Standards In City Code

by Contributor | May 7, 2020 3:00 pm

By: Shea O’Malley

OSWEGO – The City of Oswego Common Council has proposed a change to Chapter 108 of the Electrical Standards of the Code of the City of Oswego and residents may voice their thoughts regarding the proposed amendment during the Common Council’s next meeting, Monday, May 11 at 7:15 p.m.

The meeting will be live streamed and Mayor Billy Barlow will read submissions if one chooses not to call in for the public hearing.

The modifications in the amendment include the following:

• 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.

The amendment will afford residents clear guidelines and specifics needed in becoming a master electrician in the city of Oswego. 

“The city worked with our local licensing board to come up with these changes and feel they will be beneficial to city government, city residents, and local electrician companies, with the true credentials and experience to responsibly conduct business in the city,” Barlow said. “We are also doing the same thing for the plumbing board and plumbing license this committee/council cycle to make the boards and testing process consistent and uniform.”  

Common Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of every month. For more information, please visit oswegony.org[1]. The call in information for the meeting will be available on the city’s site at a later date closer to the meeting.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-common-council-proposes-change-to-electrical-standards-in-city-code/

---