Abatement Appeals Board adopts revised procedural rules; DBI says AAB hearings will be delayed until March

The Abatement Appeals Board on Dec. 15 voted unanimously to adopt revisions to its procedural rules and heard an announcement from the Department of Building Inspection that AAB hearings will be postponed until March as code‑enforcement staff complete training.

During discussion of Item D, commissioners asked whether the proposed AAB procedural rules aligned with timing and notification requirements used by related commissions. A deputy city attorney explained that the AAB rules are consistent with the larger rules: elections occur in February and there is a January notification requirement in the related rules. Commissioners emphasized the importance of consistency between the AAB and related bodies.

Commissioners thanked city legal staff for drafting the revisions. The board called for public comment on the proposed rule changes; there was none. The board then moved to adopt the procedural‑rule revisions and approved them by roll‑call vote with each commissioner recorded as voting "aye." The facilitator announced the motion passed unanimously.

After the rules vote, Joe Duffy, deputy director of inspection services for the Department of Building Inspection, addressed the board and said the department will postpone AAB hearings "for a couple of more months" while code enforcement staff complete training following retirements and extended leaves. Duffy said he expects hearings to resume in March and reported there was not a large backlog at present.

What happens next: The new procedural rules are now adopted. DBI will continue staff training and intends to return the hearing schedule to its normal cadence in March; the board reconvened later as the Building Inspection Commission to continue scheduled business.

The board recorded no public comment on the rule changes and adjourned the AAB meeting to reconvene as the Building Inspection Commission at 10 a.m.