Hull adopts ordinance to enforce State Minimum Building Codes and appoints enforcement officer

The Hull City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Sept. 25 to amend the city code so Hull can administer and enforce the State Minimum Codes for Construction and Building. Council member Paige Phillips moved approval, Council member Yvonne Davenport seconded, and the motion passed without objection.

The vote followed a procedural motion to dispense with the reading of the entire ordinance; that procedural motion was made by Council member Mike McElroy and seconded by Council member Paige Phillips and was approved unanimously. Mayor John Barber said he had discussed remaining work needed with a contractor, and the ordinance action then proceeded.

In the same sequence of business the council discussed consolidating enforcement duties and unanimously appointed Mr. Lynn Shedd to serve as Building Enforcement and Inspection Officer, Zoning Code Enforcement Officer, staff officer for the City of Hull Zoning Planning Commission, and Ordinance Enforcement Officer. The appointment was moved by Council member Paige Phillips, seconded by Council member Steven Hollingsworth, and Mr. Shedd was sworn in by Mayor Barber at the meeting.

Council members also discussed administrative steps related to enforcement, including adding demolition and encroachment fees to the fee schedule and establishing a discretionary fund for the enforcement officer. Mayor Barber cited two recent inquiries — one from the company Spectrum about a permit to encroach on city right of way for cable installation and another inquiry about removal of two old mobile homes — and asked the city attorney to bring proposals back for consideration. The city attorney, identified at the meeting as Attorney Love, was asked to prepare fee and discretionary-fund recommendations for the October meeting.

The ordinance grants the city formal authority to implement and enforce the State Minimum Codes locally and centralizes enforcement responsibilities in a single appointed official. Council members voted on the ordinance and the appointment by voice and the meeting record shows unanimous approval on both actions. The attorney will draft any implementing documents or fee-schedule changes for review at the next regular meeting.