Staff Writer
In an effort to bring uniformity to building codes statewide, lawmakers in Augusta are working on what is known as Resolve 46, a measure designed to address the issue of code discrepancies from one community to the next.
In the spring of 2007, the Business, Research and Economic Development (BRED) Committee of the Legislature passed Resolve 46, which directed state agencies to develop a proposal that would implement the building codes and resolve conflicts between building codes and other related codes in statute.
Discussion groups, like one held earlier this year in Presque Isle, gave code enforcement officers, fire officials and others an opportunity to meet with state representatives to discuss how the plan would work.
Cities and towns that have a code enforcement officer will see little change in the handling of permits – with only minor adjustments needed in current codes to match state standards – with unorganized territories seeing the greatest need for adjustments, since unorganized townships often don’t have specific codes in place for construction purposes.
“This really doesn’t affect Presque Isle, since we are the only community in Aroostook County that has adopted the Maine Model Building Code when it first became law. We do our own plans review,” said Jerry McAvaddy, CEO for Presque Isle.
McAvaddy said while having uniformity statewide would be beneficial, he said the issue has its drawbacks.
“Discussion on the matter has not stated the unfunded mandates that smaller communities will be forced to pay to hire either a code enforcement officer or a third party inspector to inspect the building,” said McAvaddy.
Rich McCarthy, of the office of Plans Review for the State Fire Marshal’s Office, was on hand earlier this year to meet with officials and contractors to discuss how the change would be made and when it would take effect.
“The state would adopt and amend the code but no local amendments would be made. If something works in Presque Isle, why wouldn’t it be good for the entire state? Local municipalities wouldn’t be doing amendments,” said McCarthy.
Currently, the state is working to get consistent interpretations and get them published, with easy access across the state, perhaps using a Web site.
The Fire Marshal’s Office in Augusta would take on the task of managing the program.
“We have three plan reviewers at the Fire Marshal’s Office; we’d need an increase in staff to handle the change,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy said uniformity would cut contractor expenses, since it would eliminate the need to spend time checking codes from town to town.
What works and is allowed in one town would be the same in the next town.
McAvaddy said there’s still a lot to be discussed and ironed out before Resolve 46 is finalized, a process that’s expected to take a couple years.
None of this will go into effect until 2010 when the state is supposed to adopt the 2009 International Code Council’s International Building, Residential, Energy Conservation and Existing Building Codes,” said McAvaddy.
For more information on the issue, interested individuals can visit http://maine.gov/spo/specialprojects/buildingcodes/index.htm, call your local code enforcement officer or contact McCarthy at 626-3886.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
RESOLVE 46, the state’s proposed plan to bring uniformity to building codes throughout Maine, brought city and town officials, as well as contractors, together earlier this year in Presque Isle, where the group heard how the plan would be implemented and what it would mean to their communities.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
AMY COLE-IVES, of the State Planning Office, discusses Resolve 46, the state’s plan to bring uniformity to building codes throughout Maine, with Steve Wentworth, Caribou’s code enforcement officer and 2008 president of the Aroostook Code Enforcement Organization. Pictured in back is Rich McCarthy, of the Plan Review Office, State Fire Marshal’s Office. Discussions will continue on the matter, with the final decision and a plan in place sometime in 2010. Questions continue as to what, if any, impact Resolve 46 may have on communities’ decision-making abilities.
