Mechanical Board of Appeals
October 20, 2003
Members Present: Bryan Wyatt, Lynn Barrington, Tom Patchen, Robert Randolph, Frank Estrada
Ex-Officio: Patrick O’Brien-Mechanical Inspector
Staff Present: None
Guests Present: None
Meeting called to order at 6:31 p.m.
After review of the August 18, 2003 minutes, member Lynn Barrington moved to approve the minutes as written. Board member Bob Randolph seconded. Passed 4-0. Member Frank Estrada abstained for he was not present at said meeting.
Discussion of whether coil changeouts should require a permit
Member Barrington stated that it was his understanding that in the past, Neighborhood Resources did not require a permit for a coil changeout because it was always considered a component. Member Wyatt stated that he had called Neighborhood Resources about requiring a permit for a coil change and that department director Victor Torres told him that coil changes did require a permit. Member Wyatt stated that he disagreed with the information given to him and that he had checked with other mechanical contractors in town and that they told him that they had never pulled a permit for just a coil change. Member Wyatt then stated that he requested a report from Neighborhood Resources on all coil only changeout permits ever pulled and found nowhere were there any coil permits. Member Wyatt stated he then went a step further and checked with the previous mechanical inspector and he had stated that it would be more trouble than it was worth to require permits for coil changeouts. Member Wyatt said that he wanted to bring the issue before the board for discussion to find out if the board should take any action. Member Wyatt also said that Code Enforcement Manager Barry Walthall later called and said that coil changeouts will not require a permit even though it was required in the past. Member Barrington stated that his opinion is that a coil is a component and should not require a permit and maybe it should be clarified in some way in the ordinance. Member Wyatt brought up the question does the board have the authority if there is not an appeal and that staff is the only one that makes interpretations. Member Wyatt then stated that since it was not a part of the actual code that the board could discuss the issue. Member Barrington made a motion to amend the code to add evaporator coils to be a component to the exempt work section of the ordinance. Member Wyatt seconded. Pass 5-0.
Member Barrington presented an item that the City of Topeka has started concerning air conditioner self-inspections. The board thought it was a good thing to look into and needed to know how to approach presenting to the City of Lawrence. Staff suggested sending it through the Lawrence Home Builders Association. Member Barrington said he would do that. The board took no action.
Member Wyatt had an update on the code review board. The code review board has been reviewing the International Codes and the NFPA/IAPMO codes to determine which code the (code Review)board will recommend to the City Commission for adoption. Member Wyatt stated that in the beginning that since Member Patchen was not going to be able to attend that the Mechanical Board of Appeals was not going to be represented, he stated that it was wrong and only after he had called Victor Torres and a couple of commissioners was he able to represent the Mechanical Board at the code review meetings. Member Wyatt stated that Victor Torres was trying to exclude him from the Code Review Board. Member Wyatt is asking for input from the Mechanical Board to take back to the Code Review Board. Staff stated that a comparison had been done and would distribute it at the next meeting. The board took no action.
Motion to adjourn made by Member Barrington, seconded by Member Wyatt, passed 4-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.