Proposal would eliminate tradesmen licensing in Altoona

City manager proposes change to current system

City Manager Christopher McGuire has proposed eliminating regulations that require most plumbing and electrical work in Altoona to be done under the direction of master tradesmen in favor of a system by which any contractor with a business license could pull a permit for such tradework.

The work would need to pass inspection, with three failed inspections on major workmanship issues resulting in a prohibition on such tradework -- until the contractor passes a master's test for plumbing or electrical work, like the ones currently required for a master's license in the city.

The proposal is likely to be introduced as an ordinance at council's July meeting and could be adopted at the August meeting -- with public comment accepted at both.

Council has discussed revisions of its trades licensing regimen periodically for several years, with master plumbers and electricians routinely objecting to major changes.

They argue that permitting only masters for tradework helps ensure -- along with inspections -- that work is done correctly, so that resulting installations are safe.

The proposed new format would rely on the inspections to catch substandard work -- work that doesn't conform to the state's Uniform Construction Code, which sets the standards that the masters now must meet.

The "three strikes" provision is "quality control measure," according to the proposed new ordinances, which would each consist of a single paragraph in place of the current four pages.

"Short and sweet," said Councilwoman Shelley Clinich.

Major issues that would result in a "strike" against a contractor could include substandard wiring or a panel box of the wrong amperage or a drain line with a grade that fouls up its function -- but not a receptacle set a quarter-inch low, McGuire said.

Council has entertained the idea of loosening the current regulations after fielding complaints from developers.

One recently said that the current rules added $75,000 to a project, which was basically the amount he had hoped to profit from it, McGuire said.

The proposed new format should lead to increased competition, lower prices and more development to juice the existing development momentum in the downtown, McGuire wrote in a memo to council.

It could help the city achieve development goals expressed in the new comprehensive plan, and goals that will soon be expressed in a revised Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance, McGuire wrote.

"I support the change," said Mayor Matt Pacifico.

Councilman Jesse Ickes likewise supports it.

It is a format common in surrounding municipalities and throughout the state, Ickes said.

The change would benefit contractors who can do tradework themselves or who have employees who can do such work -- but who aren't city-licensed masters -- because they wouldn't need to subcontract, according to Ickes.

The new format would create a system analogous to the state's vehicle inspection system, Ickes said.

Cars need annual safety inspections, but the work done on components like brakes don't need to be performed by master mechanics, he pointed out.

Ickes predicted that the proposed new format wouldn't hurt master plumbers and electricians with good reputations.

If council adopts the proposal, and he needs work done at his house, he'll call the same companies he's called previously, he said.

Council asked solicitor Mike Wagner to analyze the proposed new ordinances to ensure they're enforceable.

At first blush, he doesn't see anything wrong with it legally, Wagner said.

Councilman Dave Ellis proposed adding a homeowner exemption -- applicable when individuals do tradework on their single-family dwellings -- but his idea didn't seem to find favor with other council members.

Such an exemption would be difficult to enforce, McGuire said.

Homeowners inclined to do such work themselves are unlikely to pull a permit that would lead to inspections, and without inspections, there's a safety issue, he suggested.

The city uses third-party inspectors for commercial work and an in-house inspector for residential work.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.