Property Rights and the Promise of Home Improvement: Our Local Tools ...

If you're a homeowner like me, you love your old house but you don't always have the money or the time to hire professional builders;  You're a kind of handi-homeowner.  You DIY. You share tools with neighbors....you become friends..... it's a nice community.... 

You do things like this little BEFORE & AFTER number... and you feel good about yourself!

BEFORE (needs something...)

AFTER (ahhh......there it is!)

You deal with things like this midwinter's treat and 

you wonder how you ever got talked into home ownership!
OOF!

Destroyed Aquastat (sadness)

Two of the most important tools for us homeowners here in the Village are the Village Code and the Building Inspector.   We rely on the Building Inspector and the Village Code to protect our property rights and the promise of home improvement.

As we know, our Village Code is outdated. In many places it does not reflect our community.  Our Zoning Code is slated for an update with the assistance of able volunteers and funding from NYSERDA.  Our Historic District Chapter is being updated by the Historic District Review Board with the support of counsel specializing in Historic Preservation.

Other chapters in our Code are also in need of updating.  In July the Village Board discussed proposed updates to the Building Construction Chapter 40 of our Village Code.  Chapter 40 defines the Powers & Procedures of our Building Inspector. It authorizes him to enforce the New York State Building Code and our Village’s building regulations, and to issue permits and renewals of specific duration.

At its July 24th workshop the Village Board initiated important discusses to revise Chapter 40 to make sure it reflects the needs of our community in the 21st Century.  See page two of the meeting minutes here.  In coming weeks the Village Board will revisit this discussion and take action in connection with amending the Local Law pertaining to Chapter 40.

Please review for yourself the Chapter 40 and make a point of joining the Village Board when it schedules this workshop. Updating this code is critical to the smooth running of our Building Department and the continued assurance of home improvement for all property owners.