Rockland Legislature Vote Unanimously to Approve Budget For New Office of Buildings and Codes
The Rockland County Legislature voted 16-0 Tuesday during a special meeting to approve a budget and director for the new county Office of Buildings and Codes, which is authorized to begin its work as of Feb. 14.
“This isn’t something we wanted to be involved in – conducting another municipality’s work,” Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “The state of New York has mandated Rockland County Government to take on the task of safety inspections in the Village of Spring Valley and with these votes, we will be able to respond to the order. The most important thing is the protection of people – residents, businesses and first responders.”
The Legislative branch has been working with County Executive Ed Day and his staff to address the many issues that resulted from the Department of State’s directive requiring County government to take over safety inspections in the Village of Spring Valley. The new county department will be directly overseen by the County Executive’s office.
“We have provided everything necessary for the County Executive to operate the new Buildings and Codes Office and take care of conducting Spring Valley’s inspections as the state has mandated,” Legislature Minority Leader Lon Hofstein said. “Public safety is always paramount and County government is doing its part to protect the health and safety of residents, businesses and first responders.”
These are the resolutions that were adopted Tuesday:
• Approved amending the 2022 Adopted County Budget for the implementation of the new county Office of Building and Codes.
• Approved the creation of a director’s position for the new office (assigned to the County Executive’s Office)
• Confirmed the appointment of former Suffern village Mayor and retired NYPD Officer Edward Markunas as director
• Approved an Intermunicipal Agreement stipulating interactions between the new office and the Village (including the assignment of certain Spring Valley Village inspectors to the new County office, granting the County access and use of Spring Valley’s Municity recordkeeping software, and loaning Spring Valley’s vehicles and equipment to the County)
On Nov. 16, 2021, the County of Rockland was designated and ordered by then-New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado to assume administration and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code) within the Village of Spring Valley. The directive is effective Feb. 14, 2022.
