Officer added
Chandler to hire code compliance officer
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

The City of Chandler is set to hire a code compliance officer, an employee of the city who will inspect property for regulation and ordinance violations.

Jim Moffeit, City Administrator, said the position will officially be occupied as of October 1.

"We will have a code compliance officer on staff who will conduct a variety of code compliance inspections on public and private property," Moffeit said.

The officer will look for nuisances such as unsightly objects visible on lots. These nuisances, Moffeit commented, can include anything from sewage and trash to overgrown weeds and fallen timber.

Code compliance won't be the only job the officer performs; the duties of bailiff for Judge Ashley's Municipal Court and work manager for county inmates will also be added.

According to a job description briefing, the officer must be a high school graduate or GED, and will need a class C driver's license, as well as a Texas Peace Officers Certification.

"It's a full time position," Moffeit said.

The position will officially be filled on October 1, Moffeit added.

Ann Hall, a Chandler city council member, said the new position will alleviate police officers currently required to attend to compliance matters.

"Unless you have someone doing it fulltime, it's hard to keep track," Hall said.

Moffeit stated the officer will herald a change in the city's stance on compliance.

"We've been more complaint driven in the past," Moffeit said. "We'd rely on people to report violations. Now we're going to be more proactive."

However, Moffeit added, the goal is not to get people in trouble.

"We want them to clean up their property," Moffeit said of code violators. "We don't want to bring people into court."

When the compliance officer begins, the city will look over its current ordinances to make sure no one tries to enforce an unenforceable law, Moffeit remarked.

"We want to make sure the ordinances are fair," Moffeit said.

Once the new regulations are set the officer will start work.

Ann Hall said the position will not be an elected position, and will not have terms of office such as an elected official would have.

"The officer will solely be a paid employee of the city," Hall said.

The compliance officer's coverage area will encompass Chandler's city limits.

Moffeit said the new position is viable because of Chandler's current budget.

"The salary and position have been approved in the new budget," Moffeit said. "It became apparent we could possibly afford a compliance officer during talk about the budget four or five months ago."

Hall said she believes the position is absolutely necessary because of Chandler's growth.