ORD NO 03-1967 ORDINANCE NO. 3 -1967
AN ORDINANCE CRLiTING AN ELECTRICAL EXAMINING BOARD, AND PROVIDING
FOR LICENSING ELECTRICIANS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
NOW THEREFORE DE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUICIL OF VAN UUREN,
ARKANSAS.
Section 1. Definitions.
A.. Electrical inspector shall mean the chief electrical
inspector of the City of Van Buren and /or any of his
duly authorized assistants.
.B. Electrical contractor shall mean any person, firm or
corporation engaged in the business of installing,
repairing or altering electric wiring, or non portable
electric fixtures or apparatus in the city, and who
has complied with the terms of this ordinance.
C. Master electrician shall mean any person who possesses
the necessary qualification, training and technical
knowledge to plan, lay out and supervise the instal-
lation, maintenance and extension of electric wiring,
as the same is defined in this ordinance, and who has
complied with the terms of this ordinance.
D. Journeyman wireman shall mean any person qualified under
the provisions of this ordinance to engage in the instal-
ling or repair of electric wiring, as the same is defined
in this ordinance, and who has complied with the terms of
this ordinance.
E. Apprentice wireman shall mean any person who is learning
the electric wiring trade and who is competent to assist,
under the supervision of a journeyman wireman, in the
work of installing or repairing electric wiring or
installing non portable electrical fixtures or apparatus.
F. Maintenance electrician shall mean any one person respon-
sible for the work of operating, installing, caring for
and maintaining the electrical installation of any build-
ing or factory previously completed under the provisions
of this ordinance. "Electrical installation" as used
herein means electrical apparatus, equipment and wiring
installed or operated beyond the main cutoff or primary
source.
G. Electric wiring. The term "electric wiring" as used in
this ordinance means the installation of electrical:race-
ways, conductors, or apparatus of any kind used, or to be
used, in or on any building for thu transmission and dis-
tribution of electric current for electric light, heat,
or power, or nonportable electrical fixtures and apparatus
of any nature to be connected to light, heat or power
service; provided however, that the words "electric wiring"
"electrical equipment" and !'apparatus" shall not be deemed
to include or refer to service lines, apparatus, and equip-
ment for the sale, distribution and regulation of elect-
ricity and remaining the property of the electric service
company oar for telephone, telegraph video, or other com-
munication purposes, or in connection therewith, or manu-
facturer wired apparatus or equipment.
H. National Electrical Code shall mean the code or standard
adopted by the National Fire Protection Association, for
electric wiring and apparatus.
Section 2. Electrical Examining Board.
A. Created; membership. There is hereby created an electrical
examining Board. The board shall consist of three (3)
members. One (1) member of such board shall be a licensed
electrical contractor, one (1) member a journeyman electrician
of at least ten (10) years experience, and one (1) member
.having a knowledge of electricity. The members of said Board
shall be appointed by the arnyor, and approved by the City
Council, and serve at the pleasure of the City Council.
B. Meetings; to examine electricians. The Board shall meet once
each quarter -year upon call of the Chairman. The Board shall
examine all applicants for license as Master. Electrician or
Journeyman Wiremen.
C. Regulations authorized; compensation. The Electrical Exam-
ining Board shall prescribe and publish such rules and
regulations as aro necessary to effectuate the purposes of
its creation and present the form of examination for each
applicant, which shall be uniform.
Section3. Board of Electrical A;_peals.
A. Created; membership. The City Council of the City of Van
Buren, Arkansas, is hereby designated the Board of Electrical
appeals.
D. To hear appeals. The board of electrical appeals shall hear
appeals from all persons aggrieved by any action done or
Omitted to be done by the electrical examining board and /or
electrical inspector.
C. Regulations authorized; record on appeal. The Board of
Electrical Appeals shall prescribe and publish such rules and
regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of its
creation; provided, however, that all appeals from decisions
by the electrical examining Board shall be taken upon the
record made and established before the electrical examining
board.
D. When appeals authorized; application required. An appeal may
be taken to the board of electrical appeals, from any ruling,
interpretation, requirement, or decision made by the electrical
examining board and /or the electrical inspector. A statement
in writing showing wherein the electrical examining board,and/
or electrical inspector is alleged to have been wrong must be
filed with the city clerk, within five (5) days from said
ruling, interpretation, requirement, or decision. Failure to
file such written statement shall constitute a waiver of the
appeal.
5ection_A. Examinations,.licenses required for master electricians.
and journeymen:
No person shall work as a master electrician or journeyman wireman
in the city unless he shall have passed the Examination provided for
herein and secured a license as provided for herein.
Section 5. Apprentice wiremen to be supervised by cjourrneymen and
rigistered.
Apprentice wireman shall work under the direct and personal super-
vision of a journeyman wireman and be registered with the chief elec-
trical inspector of the city.
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Section 6. Examination, licensing of masters.
A. The electrical examining board shall, each quarter year, hold
examinations for applicants desiring to secure licenses as
master electricians. An applicant for license as a master
electrician must be a graduate electrical engineer from a
recognized univorsigy or college, with at least one (1) year
actual experience installing wire, conductors, and electrical
equipment used inside of buildings for the transmission :of
electrical current for light, heat or power purposes, or
he must have a license as a journeyman wireman and must have
had at least six (6) years experience, two (2) years of which
were as a journeyman wireman installing wires, conductors and
electrical equipment used inside buildings for the transmission
of electrical current for light, heat and power purpose's.
B. An applicant who has qualified by passing the prescribed
examination shall be certified to the chief electrical in-
spector by the board and the chief electrical inspector shall,
upon the payment of the fees provided for heroin, issue a
master electrician's license to such applicant.
C, Any person holding a valid license as electrical contractor
and actively engaged as electrical contractor within the city,
and those persons working in the city as a master electrician
as of the date of the adoption of this ordinance, may secure
a license as master electrician upon written application to
the electrical examining board within thirty (30) days from
and after the date of adoption of this ordinance, and upon the
payment of the same amount as the annual renewal fee of Five
Dollars ($5.00).
Section 7. Examination, licensing of journeymen's
A. The electrical examining board shall, each quarter year, hold
examinations for applicants desiring to secure licenses as
journeyman wireman.
B. A journeyman wirernan's examination shall consist of not less
than twenty (20) questions, to be answered in writing,'
designed to show the extent of the applicant's knowledge con-
cerning the detail provisions of this ordinance, the .National
Electrical Code and the practical experience in electrical
wiring which the applicant has had and the degree of'profic-
iuncy which ho attained. A grape of seventy -five (75) per
cent out of one hundred (100) par cent (as perfect) shall be
necessary for the applicant to pass.
C. An applicant who has qualified by passing the prescribed
examination shall he certified to the chief electrical'in-
spector by the board and the chief electrical inspector shall,
upon the payment of the fees provided for herein, issue a
journeyman wireman's license to such applicant.
Section 8. Maintenance electricians to be registered, certified.
No person shall engage in the occupation of maintenance electrician
without first being registered with the chief electrical inspector by
the owner or owners of the officd building, commercial buildings,
plants or factories, schools and similar buildings, or by the au-
thorized representative of such owner or owners, such registration
showing the name of the employer, the place or placesHof employment,
and certifying that the maintenance electrician named is a regular
employee giving his full time to this employer's service.
Page 3
Section 9. Duration, lapse of maintenance electri'cian's certificate.
A certificate issued to a maintenance electrician shall lapse when
he leaves the employment under which he is registered, but willPbe
reregistered upon certification by his new employer, and such certif-
icate shall not authorize the maintenance electricians to do electric
wiring in or upon any building other than that named in his registra-
tion; pnovidod, however, that the owner or owners of a building or
buildings may in purson, or by an authorized agent, add under: the
registration of a maintenance electrician the name of location of any
other office building, commercial buildings, plants, factories,
schools and similar buildings which may come under the control of said
owner or owners.
Section 10. Registration of electrical contractors; master elec-
trician required.
A. Any person, or a member, and /or employ: ;e of a firm, partner-
ship or corporation desiring to engage in the business of
'electrical contractor may apply for and be issued a license
upon satisfying said electrical examining board that tbr.or it
is either a master electrician or employs a master electrician
as its superintendent or manager and shall execute the bond
hereinafter provided.
B. Before any person, firm, partnership, or corporation shall
,engage in the business of electrical contracting, as herein
defined, the name, residence and place of businessnof such
person, firm, partnership or corporation shall be registered
in a book to be kept for the purpose by the chief electrical
inspector of the city. In said book shall else be recorded
the name of the master electrician managing or supervising the
business of such person, firm, partnership or corporation as
superintendent or manager and the date on which such parson
qualified as a master electrician under the terms and
provisions of this ordinance. Every removal of place of busi-
ness, or change in name of thenorganization, or change' in the
licensed master Electrician in charge of the businuss,,shall
require immediate notice thereof to the chief electrical
inspector, who shall made the proper changes in the record
book heretofore mentionud. Every electrical contractor shall
promptly report to the chief electrical inspector the death,
resignation or discharge of his or its master electrician; and
if another master electrician is not secured within three (3)
'days after the next succeeding examination held therefore by
the electrical examining board, the license of such contractor
shall be suspended until a new licensee master electrician is
employed.
C. No licensed master electrician can represent more than one
firm at a time. The actual work shall be done by a qualified
master electrician or journeyman wireman.
Section 11. Examination, registration fees; renewal fees; effect of
failure to pass examination; expiration of licenses,
registration.
A. The examination fuss shall be paid in advance to the chief
electrical inspector.
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B. The fees for examination for master electrician shall be
twenty -five dollars (225.00).
C. The fens of examination and initial license for journeyman
wireman shall be tan dollars (310.00).
D. The foe for registration of maintenance electrician shall be
five dollars (x5.00).
E. Annual renewal fe_.s shall be five dollars (.5.00) for a master
electrician, journeyman wireman, or maintenance electrician.
F. An applicant who fails to pass the examination for either
master electrician or journeyman shall not be eligible
for reexamination until a period of three (3) months has
elapsed. The examination foes hurein provided for shall be
required for each examination administered.
G. All licenses and registration provided for herein shall expire
on December 31 following date of issue and no reductidn for
partial year shall be made.
Section 12. Licenses not transferable; _permittinq unlawful use.
It shall be unlawful for any person holding a license to transfer
same or allow the use of same, directly or indirectly, by any other
0 person for the purpose of obtaining a permit to do any of the electrical
work herein specified.
Section 13. Electrical contractors to be bonded.
The electrical contractor shall execute a bond which he shall
renew annually, in thu sum of two thousand dollars 02000.00) in
favor of the city, such bond to be conditioned for the faithful and
propor conduct of licensee's business in compliance with all—ordinances
of the city relating to electric wiring and all rules and regulations
made thereunder; and for thu payment of all fines and penalties imposed
for a violation of such law;; and for the protection and indenification
of any person incurring damages resulting from or in any way growing
out of or on account of the negligence or unskilled work on the part
of such licensee; provided that the surety of such bond shall be a
surety company authorized by the State of Arkansas.
Section 14. Viol ations, penalties.
A Any parson, firm or corporation who engages in or follows the
business or occupation of, or advertises or holds himself or
itself out or acts temporarily or otherwise as an electrician
without first having secured the required dicense or permit,
or who otherwise violates any provision of this ordinance,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty
five dollars (225.00), nor more than one hundred dollars
(3100.00) or by imprisonment in the city jail for not less
than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months, or by
both such fine and imprisonment. Loch day during which a
violation continues shall be termed a separate offense.
Page 5
B. Any parson who shall do any act prohibited by this ordinance
or fail or refuse to obey a lawful order of the electrical
examining board or board of electrical appeals or chief
electrical inspector or his authorized representative shall
be punished by imprisonment in the city jail for not more
than ninety (90) days, or by a fine not to exceed one hundred
dollars ($100.00) or by both such fine or imprisonment.
C. Any electrical contractor who shall employ an apprentice
representing him to be a journeyman shall be punished by a
fine of not more than twenty -five dollars ($25.00) or by
imprisonment in the city jail for not more than thirty (30)
days or by both such fine or imprisonment. Each day of
violation shall be a separate offense.
0. Any electrical contractor who shall employ and /or use any
parson in the installation of wiring who has not received
a license or permit by the city, or having first been
registered with the chief electrical inspector, shall be in
violation of this ordinance and shall be subject to any or
all of the penalties provided in subsection (a) of this
section.
Section 15. Effect on existing licenses.
Any person, firm or corporation validly and actively engaging in
4D the business of electrical contracting, as herein defined, or following
the trade of master electrician, or following the trade of journeyman
wireman, as herein defined, at the time of the adoption of this ord-
inance, may procure the requisite license for electrical contractor,
master electrician, or journeyman wireman, as the case may b;, by
making written application to the chief electrical inspector within
thirty (30) days from the date of adoption of this ordinance, and
paying the annual renewal fee.
Section 16. Work and personnel excluded.
The maintenance of electrical systems or apparatus in established
industrial or commercial structures or installations within the city
and the performance of duties in connection therewith, except as
specifically required herein, shall be excluded and exempt from the
provisions of this ordinance.
Section 17.
That be reason of the immediate necessity of protecting
the community an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this
ordinance being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety shall take effect and be in force from and
after its passage, approval and publication.
Page 6
Pass.;d and approved this 6th day of March, 1967.
Allen R. Toothakor (s)
Mayor
Attest
Geo L Crofton (s)
City Clerk
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