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AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICIANS, PERSONS DOING RESIDENTIAL WIRING, PERSONS ENGAGING IN THE BUSINESS OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING, INDUSTRIAL PLANT ELECTRICIANS, AND ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE MEN; AND PROVIDING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF ALL PERSONS ENGAGED IN ELECTRICAL WORK, TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (NOTE: THIS ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED BY ORD-51:007 ON APRIL 16, 1951; ORD-58:1775 ON MAY 19, 1958; ORD-60:2910 ON JANUARY 18, 1960; ORD-75:2279 ON MARCH 3, 1975)
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BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. There is hereby created a Board of Examiners of Electricians and Supervisors of all persons, firms and corporations engaged in electrical work, which will hereafter be referred to as "Board" Said Board shall be composed of one person engaged in the insurance business, two master electricians, one of whom shall be the City electrical inspector, the manager of the City Water and Light Plant of Jonesboro, the Mayor, or some member of the City Council designated by the Mayor. Appointments to the Board shall be made by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council at the first Council meeting January of each year hereafter, except that the Board to serve the remained of the year 1948 shall be appointed and approved immediately following the passage of this ordinance. Members of the Board shall always serve for three years, except that the manager of the City Water and Light Plant and the Electrical Inspector shall always be members of the Board. The three members of the Board, other than permanent members, appointed at the first meeting of the Council in January 1949, shall draw lots for the one to serve three years, one to serve two years, and one to serve one year. Thereafter, one member of the board shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Council in January of each year. In case of a vacancy caused by the death, resignation, or other reason, the Mayor shall appoint a qualified person with the approval of the City Council to serve out the unexpired term of the member causing the vacancy.
SECTION 2. The Board shall elect a chairman and a secretary. The latter shall keep a full complete record of the procedures and actions of the Board, including the names, and addresses engaged in the electrical business in Jonesboro, keeping a list of master electricians, all persons authorized to do residential wiring, all electrical maintenance men, all industrial plant electricians, and all licensed electricians. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 3. The Board shall meet on call of the chairman or of any two members. Any members of the Board may be removed by the Council after hearing for incompetency, inefficiency or dereliction of duty. The Board shall adopt rules and regulations for the examination of applicants seeking to do electrical work or to engage in the electrical business in Jonesboro. Such rules and regulations may be modified and altered as the Board sees fit, and the same shall be filed with the City Clerk of Jonesboro.
SECTION 4. Every person firm or corporation desiring to engage in any kind of electrical work or business as hereinafter defined, shall, before engaging in such business, procure a Certificate of Competency from the Board. Applications for such certificates shall be made to the City Clerk, in writing, who shall immediately transmit same to the Secretary of the Board. Applicants shall deposit with the City Clerk the following examination fees:
a. Master electricians, industrial plant electricians and licensed electricians -- $10.00
b. Residential wireman and electrical maintenance men -- $5.00
SECTION 5. The Board shall examine all persons applying to do electrical work to determine their competency. Examination shall be given within ten days after application has been transmitted to the Board. No person shall engage in any kind of electrical work or business until he or she has procured a Certificate of Competency from the Board. All applicants must be adult persons, pass the examination prescribed by the Board and meet the following requirements:
a. A master electrician is defined to be a person having the general charge and supervision of the business of installing electrical wires, electrical machines, apparatus, devices, and instrumentalities; must be a graduate of a recognized university or college with at least two years practical experience in such work; or must be a journeyman electrician with a least four years practical experience in installing wires, conductors and other electrical equipment, machinery and apparatus used inside of buildings for the transmission of electric current for light, heat, power or signaling and must have a technical knowledge of such matters, necessary to satisfactorily pass the examination provided by the Board.
b. A residential wireman is defined as a person who has had at least two years practical experience in doing electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician, and who shall pass an examination given by the Board determining his competency to install wiring for light, heat, power or signaling and to do residential electrical repair work in residences only.
c. A licensed electrician is defined as a person engaged in the business of contracting to do electrical work; must be a master electrician or must have in his permanent employment as master electrician to manage and supervise all of the electrical work done by him; shall carry public liability and property damage insurance in the amount of not less than $5,000 for one person killed or injured, $10,000 where more than one person is killed or injured, and $5,000 where property is lost, destroyed or damaged.
d. Electrical maintenance is defined as a person in charge of the maintenance of electrical systems in plants, buildings or other places. Such person shall be required to pass an examination given by the Board determining his knowledge of electrical machinery and systems. He may be employed either whole or part time, but may not act as electrician for more than one electrical system at a time. This does not apply to City Water and Light Plant employees.
e. An industrial plant electrician is defined as a person regularly employed by an industrial manufacturing plant for the purpose of maintaining the existing electrical equipment of the plant and for the purpose of making additions thereto. No public utility plant shall be deemed as an industrial manufacturing plant. Such person shall be authorized to do electrical work in the designated industry and not to do any work outside of the plant; and shall pass an examination given by the Board to determine his competency to do such work.
SECTION 6. All licensed electricians shall report the name, address and telephone number of all master electricians employed by them. Any licensed electrician failing to comply with this provision may be suspended by the Board.
SECTION 7. All persons engaged in electrical work or business shall comply with the provisions of this ordinance as well as the rules and regulations adopted by the Board.
SECTION 8. All licensed electricians shall keep filed with the City Clerk a bond payable to the State of Arkansas for the use of the City of Jonesboro, such bond to be signed by a reputable surety company authorized to do business in the State of Arkansas, in the sum of $1,000 and shall be conditioned that the principal shall comply with the ordinances of the City and the rules and regulations of the Board regulating the doing of all electrical work of any kind, and agree to promptly indemnify the City of Jonesboro from all damage and loss caused by the negligence of the principal, his agents, servants and employees, or for the failure to comply with the rules and regulating of the Board or the ordinances of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
SECTION 9. The City shall pay the Board all expenses incurred in carrying on the business of the Board, including stenographic services, postage, stationary and incidentals.
SECTION 10. The Board may revoke or cancel any Certificate of Competency issued for any violation or non-compliance with any of the ordinances of Jonesboro or the rules and regulations of the Board or on account of incompetency of the person holding the certificate.
SECTION 11. The National Electrical Code published by the National Board of Fire Underwriters shall be considered the minimum requirements for doing electrical work in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
SECTION 12. Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance or the rules and regulations of the Board shall be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Hundred dollars ($100.00), and each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 13. All ordinances and parts of ordinances which are in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed provided, however, that this ordinance shall not repeal any occupation tax or privilege license provisions of any other ordinance.
SECTION 14. It is found that the installation and repair of electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment by persons lacking adequate and proper knowledge and experience with respect thereto endangers and is hazardous to the lives and property of the residents and citizens of Jonesboro, due to fire and electric shock that may result from improper installation or repair and the use of inappropriate materials; that the present ordinances of Jonesboro are inadequate to protect the residents and citizens of Jonesboro and their property against such dangers and hazards; and that, as a consequence, it is necessary for the protection of the public peace, health and safety that this ordinance becomes effective without delay; therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this ordinance shall be in effect from and after its passage.
PASSED and ADOPTED this the 15th day of November, 1948.