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Maine Code Enforcement Officer Certification Newsletter
Vol. 1, Issue 2
Winter 2010
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In This Issue
Have You Received an Updated Certificate?
DPS Hires Building Code Director
Shoreland Zoning Training
CEO and LPI Exams
Training for Recertification
Have You Received an Updated Certificate?
 
certificate
 
All certified CEOs and LPIs should have received a new certificate and certification card indicating their new expiration date due to a change in legislature. For example, if your certification expired 01/31/2010 your new certificate would indicate the expiration of 01/31/2011.
 
If you did not receive a new certificate please contact Brianne and she can email your documents.

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Maine State Planning Office
38 State House Station
 184 State Street
Augusta, ME  04333-0038 
207-287-8058

Did you know?

The Golden Gate Bridge, which was completed in 1937, has two main cables that pass over the tops of the main towers and are secured in concrete anchorages at each end. Each cable is made of 27,572 strands of wire. There are 80,000 miles (129,000 km) of wire in the two main cables, and it took over six months to spin them.

Department of Public Safety Hires Building Codes Director
 
DPS Logo
Former CEO Richard Dolby is now the Director of Building Codes and Standards at the Department of Public Safety. His job responsibilities will include; the adoption of a Uniform Building Code for the State of Maine and associated amendments, resolving conflicts and providing interpretation, keeping the records of the Technical Building Codes and Standard Board, providing technical support and public outreach. You can contact him at Richard.A.Dolby@maine.gov or 624-7006.
 
The Maine State Planning Office is in the process of hiring a building codes training coordinator. This position will work closely with the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board and Director of the Bureau of Building Codes and Standards within the Department of Public Safety in developing the training program and, once developed, provide training necessary to certify municipal code enforcement officers, building inspectors, and third-party inspectors.
 
For a list of key dates and answers to frequently-asked questions about the new code please click here.
A Great Turn Out for Shoreland Zoning Training

Maine WetlandDuring the week of November 16th the CEO Program and DEP offered 5 basic shoreland zoning trainings around the state including; Auburn, Machias, Portland, Bangor, and Presque Isle. Rich Baker, Michael Morse, and Stefanie MacLagan facilitated the trainings that attracted a total of 200 people who were able to earn 6 shoreland zoning credits. Topics covered included; erosion control issues and plans, state-wide timber harvesting standards, nonconformance issues, clearing standards and lot coverage, water-dependent uses, inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat ratings, and guideline amendments. The DEP team reported a lot of active participation and positive feedback regarding the training.
 
The CEO program is working to offer internal plumbing and legal issues basic training in the upcoming months. Once dates and locations have been set you will receive an announcement via email. 
 Exams Proctored During December
 
test answer sheetDuring the month of December 40 people took code enforcement and local plumbing inspector exams. Exams that were offered included shoreland zoning, land use and zoning, legal issues, subsurface wastewater and internal plumbing. All exams, with the exception of building standards, have been updated. Trainers have looked at the multiple choice and case study questions and we have checked the exams to make sure the information on the exam is in the corresponding manual.

The CEO Certification Program will offer exams quarterly. The next opportunity to take an exam is March 18th in Portland and March 19th in Augusta. You can find an exam registration and information form here. Please keep in mind that you can take 2 exams per day. Currently, we are not offering the building standards exam. If you are an appointed building inspector and you are not certified in building standards please contact Brianne
Advanced Outside Training Opportunities
 clip art of classroom
JETCC and Maine Non Point Source Training and Resource Center have released their winter/spring training sessions. Most of these workshops are geared toward local plumbing inspectors and would give attendees subsurface wastewater credits. Below you will see details on these and other opportunities to earn building standard credits.
 
Keep up to date with our training calendars by checking back often. Please remember to submit an outside training request form after attending these workshops.
 
Upcoming Training:

Basic & Advanced Erosion Control for Contractors
January 28, 2010, Portland Water District, Portland
February 3, 2010, York County Community College, Wells
February 10, 2010, Ramada Inn, Lewiston
February 24, 2010, MDOT Performance and Training Center, Fairfield
March 4, 2010, Black Bear Inn, Orono
March 10, 2010, Calais Motor Inn, Calais
April 7, 2010, Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, Presque Isle

Downtown Institute 2010
January 29, 2010, Lecture Hall, City Center, Augusta

Keeping Foundations Warm & Dry
January 29, 2010, Mitchell Center, University of Southern Maine, Gorham

Annual Energy Efficiency& Indoor Air Quality Seminar: Evaluating Homes for Pre-Existing Conditions Prior to Weatherization
February 5, 2010 (Snow date February 7, 2010), Augusta Civic Center, Augusta

Subsurface Wastewater System Inspection
February 11, 2010, Holiday Inn West, Portland

The Building Shell
February 12, 2010, Mitchell Center, University of Southern Maine, Gorham

Basic Onsite Wastewater System Installation
February 25, 2010, University of New England, Biddeford
March 31, 2010, Lincoln Center for Arts Education, Rockland

Ventilating New & Existing Homes
March 5, 2010, Mitchell Center, University of Southern Maine, Gorham

Deep Energy Retrofits featuring Marc Rosenbaum, P.E.
March 23, 2010, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

New Local Plumbing Inspector
March 11, 2010, Auburn Riverwatch Hilton Garden, Auburn
April 21, 2010, Jeff's Catering, Brewer

2010 Maine Indoor Air Quality Conference
March 24, 2010, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta

Advanced Wastewater Topics
March 24, 2010, Holiday Inn West, Portland
April 8, 2010, T&B's Celebration Center, Skowhegan
April 27, 2010, Meduxnekeag Ramblers Snowsled Club, Littleton

Ethical and Technical Issues for the Site Evaluator
March 26, 2010, Ramada Inn, Lewiston
April 16, 2010, The Hutchinson Center, Belfast

Local Meeting Space?
  
 
large meeting roomDoes your town office have a large space for meetings and trainings that the CEO program could use at no cost? We are looking for locations across the state that would allow the program to use space to facilitate trainings. Ideally the space would hold 25 or more people. Please contact Brianne if your municipality has such space and would be willing to allow the CEO program use.
New Demographic Data Resource
  
 
The state has put out a very useful new resource for gathering economic and demographic data. The website provides easy-to-access, on-line data for towns on population, demographics, housing, retail sales, and employment. Please visit http://econ.maine.gov/ to make use of this resource.