Rn eer emer et Ret A eT a a = by Tod Strachan By some standards, the penalty wasn’t harsh when you consider what it could have been, but the warning to the building trades was ‘very clear. All construction work done within city limits will have all the appropriate permits and will -be inspected by the city’s building _ inspector. This message is the result of a public hearing in council chambers June 12 follow- ing the suspension of the business licence of Joe Phillips Contracting Lid. If you followed the proceedings, the exact infractions are still unclear. According to the city’s director of permits and licences, Bob Lafteur, a "Stop Work Order" was posted at the Kalum. St. _Copperside Foods construction site April 23 because Phillips poured concrete footings without approved plans, a building permit or prelimi- nary inspections. Following a meeting with project principals, though, the job was allowed to proceed. On May 14, however says Lafleur, it was discovered that Phillips had poured a large section of concrete wall without calling for an’ inspection and he therefore suspended Phillips” licence pending a public hearing before council. According to Lafleur, about 60 percent of the concrete poured at the site was inspected. But then there’s Joe Phillips’ side of the story. According to one participant in the hearing, local contractors have to accept concrete when it’s delivered and the local cement company decides when that will be... no one else. In the latter incident, according to Phillips, he was told delivery would be at about 6 p.m. on a Saturday night and the forms -were therefore inspected by the project architect, Allan Soutar, prior to pouring. The first pour was also inspected by LTD Cie TWIRIRS AR — a) ee es i 8 A Wietorias 1-33 % Soutar, he added. Another point made by Phillips was that the cement footings and wall in question were not a part of the main structure, they were there only to support a decorative brick wall between the Copperside prop- erty and the Kermode Friendship Centre. Phillips also pointed out that problems with concrete delivery times is nothing new. He told council that in past years he has poured concrete sidewalks for the city and has also done concrete work at the airport, the RCMP building and several other jobs in town; all without inspection by city inspectors. All this work, though, was inspected by the pro- ject architect and “never before these two have their been any problems. Phillips explained as well that when concrete is being delivered, the contractor has employees carn- ‘ing between $28 and $38 per hour Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 20, 1990 A9 7 racting waiting for delivery and the cont-— ractor, particularly on a weekend, can’t always wait for the building inspector to show up. In response to another charge, that plumbing work had been completed on some of Phillips projects without any inspections, “Phillips said that he. believed it Building inspections "shall be done" as result of Joe Phillips Cont suspension There should be.a relationship of "trust", he said. Phillips agreed on the point of better communication. He pointed out that he only knew of the hearing through media reports; he hadn't been told by anyone at city hall. Lafleur, on the other hand, told council that the city is responsible for certifying © was the plumbers responsibility to call for an inspection on plumbing jobs. — Copperside architect, Allan Sou- tar, spoke on behalf of Phillips and told council that all work at the site had been “above average" quality and verified that he had inspected each pour of concrete. And the forms, he said, were "clean" and reinforcing steel had ‘been installed as designed. Soular also pointed out to council that he had been designing buildings in Terrace for 20 years and neither his work or qualifications had never been questioned before. He also pointed out that the cement wall in question was only cight yards of a total of 150 yards of concrete that were poured at the site. ‘Soutar called for better communi- cation between the industry, who have to meet deadlines and budgets, and the building inspector, who is only trying to do his job. the safety and quality of all con- struction work in town and that it -which Phillips can’t be done unless the building inspector looks at and approves all work, In the end, it was our city alder- men who had to sort these issues out, And there decision was {0 impose a one month suspension on Phillips which, because it first went into effect on May 12, meant that Phillips was back in business the following day, June 13. Only a "rap on the knuckles” by some standards. But from a business point of view it’s much more serious than that. According to Soutar, a tender submitted by Phillips on another job was not accepted even though he was the low bidder. Why? Because of the adverse publicity caused by the release of informa- tion to the media on incidents had earlier described as "blown out of propo- rtion". But as Lafleur explained, even though he can sympathize with Phillips’ position, the fact that he has “obligations to meet" can’t be ignored. SPECIAL 30% OFF ‘ the cleaning of R Ladies’ ss and Men’s Suits — June 13 - Rickards Cleaners wv Only drive-thru in town » Best, most reliable and cleanest service Drop off point at Thornhill Public Market 8:00 a.m, to 6:00 p.m. — Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, — Saturday KIDDIE CORNER FROM THE POST OFFICE Dresses June 23 3223 Emerson St. Terrace, B.C. VBG 2R9 Phone 635-5119 _I hatcyer you wear - e clean with care.