In endorsing the adoption of more building codes, members of the Elmhurst City Council this week said a high priority was holding general contractors responsible for the upkeep of areas around construction sites.
In the past, contractors and trades people have shifted blame to one another when concerns arise, said Mayor Tom Marcucci. He said general contractors derive the most financial reward, and should be held accountable for all the work they oversee.
“That’s what I wanted … focus the responsibility squarely on somebody’s shoulders,” Marcucci said.
Alderman at the Monday meeting expressed concern about the on-site conduct requirements for contractors, such as cleaning up debris, keeping clear of sidewalks and the road, and obtaining permits for closing roads.
Building Commissioner Bruce Dubiel said residents should try to resolve concerns directly with contractors and turn to city departments, such as the police, only as a last resort. At a public meeting in November, Dubiel said, local contractors, architects and engineers backed the proposed codes and changes.
The number of teardowns in Elmhurst has climbed dramatically. Since 1994, the number of demolition permits for single-family houses and other structures has climbed every year except one, rising from 24 in 1994 to 244 in 2003, according to city records.
Last May, in response to complaints that some home contractors were not being neighborly, particularly on weekends, Elmhurst officials assigned a building code-enforcement officer to work Saturdays.
