Council committee backs amendment to historic-district code to allow multiple certified building officials on review boards

Lancaster City’s Community and Planning Committee on May 5 voted to forward an administration bill that would amend the city’s historic-district ordinance to broaden who can serve as the building-official representative on the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and the Historical Commission.

The proposed amendment updates the definition in Chapter 155 of the city code so a "building official" is a building inspector certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry who may be an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise retained by the city, and who is authorized by the director of Community Planning and Economic Development to issue permits. Director Delphs told the committee the change is intended to provide "more flexibility for appointments" and to align the code with state certification standards.

The bill does not add staff or increase pay, Delphs said, but allows the director to select among certified staff so the city can appoint qualified personnel to HARB or the Historical Commission without a separate council designation. Staff identified John Lafever and Dave Hamrick as existing, certified staff who could serve if needed.

Public commenters raised concerns. Susie Gomez questioned whether the change shifts decision-making authority away from elected officials and whether additional costs or burdens would follow; Director Delphs replied that the bill creates no new positions and that city employees who already serve on boards do not receive additional compensation. Another resident, Jose Rivera, expressed frustration with prior preservation outcomes and asked whether the change would affect specific demolition or preservation decisions; staff responded that the bill is a definition change and does not itself make project-specific determinations.

Committee members moved the bill to the full council; the motion passed on a voice vote. The item will be scheduled for the council meeting on May 13 for final consideration.