Pacolet council tables CCNI contract edits amid concerns over code access and inspection language

The Pacolet Town Council tabled proposed edits to its contract addendum with CCNI, the firm that provides code-enforcement and building-inspection services, after councilors raised concerns about inspection language and residents’ access to cited code provisions.

Town staff read written comments from CCNI's president, who noted that inspectors are bound by mandatory reporting duties and suggested that inspections with multiple failures might be paused and rescheduled. Town Administrator Patrick relayed CCNI’s position that, in some cases, more than five failed items would prompt a reinspection rather than a partial list of corrections.

Council members urged clearer language in the addendum and asked that inspection notices quote the exact code language being cited rather than only providing a code citation or commentary. One councilor said, “If they’re being cited for something ... they shouldn’t have to go hunt for it. It should be what’s being cited,” and another said the town should aim to make adopted South Carolina building codes directly accessible to homeowners and the construction board of appeals.

Several councilors expressed concern about reliance on CCNI’s web links for code access and recommended the town obtain a codified/accessible copy of the South Carolina–adopted building codes so that homeowners, the construction board of appeals and councilors can review cited provisions independently. The council also discussed the need to avoid enforcing commentary as though it were code.

After discussion, a motion to table the proposed addendum pending edits requested by council passed; staff and council members asked the administrator to collect the suggested changes and return the item for review.