How appeals and due process will work under the new structure

Todd, the county property-maintenance inspector, described the practical enforcement steps residents should expect after receiving a notice: a letter identifies the alleged violation and recipients have 14 days to request a hearing to contest the finding.

"If you don't believe that you're out of code, you contact me within 14 days of receipt of that and just ask for a hearing," Todd said, explaining the formal appeal window. He also said staff commonly allows more time in practice (often a month) to accommodate scheduling and language barriers, but the 14‑day notice is part of the codified due process. Mr. Wright emphasized the board operates as a quasi‑judicial body: each side presents evidence, the board applies health-and-safety or building codes to the facts, and dissatisfied parties retain the right to pursue a court appeal after the board's decision.

Board members were reminded not to engage in ex parte communications with parties and to treat appeals as evidentiary hearings rather than legislative rulemaking. The board did not take public comment on changing the appeal window at the meeting.