Virginia Building and Code Officials Association

From Virginia Town & City, Oct. 2008 -- PDF version

VBCOA is recipient of ICC Merit Award

The numerous achievements of the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association were highlighted in 2008 by the receipt of the International Code Council’s Merit Award.

ICC is the author of the codes used by most U.S. cities, counties and states regulating the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Fredericksburg Property Maintenance Code Inspector John Walsh chaired VBCOA’s Public Information Committee that submitted the entry for the ICC award.

VBCOA focused its educational efforts in 2008 on issues related to sustainable development. The VBCOA spring meeting in Charlottesville included training on the topic. VBCOA and its sister organization, the Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association, will hold a joint meeting on Oct. 26-29 in Wytheville. The sessions will cover issues such as green building technologies, the national green building standard and legal requirements in code inspections.

VBCOA is a statewide organization of construction regulators and representatives dedicated to protecting the health, safety and welfare of those living, working and visiting in Virginia. The purposes of VBCOA are to promote the interests and welfare of code enforcement agencies and greater uniformity in code regulation. Its work is guided by its strategic plan, which includes 12 goals ranging from encouraging participation in the code development process to developing a leadership mentor process.

VBCOA members are active in the code development process at the state and national levels. Chesterfield Deputy Building Official Richard Witt serves on the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development. Powhatan County Building Official J. Robert Allen is the vice chair of the State Technical Review Board and Prince William County Building Official Eric Mays is a member of that body. Newport News Building Official Michael D. Redifer serves on the Board for Contractors and Augusta County Building Official Michael C. Nickell serves on the Manufactured Housing Board. Roger Robinson, chief of inspections in Chesterfield County, represents VBCOA on the Building Code Academy Advisory Committee. Virginia Beach Building Official Cheri Bright Hainer and Norfolk Deputy Code Official Vernell Woods represent local governments on the Design-Build Construction Management Review Board.

Steven Shapiro, director of codes enforcement in Hampton, is the President of the ICC and William D. Dupler, building official in Chesterfield County, serves on the Board of Directors. Numerous VBCOA members participate on ICC code development, code interpretation, and special ad hoc committees.

The association provides scholarships for code officials to attend national code development hearings sponsored by the ICC, thus allowing Virginia and VBCOA to have a stronger voice in the development of national codes. In 2008, VBCOA funded scholarships for seven members to attend ICC meetings in Palm Springs, Calif., and in Minneapolis.

VBCOA is made up of eight regions, each of which elects a chairman who also serves on the VBCOA Board of Directors. Each region has periodic meetings that include educational sessions on construction topics. The region chairs are Stan Massie (Wytheville, Region I), Cathy Cook (Blacksburg, Region II), Kevin Kline (Rockingham County, Region III), Paul Snyder (Louisa County, Region IV), Sean Farrell (Prince William County, Region V), Rodger Slate (Chesterfield County, Region VI), Steve Daum and Mike Clift (Lancaster County and King George County, Region VII), and Vernell Woods (Norfolk, Region VIII). Region V was the recipient of VBCOA’s newly instituted Region of the Year award, which was given at the association’s spring meeting.

The association honors other individuals and companies through service awards. Richard Witt and Joel Baker received awards in 2007 in recognition of their meritorious service to the building codes profession. Mary Jo Fields, executive director of VBCOA and director of research for the Virginia Municipal League, received the 2007 President’s Award. Richard Ritter, senior inspector, Shenandoah County, received a public service award in 2007 in recognition of his efforts keeping the construction industry and public informed of code requirements. Ritter is webmaster for VBCOA’s Web site – www.vbcoa.org. The site is widely used by VBCOA members and others involved in the construction industry.

The 2007-08 officers are President John Glover, building official, Staunton; First Vice President Lynn Underwood, building official, Norfolk; Second Vice President James L. Collins, code enforcement branch chief, Prince William County; Sergeant At Arms Joel Baker, building commissioner, Roanoke County; and Immediate Past President Guy Tomberlin, chief plumbing inspector, Fairfax County.