SILVERHILL, Alabama --- After a more than 30 minute discussion, the Silverhill Town Council voted Tuesday to table action to adopt the 2012 building codes.

The Town Council held a public hearing Tuesday for Ordinance No. 401 amending Ordinance No. 363 adopting the 2012 building codes, which includes:

• The 2012 International Building Code.
• The 2012 International Plumbing Building Code.
• The 2012 International Gas Code.
• The 2012 International Mechanical Code.
• The 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.
• The 2012 Baldwin County Supplemental Code for Residential Structures in addition to the International Residential Code.
• The National Electric Code, 2011 for Commercial Buildings and Residential Buildings containing more than two dwelling units.
• Local Wind Load Coade-3 second gusts winds: applicable to the 2012 IRC only 130 miles per hour south of I-10.

The Baldwin County Commission has adopted the 2012 building codes and is encouraging all municipalities to adopt them as well.

Silverhill Fire Chief Gary Patrick spoke during the public hearing and said he is in favor of adopting the new codes, which will have a positive impact on the town’s ISO rating which affects insurance rates.

However, he raised some concerns about the new ordinance.

First, he said, the 2012 IRC requires that sprinkler systems be installed in homes but, he said, following objection by the Homebuilders Association, there is a clause in the county’s building codes which says sprinkler systems cannot be required.

“I think it should be in there and I’m all for leaving it in,” Patrick said, “but I’m not sure you’ll be able to enforce it.”

Mayor Tim Wilson said they were told the clause was taken out of the county’s ordinance, “but we need to be sure of that before we proceed.”

Patrick also said the ordinance needs to clarify a section which requires a permit for “any physical or structural modification with potential impact on the public.”

“I could argue that painting constitutes a physical or structural modification,” said Council member Jared Lyles, “and I don’t think we want to go issuing permits every time someone paints a room in his house.”

Town Clerk Patricia Bankester said the clause is part of the current ordinance and would require an additional change if the Council wanted to add to the clause.

“The only thing this changes from the existing ordinance is Section 1,” Bankester said, which upgrades the building code requirements for the town.

Lyles motioned to table the ordinance until further clarification could be made, which was approved unanimously. Council member Bert Jones was not present at Tuesday’s meeting.

In other business Tuesday, the council voted to introduce Ordinance No. 402 setting a tax-exempt holiday for severe weather preparedness sales.

The State Sales Tax Holiday was enacted by the Alabama Legislature during the 2012 Regular Session and exempts taxes for “covered items” from 12:01 a.m. July 6 until midnight July 8 for this year, then for the last full weekend in February every year thereafter.

Officials said the state-wide ordinance was enacted to coincide with severe storm season in March and April, which affects mainly the central part of the state.

Wilson read a list of supplies, most of which, he said, can be found at the local Dollar General store. The tax exemption is for items costing less than $60, except for generators, that are tax exempt for items $20,000 or less.

In other business Monday, the council:

• Donated $100 per Silverhill student or a total of $400 to the Central Baldwin Middle School’s Technology Student Association for participation in the National competition June 21-25. Council member Shirley Stephens voted against the measure.
• Approved a reciprocal agreement to exchange information with Baldwin Colunty sales, use and license tax.
• Authorized the hiring of John Sturma and Sturma Builders as an independent contractor to help with the building of the new community center at a cost of $500 per week. Wilson told council member the project should be completed within 90 to 120 days.
• Announced the Council will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new community center at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 4.
• Heard a presentation from Chase Bryant on setting up a website for the town. Council members asked Bryant to present a contract proposal for consideration at the next council meeting June 4.
• Authorized Chief Kim Wasdin to proceed with hiring part-time temporary help to replace an officer who is being deployed to Afghanistan.