Judge Rules in Favor of Clarksburg in Code Dispute

A judge has ruled that the state fire commission doesn’t have authority over Clarksburg’s code enforcement office.

The Exponent Telegram reports that the Clarksburg city council learned of Kanawha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey’s decision Thursday night.

The city and the fire commission have been at odds over the city’s code enforcement practices. In June 2014, the commission said that the city’s building codes were unlawful and that code officers were uncertified. In December 2014, the agency insisted the city vacate all pending building demolition orders.

The city argued that the commission was overstepping its bounds.

Mayor Cathy Goings said the judge’s ruling Thursday was good news for the city.

Fire Commission Chairman Carl Sizemore didn’t immediately comment on the ruling.