We finally got word about the radiators - we are FINE!!!!!!
My worker spoke directly to the actual inspector that will be doing our inspection. She said that the radiators fall into a "supervision" category. This means that is is in the same category as making sure a child does not touch a hot stove or get into the unlocked liquor cabinet (which by the way is high up - but not locked).
We found out on Friday but I was away for the weekend.
I could not be happier.
Also in the same conversation, we found out that the local police report from our town has come in and we are just waiting for the local report from my last town. It has been sent 3 times now. Yup - that is right. The forms have been sent three times. The first two were sent to the wrong precinct. There are over half a million people in my last "town" so of course there are more than one police stations. When we had our local inspection, I questioned where it was sent (at the advice of my husband) and that is when I learned that it was sent to the wrong place.
The paperwork was sent for the third time about 1/7 or so. I plan to call the actual police dept this week just to make sure they actually received it. This is the LAST thing that is needed.
Of course after this is received, we still have to do the state inspection. My worker still has not said if I can schedule the state inspection if all the paperwork is not on file. Kind of annoying waiting for other people to do stuff - stuff that I have no control over.
This week will be the 60 day mark from when the paperwork was received by the local child services dept. But, about 90 days since we submitted our initial application. I know I have to go by the first timeline and I think it sucks that I can't count that first month. Well, I guess I could, we did take our classes in that first month. But, we would have been able to do the classes and the paperwork.
I know I should not dwell on this over and over, since what is done is done, but I am just overly anxious.
......................
On another topic - I am thinking about combining all my blogs. It seems like I do not have enough info to post of several. But if you combine the blogs, I have enough for multiple updates.
I am not sure if I will keep the main on and add all these posts (obviously much easier) or change the blog totally.
Let me know what you think about this idea.
Oh - just an FYI - once we receive placement, all pictures would be on a blog that has a password.
Showing posts with label inspection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspection. Show all posts
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
More about the radiators
I figured since I am less pissed, I would tell the whole story of the radiators.
Way back when we were in class, the topic of old house came up. My house was built in 1900 (ish) and so I would call that old. Topics such as unique floor plans, lead paint, short basements, etc came up. I was kind of concerned about our radiators, not because I thought they would be an issue, but because I could think of nothing else in my house that would be an issue.
I asked our trainer (who works a lot in my county) if the old cast iron radiators would be an issue. He flat out said that he has NEVER heard of anyone failing inspection becasue of raditors. Cool, I thought I was in the clear.
To be safe, I posted this topic on a NJ fost/adopt message board. I got several replies about it and all of them said it was not an issue. There were a few people that also had that concern and they were still waiting for their final inspection (from the state).
I thought nothing of it. Our worker comes to our house to do the "couple" interview at which time she quickly looks through the house for the MAJOR violations. Nothing said about the radiators. She comes back a week later to do my indiv interview and sees the radiator. At this point she tells me that it might be an issue. I told her that I spoke to the trainer about this and advised her of the answer. She said she was going to talk to a supervisor.
Fast forward to this past monday. She comes to do her final inspection - it is required before the state can do theirs. She advised me that the radiators WILL be an issue. By this point, the people on that message board have had their inspections and advised me that the inspector did not even give the raditors a second glance. I tell her this and tell her that they will cost hundreds of dollars each for covers. i know I was getting upset, and I was trying to explain to her that they are not a fire hazard or anything - if that was the case, I would not be able to get home owners insurance.
I went back to the message board and someone was able to send me a copy of the inspection manual.
Well, here is the thing - there is NOTHING written in the inspection manual (69 pages) that says anything about the radiators. The only thing close is "all electric portable heaters or fireplaces must have a guard or cover"
I can attest that these radiators are NOT portable and not electric.
So, my social worker was contacting the actual inspector to see if 1) it is actaully a violation or 2) could we get a waiver.
My worker told us that DYFS may pay for them - yup MAY. It would have to go through an approval process and it could really delay things. My worker wanted us to go through the whole thing first before even finding out it is was needed. Hello, backwards!
I suggested that she call the inspector - totally playing it up as "why should dyfs spend thousands of $$ to fix a problem that might not be a problem at all" I guess she aggreed and now we are just waiting to hear back.
Yes, I am sure we could kind of make them ourselves, but each one is a different size, so it would be a lot of work.
The worker basically told the inspector that we don't have the $$ to get covers (not really a lie) and that if dyfs wants to keep us as a family, that if they are needed, then they would have to pay for them.
We have been told by a few people that they can not wait for us to be licensed because we are one of the best families on the books (good job, nice house, renovated, near park, raised a child, nothing bad in the referece or background checks, etc)
So, I know that if we need them, there is a BIG possibility that we won't have to pay for them.
It is just very frustrating at this point. Oh, and we are STILL waiting for our local police check to come back. There is only about 6000 in my town, so the police dept is pretty small. I am sure they only have one person that does the checks. So, if that person is on vacation, well, then I am screwed.
So, we are still waiting. UGH
Way back when we were in class, the topic of old house came up. My house was built in 1900 (ish) and so I would call that old. Topics such as unique floor plans, lead paint, short basements, etc came up. I was kind of concerned about our radiators, not because I thought they would be an issue, but because I could think of nothing else in my house that would be an issue.
I asked our trainer (who works a lot in my county) if the old cast iron radiators would be an issue. He flat out said that he has NEVER heard of anyone failing inspection becasue of raditors. Cool, I thought I was in the clear.
To be safe, I posted this topic on a NJ fost/adopt message board. I got several replies about it and all of them said it was not an issue. There were a few people that also had that concern and they were still waiting for their final inspection (from the state).
I thought nothing of it. Our worker comes to our house to do the "couple" interview at which time she quickly looks through the house for the MAJOR violations. Nothing said about the radiators. She comes back a week later to do my indiv interview and sees the radiator. At this point she tells me that it might be an issue. I told her that I spoke to the trainer about this and advised her of the answer. She said she was going to talk to a supervisor.
Fast forward to this past monday. She comes to do her final inspection - it is required before the state can do theirs. She advised me that the radiators WILL be an issue. By this point, the people on that message board have had their inspections and advised me that the inspector did not even give the raditors a second glance. I tell her this and tell her that they will cost hundreds of dollars each for covers. i know I was getting upset, and I was trying to explain to her that they are not a fire hazard or anything - if that was the case, I would not be able to get home owners insurance.
I went back to the message board and someone was able to send me a copy of the inspection manual.
Well, here is the thing - there is NOTHING written in the inspection manual (69 pages) that says anything about the radiators. The only thing close is "all electric portable heaters or fireplaces must have a guard or cover"
I can attest that these radiators are NOT portable and not electric.
So, my social worker was contacting the actual inspector to see if 1) it is actaully a violation or 2) could we get a waiver.
My worker told us that DYFS may pay for them - yup MAY. It would have to go through an approval process and it could really delay things. My worker wanted us to go through the whole thing first before even finding out it is was needed. Hello, backwards!
I suggested that she call the inspector - totally playing it up as "why should dyfs spend thousands of $$ to fix a problem that might not be a problem at all" I guess she aggreed and now we are just waiting to hear back.
Yes, I am sure we could kind of make them ourselves, but each one is a different size, so it would be a lot of work.
The worker basically told the inspector that we don't have the $$ to get covers (not really a lie) and that if dyfs wants to keep us as a family, that if they are needed, then they would have to pay for them.
We have been told by a few people that they can not wait for us to be licensed because we are one of the best families on the books (good job, nice house, renovated, near park, raised a child, nothing bad in the referece or background checks, etc)
So, I know that if we need them, there is a BIG possibility that we won't have to pay for them.
It is just very frustrating at this point. Oh, and we are STILL waiting for our local police check to come back. There is only about 6000 in my town, so the police dept is pretty small. I am sure they only have one person that does the checks. So, if that person is on vacation, well, then I am screwed.
So, we are still waiting. UGH
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