1. P OLITICS AND C ODE E NFORCEMENT Georgia Association of Code Enforcers February 20, 2015 Brandon L. Bowen Jenkins & Bowen, P.C. 15 South Public Square Cartersville, Georgia 30120 (770) 387-1373 bbowen@ga-lawyers.pro

2. W HAT IS POLITICS ?

3. W HAT IS YOUR JOB ?

4. P ERSPECTIVES

5. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” - Plato

6. Code Enforcement Officer Sees violations every day. Knows how violations throughout the city are treated. Hears excuses every day. Has to report to administrative, executive, legislative and judicial officials. Has to deal with difficult people. Has to deal with difficult situations. Has to deal with property owners. Has to deal with the Court. Has to answer to the public.

7. Court Has seen a lot worse. May not feel this case is as important as other matters. Does not know what the COE has already done. Does not want to see the case again.

8. Property owner May not have ever dealt with the government before. May not trust the government. May not believe government has the right to interfere with his use of property. Likely does not know the ordinances. Does not know what other enforcement actions have been taken. May feel he is being picked on for other reasons. May not know better. May not be able to do better. May have significant other problems in his life.

9. Legislators Want to improve their community. Answerable to constituents. May not know or understand what enforcement actions you have taken in the past. May not have an understanding of legal process. May have friends and family that are the subject of enforcement actions. May have friends and family that want to push enforcement action.

10. Public Wants to see community improved. May have personal animas. Probably does not know the extent & history. May distrust government. May suspect “old boy network.” N I M B Y

11. S O WHAT DO YOU DO TO SATISFY THESE CONCERNS ?

12. W HAT ARE THE KEY SKILLS OF COE?

13. W HAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF POST CERTIFIED COE’ S ?

14. P ROBLEM P ERSONALITIES P ROBLEM P ERSONALITIES “I am thankful for all those difficult people in my life, they have shown me exactly who I do not wish to be.”

15. P ROBLEM P EOPLE

16. Psychopath:

17. Histrionic:

18. Egotist: “An Egotist is like a cock who thinks the sun has risen to hear him crow.” -George Elliot

19. Anti-Social:

20. Paranoid: “Just because I’m paranoid does not mean they’re not out to get me.”

21. Bullies:

22. Know-it-alls Gotcha’s / Manipulators Yes person No person Liars Rejection sensitive Neurotic

23.  Deny responsibility  Blame others  Intentionally ignorant  Suspects a conspiracy  Over generalizes  Everything is personal C OMMON T RAITS

24.  Don’t expect them to change  Don’t expect them to agree with you  Make them feel like you are focused on their needs

25. 1.Understanding their reality 2.Set a reasonable goal 3.Action plan / Results driven

26. N  neutralize your emotions I  identify type of person C  control the emotions E  explain options

27. P ROBLEM S CENARIOS P ROBLEM S CENARIOS How do you deal with…

28.  Mayor who wants favorable treatment for a friend

29.  Elderly property owner who is not capable of maintaining her property

30.  Public activist

31.  City Attorney/Judge that does not feel case is important

32.  City Council member with an agenda

33.  Neighbor with a vendetta

34. C ONFIDENTIALITY C ONFIDENTIALITY “anonymous complaints”

35. P ERSONAL INTEREST P ERSONAL INTEREST “trashy house next door” Do you live in the community you serve?

36. E FFECTIVE S TRATEGIES

37. “The first rule for getting out of holes is: stop digging.”

38. R UNNING A C LEAN U P C AMPAIGN R UNNING A C LEAN U P C AMPAIGN Making a priority list Address specific communities Unfit Housing ordinance

39. U SING S IGNS

40. K EEPING A PHOTO RECORD OF PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS K EEPING A PHOTO RECORD OF PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS Document your progress

41. G OOD RELATIONS WITH P OLICE /S HERIFF

42. G OOD RELATIONS WITH B UILDING I NSPECTOR AND E NGINEERING

43. L ANGUAGE B ARRIERS   L ANGUAGE B ARRIERS  translators on staff  bilingual officers

44. S ELECTIVE E NFORCEMENT  S ELECTIVE E NFORCEMENT  Document the file

45. T HANK Y OU !