Waterford, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 15.08 § 15.08.290

A. Appeals Board. There is created a five member housing code appeals board and three alternates, all of whom shall be electors of the town, and appointed by the board of selectmen, two members and one alternate for two years, and one member and one alternate for one year, and thereafter each new member and alternate to serve for three years or until his successor has been appointed and qualified. The housing code appeals board shall elect a chairman from among its members. If a regular member of said board is absent, or if he is disqualified, the chairman of the board shall designate an alternate to act for the absent or disqualified member, choosing alternates in rotation so that they shall act as nearly equal a number of times as possible. If an alternate is not available in accordance with such rotation, such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. Any combination of four members and alternates shall constitute a quorum authorized to hear and act on petitions. All actions taken by the board shall be carried by a majority of members present.
B. Rules and Regulations of Meetings. The housing code appeals board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and investigations and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the building official and all decisions and findings shall be made part of the public record.
C. Administrative Conference. Any person aggrieved by a notice of the building official issued in connection with any alleged violation of this chapter or of any applicable rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto, or by any order requiring repair or demolition, may apply to the building official for an administrative conference for reconsideration of such notice or order, provided such application is made within fourteen days after the date the notice or order was issued. If the building official holds an administrative conference for reconsideration of a notice or order, the building official shall prepare a summary of the conference and shall state the decision reached; such summary and statement shall become part of the public record.
D. Right to Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a notice of the building official issued in connection with any alleged violation of this chapter or of any applicable rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto, or by any order requiring repair or demolition, may apply to the housing code appeals board for a reconsideration of such notice or order provided such application is made within twenty-one days after the date the notice or order was issued.
E. Hearing. The housing code appeals board, upon receipt of an appeal, shall set a time and place for the hearing within ten days of the receipt of such application, and shall advise the applicant in writing of such time and place, at least seven days prior to the date of the hearing. At such a hearing the applicant and building official shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show cause why such notice or order should be modified, extended, withdrawn, a variance granted or the order of the building official upheld.
F. Conditions for Granting Extension or Variance. The housing code appeals board, by a majority vote, may sustain, modify or withdraw the notice or order. In granting an extension or variance of any notice or order, the appeals board shall observe the following conditions:
1. The housing code appeals board may grant an extension of time for the compliance of any order or notice for not more than eighteen months subject to appropriate conditions and provided that the appeals board makes specific findings of fact based on evidence relating to the following:
a. That there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of any notice or order; and
b. That such an extension is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter in securing the public health, safety and general welfare.
2. The housing code appeals board may grant a variance in a specific case and from a specific provision of this chapter subject to appropriate conditions and provided the appeals board makes specific findings of fact based on evidence related to the following:
a. That there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of any notice or order; and
b. That the effect of the application of the provisions would be arbitrary in the specific case; and
c. That an extension would not constitute an appropriate remedy for these practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships and this arbitrary effect; and
d. That such variance is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter in securing the public health, safety and general welfare.