Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-65

A. The agency shall be charged with the duty of administering the applicable housing standards and securing compliance therewith and shall be empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing such compliance and for its own organization and internal management, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the applicable housing standards. B. The agency shall be authorized to conduct surveys of housing in any area of the municipality to determine the condition of premises, extent of deterioration, lack of facilities, inadequate maintenance, unsafe and insanitary conditions, extent of overcrowding, land use and other relevant factors. C. It shall be the duty of the chief officer to: (1) Cause periodic inspections to be made not less than once every five years of all premises within the scope of applicable housing standards. (2) Cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or insanitary conditions. All complaints must be in writing, setting forth the alleged violation or other unsafe or insanitary conditions and shall be signed by the complainant with his, her or their address. Such complaints should be filed with or addressed to: Chief Officer, Code Enforcement, City of Rensselaer, City Hall, Rensselaer, New York. The name of the complainant shall not be revealed except as may be required in the course of legal action. (3) Request the Corporation Counsel of the City of Rensselaer to take appropriate legal action in the name of the agency upon failure of the responsible party to comply with any violation order within the time specified therein. (4) Cooperate with other municipal governmental agencies engaged in the survey, study and improvement of housing conditions. (5) Issue a certificate of compliance for premises which satisfy the requirements of this code. (6) Charge such fees as may be established by the Common Council of the City of Rensselaer. (7) Submit to the Mayor an annual report of the Agency and recommendations for the future. D. Violations and referrals. (1) Violations of such provisions of this code which are specifically covered by or within the scope of the Sanitary Code of the Rensselaer County Health District and/or the Public Health Law of the State of New York shall be referred to the County Commissioner of Health or his designated representative. These referrals shall be for the following purposes: to make inspections of said referred alleged violations and report in writing such findings to the chief officer of the code enforcement agency. (2) At the time of submitting such report, the County Commissioner of Health or his designated representatives making the report shall inform the chief officer in writing that: (a) All or part of the violations contained in the report will be administered by and compliance secured in accordance with the provisions of said Sanitary Code and/or Public Health Law ; or (b) All or part of the violations contained in the report may be administered by and compliance secured in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Code of the City of Rensselaer, and the inspector making such inspection shall cooperate with the chief officer to obtain compliance. The items of violation contained in the report shall be included in any notice or order issued by the chief officer of the Bureau and in all legal proceedings pertaining thereto.