Organizational restructuring transfers 2 to code enforcement

ANNISTON – The city’s self-proclaimed “War on Blight” has a few more troops with the transfer of two employees to code enforcement. According to a statement from Anniston City Hall on Monday, former animal control officer Beatriz Vedovato and former municipal probation officer Jeff Fleming have been transferred to the Code Enforcement Department to help with enforcement of all nuisance complaints.

Code Enforcement Officers are responsible for municipal codes regarding abandoned buildings and vehicles, construction projects requiring permits, signs on rights-of-way and demolitions of dangerous structures. An allocation of funds for demolition projects in the coming year and a revision of the city’s zoning ordinance led to the department’s organizational restructuring, according to Monday’s statement.

Vedovato and Fleming with aid in investigating and prosecuting violations of city codes governing illegal dumping and overgrown lots. Senior Code Enforcement Officer Tana Bryant says Vedovato and Fleming have experience dealing with the public and have been well received by residents they have contacted. “We are building a dynamic code enforcement department that is available and willing to assist in educating the public about ordinances, issues and whatever comes our way,” Bryant said in the statement.