Section 48. Inspectors; qualifications; notice

The local board of health or
  an  official  or board designated by local law of such city, as the case
  may be shall detail, designate or appoint an inspector or inspectors  of
  plumbing,  subject,  however,  to  the provisions or limitations of law,
  regulating the appointment of such inspectors by such board of health or
  an official  or  board  designated  by  local  law  of  such  city.  All
  inspectors  of  plumbing who are detailed, designated or appointed shall
  be practical plumbers and shall not be engaged directly or indirectly in
  the business of plumbing, during the period of their  appointment.  They
  shall  be  citizens  and  actual residents of the city in which they are
  appointed; except in the cities of  Cortland  and  Corning,  where  such
  inspectors  shall  be  citizens  and  actual  residents of the county or
  counties wherein the city is situated, or in  an  abutting  or  adjacent
  county;  except in the city of Watertown, where such inspectors shall be
  citizens and actual residents of the county wherein the city is situated
  except in the  city  of  Middletown,  where  such  inspectors  shall  be
  citizens  and  actual  residents  of  the  county  wherein  the  city is
  situated, or within a twenty-five mile radius of the city of  Middletown
  as  long  as  such  inspectors are citizens and actual residents of this
  state; except in any city with a population  of  less  than  twenty-five
  thousand,  where  such inspectors shall be citizens and actual residents
  of the county or counties wherein the city is situated. Before  entering
  upon the discharge of their duties as such inspectors they shall each be
  required  to  obtain  a  certificate  of  competency from said examining
  board. They shall be entitled to receive compensation to be fixed by the
  officer, board, commission or department having power  to  fix  salaries
  generally  or,  if  there be no officer, board, commission or department
  thereof having such power, by the board of aldermen or common council.