Clarksburg Finds New Building Inspector, Mulls FinCom's Future
 Finance Committee Chairman Mark Denault, the last of his board, asks that a member of Select Board join his committee to keep it operational. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board on Wednesday voted to hire a new building inspector, pending reference checks.
B.J. Church of Northampton is currently building commissioner for Monroe and Monson, and is working as a rehabilitation specialist for the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. She also interviewed for inspection services in the town of Florida.
A military veteran, she has some 20 years working in construction, analysis and grant administration, and graduated with a degree in computer science from Kansas State University. She received her inspection license in 2009 and is a certified building commissioner.
Church was one of two candidates for the building inspector post that has seen a number of temporary holders over the past several years because of work schedules and compensation. The town has been without an inspector since April.
The board, consisting Wednesday of Chairman Jeffrey Levanos and William Schrade, initially split on the decision, with Schrade leaning toward applicant Brian P. Duval, the part-time building commissioner in West Stockbridge and alternate inspector in Richmond, and Levanos toward Church.
Neither candidate would have left their current positions; rather, they would add Clarksburg to their coverage areas. Both also said they would be able to hold office hours on Wednesdays so as to be available to residents.
"It's a tough one ... I like both candidates, they were both exceptional and they would both be good for the town," said Schrade.
Levanos also said he was "impressed" with both candidates. "Brian was very knowledgeable and very flexible," he said. "Miss Church, what I liked about her is she's already involved in Monroe and possibly Florida, so she here's now."
The town had in fact approached Florida informally about the possibility of sharing an inspector and had invited its board to attend Wednesday's interviews, which were done off-camera prior to the televised portion of the meeting.
To prevent any further delay by postponing to the next meeting when Select Board member Linda Reardon was able to attend, Schrade agreed that Church would be suitable.
The board pressed Church somewhat on how she would handle difficult zoning or inspection issues. Church replied that she recently had to condemn the Glassine Mill in Monroe and evict the occupant, who had lived there for 16 years and frequently threatened legal action against the town.
"It was very unpleasant but I know those kinds of things happen," she said. "I don't shy away from it. I'm very much about the code. I think the smaller towns, you have to have a little flexibility. ... but some issues can get really heated."
Church said she prefers trying to prevent situations from going into litigation.
"I tell them once we go in front of the judge, he doesn't know us and he doesn't know the town and it's not going to turn out well for anyone," she said.
While the board members declined to expand upon what issue they were referring to, the town has an issue with a local motorcycle club that is in an industrial zone.
The building inspector post carries an annual salary of $12,500, as voted by town meeting in May, and now includes the responsibilities of zoning officer and fence viewer.
In other business, Finance Committee Chairman Mark Denault — now the lone member of his committee — came before the board to request that either a member of the Select Board be appointed to his committee or that it be dissolved and the board take over its function.
Denault said he would much prefer that the committee be maintained as financial watchdog and as part of town governments checks and balances.
"We're the committee that submits the budget to town meeting, that's our role," he said. "For the most part, there should never be a conflict between the board and the Finance Committee. If I'm going to complete my term, I'd at least like to be productive."
He expressed his concern that the town ensure its procedures are appropriate, pointing to the board's approval of end-of-year transfers done in place of the Finance Committee. While believed to be legal, he pointed out there is still an active Finance Committee member.
"Procedurally, I don't want us to be doing things that will haunt us down the road," he said.
Levanos, who is also the School Committee chairman, said he would be interested in serving on Finance until replacements could be found.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said he would check with the Department of Revenue and possibly the town's legal counsel on the transfers vote and on Levanos serving.
Anyone interested in serving on the Finance Committee should contact Town Hall.
• The watchdog part of Finance's role was highlighted when former member Lori-Anne Aubin pointed to a $14,000 payment made to the city of North Adams for delinquent water bills she believed had been prohibited by town meeting in 2014.
Town Accountant David Fierro reminded the board members he had brought the bill to them and they had agreed to pay out of an existing account that did not require any money be raised or appropriated, as had been spelled out in the warrant article.
"It was a contractual obligation to the city of North Adams. ... North Adams was talking about shutting the water off ... I as town accountant said we should pay the bill," said Fierro, also the city's auditor. "It was bad, it was looking bad."
Aubin, however, believed town meeting had "clearly said" it did not want any town money being used to pay any resident's late bills.
North Adams had waited three years before dropping the delinquencies on Clarksburg and demanding payment, she said. "They should be held accountable, too, for holding up their end of the bargain."
Town residents hooked into North Adams' water and sewer lines pay the city; the town is responsible for collecting back bills because it has the power to lien a property.
Town Treasurer Melissa McGovern-Wandrei said she had been successful in collecting all but $2,800 of the outstanding debt. But she can't collect debt she doesn't know about. She has asked for quarterly reports since last year but received only one in March.
The board asked McKinney to speak to the city administrative o•fficer about more timely reports.
• The VFW is holding pancake breakfast on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 7 to 11 to benefit the Town Hall Facade Fund.
Tags: building inspector, delinquencies, Finance Committee, water bills,
