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Hillsborough adds Manville to shared-inspection pact; officials press for liability and usage data
Summary
The township approved adding Manville to a shared‑services agreement for building and fire inspection coverage. Committee members pressed staff for data on how often inspectors work in other towns, liability allocations in the contract and whether Hillsborough benefits financially.
The Hillsborough Township Committee voted on May 13 to add Manville to an existing shared‑services arrangement that allows municipal building and fire inspectors to work across participating municipalities for after‑hours and weekend inspections.
Why it matters: Towns across New Jersey are facing shortages of licensed inspectors for electrical, plumbing and fire code work. Shared‑service pacts can help keep construction projects moving, but elected officials said they want clearer data on how often Hillsborough inspectors work elsewhere, how costs are allocated and how liability is handled when an employee is working for another township.
What the committee approved and how it works: Township staff said participating towns agreed to pay the same rate so one municipality does not “poach” inspectors from another. The agreement, staff said, is intended to cover after‑hours, evenings and weekend work; regular daytime inspections in Hillsborough are not expected to be reduced by the arrangement. The construction official and fire inspector will continue to prioritize local needs, and outside assignments will be used only when they do not conflict with Hillsborough responsibilities.
Liability and financial questions: Committee members raised the contract’s Clause C, which states that the employing township is responsible for property, liability, auto and workers’ compensation claims arising from that employee’s work. That language prompted questions from members about whether Hillsborough could face outsized liability if its employees work in other towns and whether the township tracks hours and cost recovery. Township staff told the committee they do not currently maintain consolidated tracking showing the number of inspector-hours provided to other towns and agreed to check contract details and provide additional data.
Next steps and oversight: Committee members requested follow‑up information on (1) how frequently Hillsborough staff are deployed to other municipalities, (2) the mechanism for tracking hours and cost recovery, and (3) the exact contract language used when a Hillsborough employee accepts an outside assignment. Staff said they would consult the construction official and legal counsel and return with clarifying information.
Ending: The measure passed with committee members describing the shared arrangement as necessary given a statewide inspector shortage, but several members said they expected a clearer accounting of liability and financial impacts in a short follow-up report.
