Building department outlines move toward online permitting, but staff and signature rules slow rollout
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Summary
The building department described progress toward digital permitting and online inspection requests but said state agency signatures for plumbing and electrical filings and staffing constraints limit how quickly the town can go fully paperless.
Terry Clark, the township’s construction official, told the council the building department is expanding online inspection requests and preparing for electronic permitting and plan review, but that some state-level requirements delay a full digital transition.
Clark said the department has moved inspection scheduling online, reducing phone traffic, and is piloting plan-review screens and blue-beam software in the zoning office. He said permitting volumes remain high — more than 3,000 applications annually and 13,000–15,000 inspections or plan reviews — and that the office has two open positions the department is actively trying to fill.
The official noted a technical obstacle: plumbing and electrical filings still require signatures and forms that state consumer-affairs processes have not moved to fully digital signatures, which prevents complete online permitting. Clark said the department will begin limited online permits (tank removals) as a pilot and expand when other state systems accommodate digital seals.
Council members discussed customer-service changes such as extended hours or weekend availability; Clark said extending hours would require extra staff or overtime, which has budget and workflow consequences. He and council members also discussed earlier pre-submittal meetings and whether the town could provide extra review services to reduce resubmissions; Clark said those services require added staff time and are not currently funded.
No ordinance or formal vote occurred; Clark asked for capital funding to expand digital plan-review hardware if the council approves the capital plan.
