Code enforcement projects strong permit revenue; department requests deputy inspector hire

The Board of Estimate and Taxation heard March 5 that Norwalk’s code enforcement office expects permit revenue to exceed earlier projections as large school construction projects increase inspection volume.

Code enforcement official Bill Ireland told the board that construction value under inspection is substantially higher than the previous year, and that permit receipts for the fiscal year are running above the earlier projection of $4.2 million. “As of February, we’re at $4.6 million,” Ireland said, adding that the department expects to “probably top the $5,000,000 mark by the time June rolls around.”

Ireland said the bulk of the inspection workload comes from two major school projects—the new high school and the Sono school—and that the department cut discretionary items where feasible. He said he has begun recruitment for an additional inspector to fill a deputy role and has conducted one round of interviews; he paused hiring earlier in the year and did not fill any of the five candidates he reviewed. Ireland said the deputy would both reduce reliance on overtime and part-time inspectors and create a trained successor for continuity when he retires.

Tom (city budget staff) and other BET members noted that the department’s year-over-year salary increase largely reflects converting a half-year salary into a full-year salary after the hiring freeze. BET members asked whether adding a deputy would increase revenues; Ireland cautioned revenue is tied to construction activity but said having more permanent inspection capacity should reduce overtime and help manage higher workload.

No formal vote on the deputy position was taken at the March 5 budget review; the item was discussed for budgeting and staffing planning.

The board continues budget review sessions on other departments; code enforcement’s projected permit revenue and the deputy position will be revisited as the FY budget is finalized.