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Building official reports staff turnover, new inspectors and steady permitting; ADU inquiries high
Summary
Charlestown's building official told the commission recruiting certified building officials has been difficult, the office has hired a new building and electrical inspector, and expects increased detached ADU activity under new state rules. Major project applications are pending.
Charlestown’s building official told the commission the department has struggled to recruit certified building officials but has recently hired a building inspector and an electrical inspector who are working “out great,” and that permitting activity remains steady.
The official said many municipalities are sharing building officials and that certified officials are scarce; hiring the new inspectors required internal training. The official estimated the department will be “caught back up” in a couple of years as staff gain experience.
The official discussed accessory dwelling units, saying the town has seen many inquiries — “probably 60 to 70 inquiries” and about five or six actual permits issued so far. He said many inquiries are preliminary and that several proposals fall through because of zoning and building-code requirements, including required separations for attached ADUs and one‑hour fire separations that can make conversions expensive or impractical. He predicted detached ADUs will be the most active form of construction under the new law because they are generally simpler to build.
The official also said several large applications are pending with the Coastal Resources Management Council and the planning department, including projects referenced as Southwoods Winds and Summer Winds, and several subdivision applications.
Commission members and other speakers praised the new hires’ customer service and the transition to new staff. John Riley was identified in the discussion as the new inspector and was described by a colleague as a “great guy.”
The official presented revenue projection materials and said his office has historically come in under its approved budget; he said actual revenue has tended to be about 9.5% over his internal projection and about 32.5% under budgeted revenue.
The commission heard the report as part of the budget review; no formal action on department staffing was recorded at the meeting.
