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Council approves organizational changes and staffing adjustments; members ask deeper review of building department staffing
Summary
Council authorized a restructuring, minor department-head salary changes and converting two part‑time positions into one full‑time benefited post; members asked for an ad hoc review of building department staffing, inspection capacity and use of outside contractors.
The City Council approved an organizational restructuring, salary-schedule adjustments for select department heads and the conversion of two part‑time positions into one permanent, full‑time, benefited position as part of the FY2025–26 operating budget adjustments.
City manager Gary Halpert said the actions include minor department-head salary parity adjustments and retention of a new permanent plans-examiner and building inspector positions; staff noted continuing use of outside inspection services (Inner West) for supplemental inspections in the near term.
Councilmembers approved the budget action unanimously but several members raised concerns about the pace of building-department staffing improvements. Council asked for an ad hoc or subcommittee review to examine whether current and proposed positions are the right mix (inspections, plan review, customer service), to evaluate the city’s remaining reliance on outside inspection contractors and to coordinate the review with the incoming city manager. Council directed staff to pursue the recommended hires while the subcommittee reviews organization and role definitions.
Staff said the new building official had begun work that month and that hiring/fill decisions would be made on the basis of the new official’s recommendations and the subcommittee’s findings.
