Inspections budget adds training funds; building commissioner position exempt from hiring freeze

Methuen's inspections office presented a modest FY2026 request that includes small increases for mileage reimbursements and training, and a clarification about the open building-commissioner position.

The inspections director told councilors the majority of budget changes were routine salary increases and a transfer of some funds into mileage to reimburse inspectors who travel as part of their work. Legal-advertising funds for zoning meetings were reduced following a policy change, the director said.

Councilors pressed the director on customer-service complaints about inspectors. Councilor Ferretra asked directly about training plans for public-facing employees after hearing complaints from local business owners. The director said the department has training money in its line item and will coordinate with the city's human-resources director to provide customer-service training; a timeline was not yet available.

Several councilors asked about the open building-commissioner post; the mayor and the CAFO confirmed the building-commissioner recruitment is exempt from the city's hiring freeze because the role is considered critical for continuity of operations. The director said interviews had yielded candidates and that the city is seeking someone with more experience to fill the role as soon as possible.

No formal action was taken at the workshop. Councilors asked for follow-up on a hiring timeline and for a plan to schedule customer-service training without interfering with required inspector certifications and continuing education.

"A lot of the interactions that they have with the community are positive," the inspections director said when asked about customer-service complaints, adding the department would pursue additional customer-service training for inspectors.