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Committee postpones debate on Charter amendment to create Department of Building after questions on qualifications, costs and oversight
Summary
Council Members debated Bill 68, a proposed Charter amendment to create a standalone Department of Building and a Building Codes Commission. The committee heard public testimony raising concerns about director qualifications and appeals; the measure was postponed to Aug. 5 for further refinement and fiscal analysis.
The committee held an extended discussion of Bill 68, a charter amendment proposal that would establish a separate Department of Building, create a mayor‑appointed director confirmed by the council and create a Building Codes Commission to advise the mayor, council and director on building, construction and code matters. Sponsors said the change would streamline permitting, improve engagement with code users and protect the county’s property‑tax base by making permitting more efficient.
Council Member Kerkowitz, the primary sponsor, said the intent is to move permitting out of Public Works and create a specialist commission that includes professionals who work with codes locally. ‘‘Codes that we receive are often more appropriate for the Continental United States and may not necessarily work or be in alignment with our geography and environment here,’’ Kerkowitz said.
Public testimony included a Zoom speaker, Claudia Roar, who testified on Bill 68 and questioned proposed director qualifications in section 6‑11.2: she said a minimum of five years in the building and development industry, including supervisory experience, and the proposed allowance for a related degree are insufficient. Roar also objected that the draft does not specify appeals from a director’s final decisions nor amend the board of appeals to include a director from the new department.
Acting Public Works Director Neil Azevedo attended and described current staffing levels in Public Works, saying the department has 439 positions with 365 filled and noting the department’s existing workload across building, engineering, highways and other divisions. He said the department is functioning and that facilities and finance for a separate department would need review.
Council members raised multiple concerns: Council Member Campbell asked that the committee ensure professional oversight (engineer/architect expertise) remains part of any new structure, noting other counties place professional expertise in codes oversight even if the director is not required to hold a PE license. Council Member Kimball urged adding an appeals process for decisions of a building director, and suggested the committee consider a coordinated multi‑agency review approach for large permits to reduce project delays.
Sponsoring council members Kerkowitz and Eustace said they will refine the draft to include an appeals mechanism, clearer commission membership qualifications and will request a fiscal impact analysis from the Department of Finance. The committee voted to postpone Bill 68 to the Aug. 5 committee hearing to allow sponsors time to prepare amendments. The clerk recorded seven ayes and three members excused.
