Council approves new code enforcement supervisor position funded by reallocation

The Taylor City Council on Jan. 23 voted unanimously to add a code enforcement supervisor position within the Development Services Department, a middle-management post intended to oversee two current code enforcement officers and improve field supervision and procedural consistency.

Scott Dunlop, the department director, told the council the supervisor would plan and schedule inspections, perform field work for complex cases, be on call for emergencies and lead implementation of enforcement procedures and policies. ‘‘It’s essentially middle management as a supervisor to oversee those two code enforcement officer positions,’’ Dunlop said.

Dunlop said the position would be budget neutral for the current fiscal year because the city plans to move the salary for a recently hired senior planner from the general fund to a development review reimbursement escrow account. He presented comparative pay-grade figures: the senior planner maximum pay-and-benefits total shown on the slide was about $122,000 while the code enforcement supervisor maximum was about $111,500; the currently hired senior planner is paid at a lower rate and would fund most of the new position’s cost in the first year. Dunlop told council the supervisor would likely be hired below the maximum rate and that, because the fiscal year is partly complete, the first-year cost would be proportionally lower.

On enforcement volume, Dunlop said case activity tracked in the city’s Accela system varies from roughly 900 to 1,300 cases per fiscal year. He explained the data he displayed counted cases that generated formal letters or inspections; because current officers are taking a more proactive, conversational approach in some situations, fewer formal letters are sometimes created. Dunlop cited former director Colin Harrison as an example of a past supervisor who handled the more-challenging caseload and assigned field work.

Council members asked whether the new position would increase the budget; Dunlop confirmed the city’s finance and departmental reallocation would cover the cost and that no tax increase is required. After discussion a council member moved to approve the new position and the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition.

The council did not attach additional policy conditions at the time of approval; staff said they will proceed with recruitment and internal adjustments to the Development Services payroll.