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Chester to seek contract for plan review and MEP inspections as staff pursue in-house certifications
Summary
City staff asked council to authorize a contract with Pacelli & Associates LLC to perform plan review and mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections on an as-needed basis because the Bureau of Licensing and Inspections lacks certified MEP inspectors.
City staff asked the council Nov. 25, 2024 to authorize an agreement with Pacelli & Associates LLC to provide plan review and inspections on an as-needed basis after the Bureau of Licensing and Inspections told council it does not currently have certified mechanical, electrical or plumbing (MEP) inspectors.
What was proposed
The solicitor announced Resolution 120, which authorizes entering into an agreement with Pacelli & Associates LLC, 405 Grays Avenue, Glenolden, PA, to provide plan review and inspections on an as-needed basis at an agreed cost schedule. That announcement appeared on the deliberative meeting agenda; staff explained the bureau lacks in-house certifications for certain plan reviews and MEP inspections and recommended contracting for those services to meet statutory inspection obligations.
Staff explanation and cost sharing
Nikki Wagman, a staff member of the Bureau of Licensing and Inspections, said no one on the team is currently certified to conduct plan reviews or to perform mechanical, electrical, or plumbing inspections. Wagman said she requested a line item for certifications and training in the proposed 2025 budget so staff could pursue in-house certifications and reduce reliance on contractors over time.
Wagman said the proposed contract model would apply to complex permits that require third-party review; simple permits that do not require that level of review would remain in-house. She told council the proposed contractor share would be 60% of the permit fees established for those services, with the city retaining 40%.
Council questions and staff response
Council members asked how long it would take for existing staff to obtain certifications and whether recruitment for certified inspectors had been tried. Wagman said many staff could obtain certifications through the International Code Council and Pennsylvania Construction Code programs and proposed a roughly six-month tooling-up and training schedule if council funds certification in the 2025 budget. She also said recruiting historically produced limited response because the pay for municipal inspector positions in the past had not attracted applicants.
Staff framed the contracting option as a common municipal practice while they pursue a hybrid approach: training existing staff and contracting for complex reviews and inspections until in-house capacity is achieved. Council did not record a final vote on Resolution 120 at the Nov. 25 deliberative meeting; staff asked for authorization to take the contract to the next formal meeting for action.
