Building department budget adds part-time inspector; boat and health duties detailed

The building department presented its 2026 operating budget on Oct. 29 and described an operational change that the public previously approved: the part-time building inspector position. Budget presenters said the part-time inspector (15 hours per week) was approved by a prior warrant article and the wages have now been folded into the operating budget.

Presenters said the part-time inspector is certified, works full time elsewhere and provides on-site inspections requested by the public; the town opted against assigning a town vehicle for economic reasons because the inspector is not in the office daily and would need to swap vehicles to reach inspections efficiently. The budget also carries incidental lab/testing fees tied to the building department's health-officer role (mold, contamination testing) and a boat expense line to cover repairs, maintenance and fuel for inspections of islands and shoreline properties; those island inspections are sometimes run with a driver from police or fire because of local navigation hazards.

Budget presenters explained that the building department budget consolidated expenses for one staff member who serves as building inspector, code-enforcement officer and health officer. The Budget Committee approved the building department budget as presented (motion language and approval recorded in the meeting transcript).