Parma budget hearing: Building department adds plans examiner; property‑maintenance staffing and rental inspections draw council scrutiny

Dan Kolchitski, who oversees Parma’s building and property‑maintenance programs, told council the building budget is essentially flat but proposed not filling a part‑time clerk and instead creating a part‑time plans examiner to accelerate residential plan reviews and reduce permit delays. He said the city processed a high volume of building transactions in 2024 (roughly $1.75 million in revenues) and that CitizenServe software is improving turnaround but some permit reviews still get waylaid early in the process.

On property maintenance, Kolchitski described a planned $100,000 budget difference tied to expected Community Development (HUD/CDBG) funding that historically offsets inspector fees; he said one part‑time inspector is expected to retire and the department plans to re‑recruit a part‑time inspector rather than promote to full time immediately. Council members highlighted a steady increase in rental properties (dozens per month), rising complaint volume, and argued property‑maintenance should be treated as a first‑response function in many neighborhoods. Kolchitski said the department is acquiring tablets with field connectivity to CitizenServe to speed inspections and violation notices.

Council requested permit counts and revenue figures for 2024 and 2025; Kolchitski supplied rough revenue tallies and said he would provide more detail. Several councilmembers urged the administration to consider adding permanent inspectors if demand continues to increase.