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Sleepy Hollow inspector announces resignation; board authorizes RFP to find replacement
Summary
After residents criticized building and zoning services, longtime village inspector said she submitted a 60-day resignation notice; the board unanimously authorized the administrator to issue an RFP for a replacement and pledged a regulated, open procurement process.
The Sleepy Hollow board moved on Aug. 4 to begin soliciting proposals for a new building inspector after public complaints about permitting and a village inspector's announcement that she had submitted her resignation with a 60-day notice.
Residents pressed the board during public comment for a review of outside building and zoning services and urged the village to solicit bids. "We have had other residents tell us repeatedly that they had found Barbara to be rude, condescending, generally unprofessional," a resident said during public comment, urging the board to seek alternatives to ICCI. Several speakers called for competitive bids and closer oversight of permit processing.
The issue came into full view when the planning-and-zoning official addressed the board. The official said, "there are only a 106 permits that have been issued through today," described efforts to research e-permitting and said, "I submitted my resignation effective in the 60 day notification." The inspector offered to assist drafting an RFP for successor services.
Board members said they heard residents' concerns and that some matters will require privileged discussion in executive session; they also emphasized the need to run a transparent procurement. President (chair) moved to authorize the village administrator to issue an RFP for a building inspector so the village can start gathering cost and service options. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees recorded as voting in the affirmative.
Why it matters: the village relies on either in-house staff or contracted firms to enforce building, zoning and safety rules. Residents and trustees framed the action as a step toward ensuring timely permit review and clearer service expectations while keeping the transition orderly. Village administrators said the RFP will clarify costs, required qualifications and whether a full-service contractor or a part-time inspector best fits Sleepy Hollow's needs.
The board did not immediately terminate any contracts; the inspector's resignation is a 60-day notice and the RFP process is intended to run in parallel so the village avoids a coverage gap. Trustees said the item will be reviewed again at the Aug. 18 meeting with a draft RFP available for discussion.
