Baltimore Village council votes to end Safe Build contract, directs draft to abolish certified building department

Baltimore Village council voted on Monday to terminate its contract with Safe Build and directed staff to draft legislation to decertify and dismantle the village's certified building department.

Council debate centered on whether the contracted enforcement of the residential code protects residents or imposes unnecessary fees and delays on routine work. In council, Rick Foreman moved to terminate the Safe Build contract; the motion passed after a roll-call vote. Foreman said the village must protect construction quality while ensuring the process does not unduly burden homeowners.

"I just don't want this to be my legacy," a council member said during debate, arguing that hundreds of new houses must be inspected and that substandard construction could lead to long-term problems if not properly overseen. Opponents cautioned that lenders, home inspectors and insurance processes already provide checks and that a municipal middleman could duplicate services.

The council also voted to have staff draft an ordinance to descertify and eliminate the village's building department and carry that measure through the formal three-reading process. The motion to draft legislation passed on a recorded vote.

Solicitor Jeff Beo and other staff clarified practical next steps: the village will need to follow contract-termination terms (including any required notice periods) and prepare legislation that will go through multiple readings before taking effect. Council members discussed options to proceed quietly while honoring existing contract obligations and continuing essential permit processing until any changes become effective.

The actions follow extended discussion at a preceding safety-committee meeting, where members debated whether the village should remain certified and whether the Safe Build contract should continue. In committee the group voted to send the Safe Build matter to council for final action.

What happens next: staff will draft ordinance language to descertify the building department and bring it back to council for three readings; termination of the Safe Build contract will be implemented according to contract terms and any outstanding permits and inspections will be handled per staff direction.