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Town board debates hiring plan to strengthen zoning enforcement; asks staff for cost breakdown
Summary
Board members and the zoning administrator debated hiring a full-time zoning administrator versus two part-time employees to improve enforcement; concerns included civil service hiring rules, reserve levels, and whether fines could offset costs. Board requested ROAs and cost estimates before proceeding.
Board members spent substantial time on May 12 discussing how to strengthen enforcement of zoning and building codes, weighing a single full-time hire against two part-time positions to manage permitting and enforcement demands.
Alex Ferini, a planning board member, urged the town to hire a full-time zoning administrator. "The town deserves a full time, full time attention to enforcing those issues," he said, noting enforcement is critical to the effectiveness of zoning rules.
Jeff Newman, the town zoning administrator, told the board enforcement has become more difficult under current code and that enforcement often requires judicial action and board approval. "One of the changes I've seen... enforcement becomes very difficult, without judicial action, which requires town board approval," Newman said, urging consideration of how to allocate staff time between permitting and enforcement.
Board members discussed civil service constraints if the town made the position full time and raised the alternative of hiring two part-time employees to avoid benefit costs and provide scheduling flexibility. The supervisor noted using reserves to fund an additional hire could require a one-time tax-cap override or draw on reserves this fiscal year; other members asked for concrete figures on fines collected and the potential revenue offsets.
Outcome and next steps: The board did not adopt staffing changes on May 12 but directed liaisons and staff to collect Records of Activity (ROAs) and cost estimates for different staffing scenarios so the board can make an informed decision at a future meeting.
