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Mount Vernon approves shared code‑enforcement contract with KV COG; Jeff Drew hired as regional CEO
Summary
The Select Board voted to enter a 19‑month contract with KV COG for regional code enforcement services and approved hiring Jeff Drew as the shared CEO; the agreement totals $37,350 (about $1,965/month) and initially provides roughly one day per week in Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Select Board voted to enter a 19‑month contract with the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KV COG) to provide regional code enforcement services and approved hiring Jeff Drew as the town’s regional code enforcement officer.
The board’s chair introduced KV COG representative Jesse Seir, who described a pilot program already operating in seven towns. Jesse said the service combines scheduled in‑town coverage with on‑call inspections, uses an online permitting platform called I works, and is designed to save travel time and leverage existing budgets. "We are in about seven towns" Jesse said, noting the program’s ability to integrate permitting and provide monthly reports on permit activity.
Jeff Drew, the proposed regional CEO, described how he would assess the town’s permitting system and prioritize outstanding work. "First I have to see what your permitting system looks like," Jeff said, adding that the KV COG system would be migrated to the town’s online permitting and that he would triage a backlog of inspections starting with urgent cases.
Financial terms discussed at the meeting include a 19‑month contract totaling $37,350, which the board described as favorable compared with budgeting roughly $40,000 per year for a local CEO. The town would pay KV COG approximately $1,965 per month under the initial agreement, with usage and rates to be reviewed after a year of data.
A motion to contract with the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and hire Jeff Drew was moved and seconded; the board voted in favor (vote announced in the transcript as supporting by the five members present). Minutes show the chair was authorized to sign the agreement on the town’s behalf.
The board and KV COG also discussed operational details: Jeff is a licensed plumbing inspector, an E911 operator and a health officer who will perform inspections either on scheduled days or as needed; the board agreed to forward town emails to a single KV COG address to streamline incoming permit requests. Board members asked how the backlog would be handled; Jeff said he would "start at the top of the pile and work our way down," prioritizing urgent cases.
Next steps recorded at the meeting: the board approved the contract and agreed to have the chair sign the agreement; KV COG will work with town staff to integrate permitting and provide monthly reports. The contract is for an initial 19‑month term with a planned usage assessment after 12 months that may adjust monthly payments.
