Town debate sharpens over combining building-inspector and public-works commissioner roles

The Town Board spent an extended period discussing whether the building-inspector duties should be separated from the commissioner-of-public-works role, with one board member saying the combined assignment risks understaffing and potential legal exposure.

A board member who identified himself in the meeting as the town’s chief financial officer requested that the building department produce weekly inspection logs showing who performed inspections, findings and time spent, saying that data would help determine whether one person can manage both roles. He said the information would allow the board to compare Greenburgh’s staffing and inspection practices with similar municipalities.

Supporters of the consolidation said it produced material savings (one board member cited a $157,000 savings figure) and noted the commissioner’s heavy workload responding to major incidents such as a large sewer main break. “He’s been doing 70 to 80 hours, and he has been doing it for a year and a half,” a board member said in defense of the commissioner’s work. Other members asked staff to compile metrics and said gathering that data would take time and should apply equally to all inspectors to avoid the appearance of singling out any employee.

The board directed staff to assemble inspection metrics and to consider how comparable municipalities handle similar dual-role arrangements. No personnel action or vote occurred tonight; members agreed additional data and discussion are needed before any structural change.