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Selectmen back temporary change to gas-permit inspections, leaving certification to licensed contractors
Summary
Planning and development staff proposed — and the selectmen approved — a trial (July 1–Oct 1) to make gas permitting primarily an administrative intake while relying on licensed gas fitters to certify compliance; inspections would be provided on request. The board asked staff to collect feedback during the trial.
Jeffrey Hinderliter, the town planner and code enforcement official, told the board the planning and development department intends to change the gas-permit intake and inspection process to reduce staff burden while maintaining safety through licensing requirements.
Under the proposed trial, beginning July 1 through Oct. 1, the department would accept and stamp completed gas-permit applications and would not perform routine inspections unless requested. Instead, licensed fuel-gas installers would sign and certify a town form attesting that installations meet applicable building, gas and NFPA codes. Hinderliter said the change was prompted by staffing constraints and aimed to streamline permitting while relying on contractors’ professional obligations.
Selectmen questioned safety tradeoffs and noted that a code officer provides a second set of eyes that can catch noncompliant installations; Hinderliter and other board members said licensed installers have strong incentives to meet codes because their livelihoods and licenses depend on it. The board approved the proposed trial approach by voice vote and asked staff to create a contractor-certification form, accept feedback from homeowners and contractors during the trial, and return with an evaluation after Oct. 1.
The change applies to gas permits only and does not expand homeowner self-installation; the town will require contractor certification for applicable installations submitted to the town.
