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Council tables proposed county building-official contract after questions about steep fee increase
Summary
Councilors questioned a county-proposed contract for building-official services that replaces hourly/mileage billing with a steep flat fee (councilors cited a figure roughly four times previous costs). The item was tabled for further review and requests for itemized hours and insurance language.
Councilors reviewed a proposed revised contract for building-official services submitted by the county (packet language and names in the document prompted questions about clerical items). Several councilors said the proposed flat fee appeared to be substantially higher than the town’s prior hourly arrangement and asked whether the town would receive commensurate work for the cost.
"They're wanting us to pay 4 times what we paid last year," one councilor said during the discussion, adding that the town’s prior contract contained hourly billing and mileage that historically totaled well under the proposed flat fee. Members asked the Town Manager to provide an itemization of projected hours and to confirm whether the county’s proposed structure is intended as an opening for negotiation.
Councilors also raised concerns about red-tag authority language, insurance wording and whether the town would be better served by negotiating rates or seeking other third-party providers. The Town Manager said the current contract runs through November and that the council had time to review the new proposal.
After discussion, the council moved and voted to table the item to allow staff to bring back a recommended approach, itemized costings, and suggested contract edits.
