Staffing Issues Cause Shake Up in Mamaroneck Building Department

The Building Department in the Village of Mamaroneck is going through a shake up due to "personnel issues," according to Village Manager Richard Slingerland.

The Building Inspector's position is currently vacant and so is the Assistant Building Inspector's position following the recent resignation of that person. So to help fill building code responsibilities, the Village is turning to the New York State Department of State’s Codes Division for suggestions.

"To that end, we will have at least two or more qualified, certified and knowledgeable persons performing part time plan review on a weekly basis," said Slingerland in an email Friday to residents, staff and business owners.

"Also, based on the suggestions and guidance from the Department of State, we will be retaining registered architects who are both authorized under New York State rules and regulations and knowledgeable about our local zoning regulations to perform these reviews as well," Slingerland added.

When the vacancies will be filled is unknown, but the Village is working with the Westchester County Department of Human Resources to find qualified candidates.

Below is the email sent by Slingerland:

Dear Residents, Neighbors and Business Persons:

This message is to the Village of Mamaroneck community regarding the Village’s plans for maintaining operations in the Village of Mamaroneck Building Department. ~Due to personnel issues there is presently an absence in the position of Building Inspector, and the Assistant Building Inspector who was temporarily acting in that title has resigned effective today after giving us three week notice to take the top position of Building Inspector elsewhere.

In order to provide for the continued operation and services normally provided by our Building Department, the Village has coordinated with the New York State Department of State’s Codes Division to explore alternatives for maintaining Building Department services. To that end, we will have at least two or more qualified, certified and knowledgeable persons performing part time plan review on a weekly basis. ~Also, based on the suggestions and guidance from the Department of State, we will be retaining registered architects who are both authorized under New York State rules and regulations and knowledgeable about our local zoning regulations to perform these reviews as well. ~Our plan and goal is to have between three and six qualified persons performing these building and zoning plan reviews and to provide for an equitable and balanced distribution of the workload.

For inspections, the Village continues to have two Assistant Building Inspectors on the job who have the requisite New York State certification and qualifications to perform inspections.

We are also working with properly certified and qualified persons to perform reviews and provide the necessary sign offs for permits, applications, Certificates of Occupancy and other relevant paperwork.

Meanwhile, for the long term we are coordinating with the Westchester County Department of Human Resources to follow the required Civil Service regulations, so that we can fill the vacancies with certified and qualified persons and return the department back to full staffing as soon as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience this change and transition may cause for you and your projects, and we ask for your patience as we make every effort to provide you with timely, efficient and effective building and land-use services from the Village of Mamaroneck.

Very truly yours,
Richard Slingerland
Village Manager