LYNN — Michael Donovan, the city’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) chief, has been given the go-ahead to hire a third building inspector by the City Council.
Although an additional building inspector was not budgeted, Donovan said that the funds have become available within the department’s budget following Mayor Thomas M. McGee’s decision to not reappoint Clint Muche, the city’s deputy building commissioner.
Muche’s salary will cover the cost to hire a third building inspector, which is approximately $53,000 to start and increases to $59,000 after three years, according to Donovan. The base salary for a deputy building commissioner is $78,906, but with education incentives, Muche was making north of $90,000.
A building inspector is a mayoral appointment and there’s a residency requirement for the position. Donovan said non-residents will be considered, but if hired, the person would have to move to Lynn within six months.
ISD has been running with only two building inspectors for about 2½ years, because of the budget constraints. Previously the department had three inspectors, according to Donovan.
“Because of the budget, we didn’t push the need,” Donovan said. “The department wasn’t so busy. Permits weren’t as busy. Right now, we’re behind again. (We’ve) been working the guys overtime. (There’s) a lot of construction going on and a lot of enforcement going on.”
ISD is composed of three divisions — the inspectional, public health, and building and grounds. The Inspectional Division is responsible for all inspectional, administration, and enforcement duties relating to a building or property, including the enforcement of all building, housing, health, sanitation and safety regulations mandated by the city and state. That includes the provisions of the state building code, pertaining to buildings and other structures, plumbing, gasfitting and gas appliances, electrical wires and fixtures, sanitary code and regulation promoted by the Board of Health.
The building inspector hired would be a provisional employee. The person would have 18 months to take and pass three tests to become a licensed building inspector. During that process, the person could work as a building inspector, but can’t perform certain functions, Donovan said.
“If they do not receive their license, they will be terminated,” he said.
The position will be posted internally within the department and online.
The council also approved the mayor’s appointment of James Wellock as the third assistant city solicitor at a salary of $98,632. Officials said the position was budgeted, fills a vacancy and brings the law department up to a full staff of four attorneys.
Wellock, a Somerville resident who has been the second assistant city solicitor for the City of Lowell since 2015, plans to move to Lynn to satisfy the position’s residency requirement.
