Due to unprecedented development in Thorold, a new building inspector is needed at city hall.
Chief Building Official Jason Simpson asked council to approve a budget overrun of $18,000 for the remainder of the year, and an increase of $100,000 to the 2020 budget, for the purpose of hiring an additional building inspector.
Asked by Coun. Jim Handley if the staff position was required to handle the residential licensing bylaw, Simpson replied, “No; that’s strictly the bylaw” department’s responsibility.
“This would be to assist with the development,” he explained. “We are not meeting timelines due to large workloads” caused by ongoing major development within the city.
The upcoming 2021 Canada Summer Games have also created additional duties for city staff, said Simpson.
According to Mayor Terry Ugulini, “The building department is paid through permits. This does not affect our levy. The (Niagara) Regional head of planning said this is the new norm,” he added, as Niagara continues to experience an influx of new residents.
“We are mandated to meet the 10-day turnaround, and we’re not meeting that right now” with existing staff.
