Commissioners discuss restructuring building department
BRADENTON BEACH – Following discussion at a Jan. 16 city commission meeting about a possible restructuring of the city’s building department, commissioners decided to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for a work meeting on the subject.
The city has been at odds with Building Official Darin Cushing over his issuance of a permit for the Drift-In tiki structure on Bridge Street.
“Right now, we are currently under a contractual agreement with SAFEbuilt to provide a building official and planner,” Mayor John Chappie said. “This is opposed to the way it used to be with a department head as employees of the city.”
Chappie said over the years, the system of contracting has worked out for the most part, but said he would like commissioners to evaluate the return of the building department positions to the city.
“The past four or five months have been very challenging as we all know,” Chappie said, citing the importance of having department heads at emergency team meetings.
Cushing serves as the city’s building official with Luis Serna as land planner. Both are contractual roles.
Commissioners approved a contract for Cushing on Jan. 18, 2024 as city building official following the Dec. 15, 2023 retirement of former building official Steve Gilbert. Cushing has been a licensed building official since 2005.
“There’s some differences that need to be addressed so that we can function a lot better for our community and our property owners,” Chappie said. “There’s been some concern and bumps in the road that made it a little more challenging than it needed to be at times. I want to set up a work meeting so we can take action and discuss the overall functions of the building department and the comparisons to actually having an employee.”
City Attorney Ricinda Perry noted that as a contractor, Cushing does not have the same authority over the building department as a department head.
“There’s this whole reassessment of what is working and what isn’t working and how do we properly supervise the department,” Perry said. “You need somebody who has that authority under the employee handbook. I will tell you by state statute the building official is the chief code enforcement officer for a municipality.”
She said the hurricanes magnified weaknesses and also shed some light on the strengths of an independent contractor.
“This department is under a tremendous amount of demand right now, a very high level of demand and that department is under tremendous strain. They are in our next phase of recovery and a critical component for getting permits turned around so people can return to their normal life,” Perry said. “It is also critical for turning over the properties that are damaged and are being redeveloped or rebuilt for purposes of getting those properties back on the tax rolls.”
Prior to the November return of Gilbert and the arrival of a team of 20 inspectors provided by the state to assist with damage assessments, Cushing had been tasked with evaluating the damage to hundreds of storm-affected homes citywide since Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26.
Perry asked the commission to assess whether the city needs more resources or restructuring to go back to an employee scenario.
“We need to get information from you as to what you need and solve the problem, but I agree with the mayor that a separate work meeting is needed at this point, it’s critical,” Perry said.
“I believe this is something that needs to be discussed and addressed,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said.
Commissioner Scott Bear asked what the expectations are from those under contract.
“Prior to the meeting we’ll look at their contract to see what services they’re supposed to be providing,” Bear said. “That would help us understand what we’d want from any employee as well.”
A work meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.