FORNEY, Texas – The City of Forney will add a new Chief Building Official position to eliminate some services contracted through Bureau Veritas North America after a unanimous vote by the Forney City Council at their Tuesday night, May 6, 2014, meeting.
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Currently, the City of Forney contracts with Bureau Veritas for third party plan review and inspection of residential and commercial projects – which began in 2006. The contract also includes an $8,000 a month payment to have a building official office at the City of Forney. In total, the contract is estimated at $96,160 per year.
The new position is estimated to cost $109,460 excluding the need to purchase a vehicle. The city says the difference will be offset by the additional reviews and inspections performed by the new Chief Building Official.
The difference between the contract total and the new position cost estimate is $13,300. The city estimates $23,775 in additional annual revenue in residential permits performed by the Chief Building Official – based on an average permit fee on 25 permits.
According to Community Development Director Peter Morgan, “[Bureau Veritas] would still be doing the larger plan review as well as the commercial inspections … If we have a commercial project that has a smaller evaluation, that's something we can keep in house.”
Although the Forney City Council members agreed on the creation of the new position, Council member Ray Stephens asked if the job would be posted, “Are we going to do that? Because that's what we do for everyone else.”
City Manager Brian Brooks said the city would likely change the current contracted employee, Heath Daniel, over to the city's payroll as a city employee. “In normal circumstances, that's absolutely what you'd want to do. I think in this case one of the things we specifically wanted to make sure of is we had consistency.”
“My concern is, although he's great at what he does, I don't want anyone ever coming back to us and saying we as a city gave a 'good ole boy' hookup,” said Stephens.
“We're not in violation,” said Brooks referring to the transition of Daniels from his current contracted position as the City of Forney's Chief Building Official to an employee of the city.
Brooks said, “What you're voting on is specifically canceling the contract and creating the position. If the council would feel comfortable with us going through the process, we will go through the process.”
“I'm comfortable with creating that job title to work for the city,” said Stephens. “I just feel, my opinion, that we should advertise it.”
“At the end of the day, the hiring process and selection is a responsibility of staff,” said Brooks. “We'll work within the guidance of council.”
After 26 minutes of conversation, Council member Andy Parks made the motion to approve the new position and to eliminate the contract with Bureau Veritas. Council member Darrell Hobbs seconded the motion and all council members voted in favor of the measure.
The new position is estimated to cost $109,460 excluding the need to purchase a vehicle. The city says the difference will be offset by the additional reviews and inspections performed by the new Chief Building Official.
The difference between the contract total and the new position cost estimate is $13,300. The city estimates $23,775 in additional annual revenue in residential permits performed by the Chief Building Official – based on an average permit fee on 25 permits.
According to Community Development Director Peter Morgan, “[Bureau Veritas] would still be doing the larger plan review as well as the commercial inspections … If we have a commercial project that has a smaller evaluation, that's something we can keep in house.”
Although the Forney City Council members agreed on the creation of the new position, Council member Ray Stephens asked if the job would be posted, “Are we going to do that? Because that's what we do for everyone else.”
City Manager Brian Brooks said the city would likely change the current contracted employee, Heath Daniel, over to the city's payroll as a city employee. “In normal circumstances, that's absolutely what you'd want to do. I think in this case one of the things we specifically wanted to make sure of is we had consistency.”
“My concern is, although he's great at what he does, I don't want anyone ever coming back to us and saying we as a city gave a 'good ole boy' hookup,” said Stephens.
“We're not in violation,” said Brooks referring to the transition of Daniels from his current contracted position as the City of Forney's Chief Building Official to an employee of the city.
Brooks said, “What you're voting on is specifically canceling the contract and creating the position. If the council would feel comfortable with us going through the process, we will go through the process.”
“I'm comfortable with creating that job title to work for the city,” said Stephens. “I just feel, my opinion, that we should advertise it.”
“At the end of the day, the hiring process and selection is a responsibility of staff,” said Brooks. “We'll work within the guidance of council.”
After 26 minutes of conversation, Council member Andy Parks made the motion to approve the new position and to eliminate the contract with Bureau Veritas. Council member Darrell Hobbs seconded the motion and all council members voted in favor of the measure.