Code Enforcement Officer
Gray's Code Enforcement Officer will be primarily responsible for inspections, including those related to building, plumbing, electrical, septic, and sign permits. He will also review permit applications for compliance with Town and State codes and ordinances. He will investigate complaints of zoning violations and will initiate procedures for correcting verified violations. He will meet with members of the public and with permit applicants to explain ordinance requirements and procedures. Finally, he will serve as staff to the Board of Zoning Appeals. This is a full-time position.
Community Development Administrator
Doug Webster was brought on in March 2007 to this new position, which is evenly split between Code Enforcement, Planning and Building Management. The Town Council authorized funding for a full time engineering position in the 2006-2007 budget due to the number of construction projects and buildings the Town is responsible for. After reviewing the Community Development and Code Enforcement needs of the Town, the decision was made to allocate those resources to a position that would provide needed back up support for Codes and Planning while taking on full responsibility for building management. The engineering component has been assigned to the individual construction projects and funding will be included in those projects.
Doug will direct the management and maintenance of all Town-owned buildings and will plan and coordinate expansion and improvement projects. He will provide back up to the Code Enforcement Officer for inspections and will use his extensive experience in Code and Zoning issues to help resolve larger and more complicated problems encountered by the new Code Officer. He will provide management oversight for the Codes, Planning, and Assessing offices. Doug will meet with members of the public on Planning-related issues and will coordinate project peer reviews and follow-up inspections of subdivisions and site plans. This is a full-time position. He will also serve as staff to the Planning Board.
Director of Economic Development
Beth Humphrey was hired in March 2012 by the town to take a direct approach to Gray's economic development. More information will follow very soon about her role with the Town of Gray.
Team Approach to Meeting Gray’s Growth Management Needs
These three positions will work as a team to effectively manage the growth and development process in this community that is cross-roads to the region. Since starting the process of rebuilding the Codes and Planning functions, the Town has made incredible progress in changing the public perception of Gray as a place to build a new home or establish a business. The team will continue to modernize and improve these services for the benefit of Gray’s citizens.
Fiscal Responsibility
In order to be responsible to the taxpayers, this framework for staffing has been developed as the most cost-efficient means to meet the Town’s needs. Under the former staffing, the Town had two full-time positions with no back-up for either the Code Officer or Planner. The quality of services in both departments was substandard and deteriorating. The new arrangement increases staffing by a half-time position and provides qualified personnel working in a mutually supportive environment that maximizes the Town’s return on investment in community development. Town’s like Windham, Scarborough and Falmouth average three Code Enforcement positions and two full-time planning positions. Both Scarborough and Windham also have an Economic Development Director.
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