News

By Rich Pollack

    Responding to residents’ concerns, Highland Beach town officials are revamping the way the town’s codes are enforced and are close to bringing onboard a full-time code compliance officer.
    Earlier this year, town commissioners amended the budget to include the newly created position of code compliance officer. The job was posted and late last month, interim Town Manager Valerie Oakes interviewed four finalists for the position. They were selected from more than 100 applicants.  
    In addition to filling the new position, Oakes said she plans to implement changes to the code enforcement procedures that will lead to a more proactive focus.
    “We’re revitalizing the whole process to better address concerns of our residents,” she said. “They will see more monitoring of construction sites, with a real focus on safety.”
    The person selected to fill the code compliance officer position, posted with an annual salary range of $49,314 to $78,903, will report directly to the town manager, Oakes said.  
    “This is a positive step in the right direction,” said resident Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who has brought concerns about code enforcement issues to the town on numerous occasions. “This is long overdue and we’re thrilled that the town is taking this giant step forward.”
    In addition to complaints from residents, someone filed an anonymous complaint with the Palm Beach County Inspector General’s Office in July, contending that as many as 75 violations in one neighborhood were ignored during a three- to four-year period.  
    After reviewing the complaint, the inspector general’s office referred the matter back to the town.
    In a letter responding to the inspector general, Oakes noted that the commission has added the new position and also listed several steps taken to better ensure that building sites are more secure and that other issues brought forward by residents are addressed.
    Until recently, light code enforcement duties fell on the shoulders of the office manager in the town’s building department, who handled them on a part-time basis. The town’s building official also assisted.
    Oakes said when the part-time position was created during the end of the economic slowdown, there was not enough demand for a full-time code enforcement officer.
    As the economy improved, construction increased and so did the need for more code enforcement.
    “Within that time frame, construction picked up,” Oakes said.
    To meet the demand, the town earlier this year contracted a part-time code compliance officer. Commissioners, however, thought a full-time position was necessary.
    Oakes said she plans to have the town create a list of active construction sites that can be checked regularly. She also wants to make sure that the code compliance officer is visible to residents.
    “We’re going to be very proactive,” she said.
    Town Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker, who was a strong proponent of hiring a full-time code compliance officer, said safety and aesthetics need to be a priority.
    “We need someone who is hands on and will see to it that all codes are enforced,” she said. “We need a proactive person who isn’t waiting for someone to call.”