Barrington may increase permit fees to off-set new hire

Barrington is paying for a building official and building official consultant services

By Josh Bickford
Posted 2/4/25

The Barrington Town Council recently signed off on a new contract with 4Leaf, Inc., a firm that provides building official consultant services.  

The contract will pay 4Leaf a little more …

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Barrington may increase permit fees to off-set new hire

Barrington is paying for a building official and building official consultant services

Posted

The Barrington Town Council recently signed off on a new contract with 4Leaf, Inc., a firm that provides building official consultant services. 

The contract will pay 4Leaf a little more than $62,000 for the year. 

The town is also paying the salary (around $70,000) and benefits for a full-time building official who was hired in August 2024 and is in the process of obtaining the necessary licenses and on-the-job experience required by the state.

During the Jan. 13 council meeting, Barrington Director of Planning, Building and Resilience Herb Durfee told council members that it could be a couple years before the new building official, Walter Brueckner, has all the required licenses and work experience. 

The council eventually signed off on the bid for 4Leaf, voting 5-0.

Meanwhile, Durfee said he was planning to take a closer look at the fee schedule for his department — he is hoping to update/increase some of the fees to off-set the cost of hiring both a full-time building official and a building official consultant. 

During a recent interview, Durfee said he believes the permit fees were last updated in 2019. 

“In talking to 4Leaf, there is definitely room in the fee schedule for a cost increase, based on what other communities are charging,” Durfee said. 

Some towns, he said, aim to balance their department costs (salaries, benefits, etc.) with the revenue collected through permits. Durfee said that is not the case in Barrington — officials have not set a goal of increasing permit fees by $62,000 to off-set the 4Leaf contract. 

The 4Leaf contract affords Barrington the consultant’s services for 12 hours each week. Durfee said the town also employs different people who conduct electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections. 

Meanwhile, Brueckner works closely with the consultant, 4Leaf. 

“For Walter, it’s like having your mentor here…There’s an invaluable professional development process going on,” Durfee said. 

“It is a tough pill to swallow right now,” Durfee said, referring to paying for the consultant and the in-house building official. “But I think Walter is learning from one of the best.”

Durfee said he did not believe there was a written agreement between the town and Brueckner ensuring that he would remain with Barrington once he obtains the necessary permits.

“I’m not sure you can legally do that,” Durfee said. “But I think there is the mutual respect between the town and Walter.”

Council questions

During the Jan. 13 meeting, Barrington Town Council member Kate Berard asked Durfee if there was any state funding available to off-set the cost of paying two people for the single job. Durfee and Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said they were not aware of any available funding. 

Berard also asked what Brueckner was able to do while he was still working to get his certifications. 

Durfee said Brueckner is currently able to complete residential inspections. He is also completing various tasks and duties in the building official’s office and serving as the zoning official. 

Councilor Kerry O’Neill asked if it was difficult to find candidates for the building official position who already have the required certifications. Durfee said it is difficult, adding that there is a shortage of building officials. 

A short time later, council president Braxton Cloutier made a motion to approve the bid for 4Leaf. Councilor Liana Cassar seconded the motion, which passed 5-0. 

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