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Morgan Hill, California
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Zucker Systems
30.
Recommendation:
The process of establishing performance standards
should include an affirmation that quality standards will not be sacrificed
to meet quantitative goals.
Building Inspector Supervisor Authority
Our individual interviews and the comments provided in the employee surveys
strongly suggest that the Building Official is well respected for his technical
knowledge and his approach to supervising staff. When we review the organizational
structure of the Building Division, however, we find that the span of control of the
Building Official includes virtually everyone in the Division. While the organization
chart suggests that the Building Inspectors report through a Building Inspector
Supervisor, many of the employee surveys indicated that the Building Inspectors
believe they report directly to the Building Official. This perception is reinforced by
the fact that the Building Official prepares each Building Inspectors Annual
Performance Evaluation. The Building Official needs to clearly communicate to all of
the staff that the Inspectors report to the Senior Building Supervisor and not directly
to the Building Official. We are aware that the Building Inspector Supervisor has only
about one year of experience in this new position and therefore may be reluctant to
fully assert his authority. Given the ongoing challenges facing the Division and the
anticipated new projects that our report will likely generate we strongly recommend
that the Building Inspector Supervisor position assume all of the responsibilities
commensurate with a supervisor position, including preparation of annual
Performance Evaluations.
31.
Recommendation:
The Building Official should immediately transfer
responsibility for preparing the annual Performance Evaluations of the
Building Inspectors to the Building Inspector Supervisor.
Building Official Succession Planning
It is entirely reasonable to assume that a newly hired Chief Plans Examiner would,
given sufficient mentoring and management training, become a strong candidate for
the position of Building Official when that position becomes vacant. When the
Building Official position does become available the City should first and foremost be
seeking an individual with both technical expertise and strong leadership ability. An
approach to confirming the minimum level of technical expertise and an
understanding of management practices that apply to the position of Building Official
can be obtained by insuring candidates are recognized as a Certified Building Official
(CBO) through a nationally recognized organization.
32.
Recommendation:
Future recruitment for the position of Building Official
should include confirming recognition as a Certified Building Official
(CBO) and evidence of strong leadership skills.