Buffalo Grove expects to save $200,000 a year by outsourcing inspections
Buffalo Grove officials said the village could save $200,000 annually through a plan to outsource inspections rather than filling jobs, including the building commissioner, left vacant through retirements.
The village board Monday approved a contract worth up to $250,000 per year with Elgin-based B & F Construction Code Services Inc. for building inspections.
Deputy Village Manager Christopher Stilling told the board that two Buffalo Grove building inspectors, one handling plumbing and another electrical inspections, took advantage of the village's Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) program earlier this year.
Building Commissioner Brian Sheehan also took the retirement incentive in July, but continues working for the village on a temporary, part-time basis, Stilling said.
By not filling the full-time positions and contracting for inspections, Stilling estimated $200,000 per year in net savings to the village.
"I want to congratulate Mr. Stilling on literally talking to us about how we are going to save $200,000 right now in the very first contract we are going to do, and you and everybody else on the staff deserve a tremendous amount of credit for doing this," Trustee David Weidenfeld said.
In a related matter, the village board approved an ordinance to allow the village manager to appoint a new building commissioner to perform duties such as serving as building official, code official and zoning administrator. The building commissioner also could appoint a designee to handle those duties.
Bragg said the village is assessing what to do with the building commissioner position once Sheehan is no longer serving a in a part-time capacity.
"Since the position is likely to be vacant for an extended period of time, we wanted to give ourselves the ability and options to have the most flexibility to get the right person to make those decisions," Stilling said. "By default, it will likely be me, and then if I need to seek outside counsel or help, then I could have the authorization to do that."