Officials are working out a plan to merge the city's inspections and planning departments into one agency to be run by Planning Director Lee Burnette.
The move would give builders and developers one department to go to when dealing with the city, said City Manager Strib Boynton. ``It would be a one-stop shop,' he said. Both departments deal often with contractors. The planning department helps city leaders decide where and what types of buildings should be permitted in High Point. It reviews rezoning cases. The inspections department oversees construction and granting building building permits. The move also would help streamline the city government, as there would be one less department head, Boynton said. Boynton said discussions about merging the departments began after the retirement of the previous inspections director, Carson Marsh, who stepped down in September after a 33-year career in the department.Burnette is meeting with inspectors to work out any issues that might arise in a merger, Boynton said.
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After that, Boynton said he expects the merger to happen quickly.
``I'm very optimistic we can do this on short order in the next 30 to 60 days,,' Boynton said.
Burnette supervises 14 people in the planning department and would oversee an additional 27 people from the inspections department after the consolidation, Boynton said.
Burnette said he looks forward to leading a consolidated department.
``Being able to see something from planning through development is so important,' he said.
Someone still will need to be hired to take Marsh's place to supervise the inspectors, although he or she will not be a department head as Marsh was, Boynton said. Boynton said the city is looking for someone with building or contracting experience to fill the position.\
Contact Paul Garber at 883-4422 Ext. 245 or pgarber@news-record.com
