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BUILDING OFFICIAL RESIGNS AMID FLURRY OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS!

http://www.georgetownnews.com/news-graphic/myheadline.asp?S=500 & P=727954 & Pub

Thursday, November 28, 2002 town, Kentucky

News-Graphic News

Building inspector resigns

By KEVIN HALL

11/27/02

town- County Building Inspector Lyndon abruptly resigned

Monday amid a flurry of citizens' complaints and public scrutiny over past

procedures.

" Recent circumstances have caused me to step back and take a closer look at

my present standing with the city, " wrote in his resignation letter

to Mayor Everette Varney. The News-Graphic obtained a copy of the letter

after filing an open records request with City Hall.

" Recent scrutiny by others have unjustly indicted me for situations that

were proven to have been amply handled, not to mention catching blame for

certain actions of my predecessor, years prior to my employment " helped lead

to the decision, wrote.

" These circumstances have created an atmosphere in which I no longer have

ambition to work or even be in, " he continued.

did not provide a two-week notice, and caught Varney off guard with

his letter.

" I was as taken as much by surprise as anyone, " the mayor said. " I wasn't

expecting it. "

had been with the city since November 1996. He could not be reached

for comment Tuesday.

's office had come under fire during the last six months after several

homeowners complained about past building code procedures. Most recently, a

group of town homeowners claimed that non-compliant homes were

approved by the office, both under 's watch and during the previous

tenure of Mike Flynn.

The complaints prompted the town City Council to hold a public

workshop, at which announced plans to implement a tracking process on

permits.

Software will allow the office to track permits that show an inspection date

of six months or more, which said would cut down on the number of

people living in homes without certificates of occupancy or with code

violations.

Complaints started in May after homeowners and Justice

discovered they had been living in their home at 104 Coachman Ln. without a

certificate of occupancy, which is required before a home can be occupied.

The certificate cannot be granted until the building inspector's office

grants a final approval.

The home had not passed a final inspection because the builder was awaiting

a variance hearing since the house had been built out of code.

Varney held a one-day investigation and cleared of any wrongdoing

with the Coachman Lane home.

's departure may spur some changes in the office, Varney said.

" We're going to be organizing and making some decisions as we go, " he said.

" This may be the time to do some things that needed to be done. "

The office will remain without a chief inspector until Varney can meet with

County Judge-Executive Lusby to discuss how to fill the post.