Developers and residents will see some new faces handling building inspections and zoning questions in Oxford Township.
Last week, township officials voted to accept the resignation of Building Official/Zoning Administrator Michael Darling effective Friday, Oct. 12.
‘I wish Mike the best of luck,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘He spent 20 years with this township.?
The timing of Darling’s resignation left Dunn ‘scrambling around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get something in place.?
Township officials unanimously approved two of the supervisor’s proposals to fill Darling’s duties.
Until Nov. 15, Tom and Tim Berger will be doing building inspections and plan reviews for the township on a contract basis until board members can review their resumes and decide if they want to extend the relationship.
Tom Berger is currently the building official for Orion Township and serves on the Oxford Township Planning Commission.
His son, Tim, is currently working as the building inspector for Sterling Heights. He previously did the job for Auburn Hills.
Tim would be doing a majority of the work with Tom serving as backup.
The Bergers would be paid a flat fee of $25 per inspection and charge for plan reviews based on square-footage. ‘That would be self-sustaining,? Dunn said.
Trustee Doleen Behnke asked if Tom Berger would have any conflict of interest given his roles in Orion and Oxford.
Dunn said he researched it and concerning Berger’s job in Orion, ‘he is allowed to work other places.?
As far as his position on the planning commission in this township, Dunn said, ‘As long as he doesn’t do any zoning type issues . . . there’s absolutely no conflict of interest.?
The zoning administrator function, which used to be handled by Darling, will now be performed by a combination of the township’s inhouse staff and the municipality’s planner, the Ann Arbor-based Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc.
‘We’re going to be working together as a team,? Dunn said.
Basically, whatever zoning questions can’t be answered by township employees will be referred on ‘an as needed basis,? at the supervisor’s discretion, to Carlisle/Wortman, which will charge the township $70 per hour.
‘A lot of this stuff could be answered after a five-minute phone call,? Dunn said.
The supervisor noted that Carlisle/Wortman is currently performing both building inspections and zoning functions for Davison.