Format Dynamics :: Dell Viewer
unique=1301237618145
Englewood Cliffs may
not reappoint
construction code official
Friday, March 11, 2011
BY AMANDA BASKIND
Northern Valley Suburbanite
Staff Writer
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS - The borough council
voted on March 9 to give 30 days notice of
non-reappointment to the construction code
official.
The council majority said the decision was
made to save the borough money, not in
response to recent issues that have come up
in the Building Department.
"We're not making the change, we're simply
giving notice and taking the time to discuss,"
said Council President Robert Agresta, a
Republican, on March 10. "They [the
Democrats] thought we were actually
terminating the guy."
Agresta, who heads the council's Finance
Committee, said the measure was taken to
explore the possibility of shared services
with neighboring municipalities to save
money. "It's really important when we have a
Advertisement
1 of 3
http://www.northjersey.com/templates/fdcp?
advertisement
chance to save money," said Agresta.
"Personnel is the biggest part of the budget."
In addition to serving as the construction
code official, Paul Renaud is the building
inspector and zoning officer. Renaud is also
Norwood's construction code official.
Mayor Joseph C. Parisi, Jr., said, on March 10,
Renaud makes approximately $34,000 as
construction code official and a combined
$15,000 as building inspector and zoning
officer. According to Parisi, Renaud was
willing to take a pay cut of $15,000 in order
to maintain all three positions.
"That's a pretty big chunk," Parisi said.
"We could save money by retaining Paul," said
Councilman Ilan Plawker, a Democrat, on
March 10. "My major objection was there's
no rhyme or reason for their actions."
Renaud's four-year term as the construction
code official expires on April 2. If
reappointed, Renaud would become a
tenured official and could only lose his job
3/27/11 10:55 AM
Format Dynamics :: Dell Viewer
on a causal basis.
Since Renaud's appointment is expiring next
month, Agresta thought it was an "opportune
time" to consider shared services in this area.
Since the council took action after the 30-
day window, if Renaud chooses, he will serve
as construction code official in an acting
capacity for no more than 60 days, once his
term expires on April 2.
The decision not to reappoint Renaud was
not the only recent discussion involving the
Building Department.
At the Feb. 21 budget meeting, concerns
about the timeliness of the borough's fire
inspector, Steve Curry, were raised.
Plawker said Curry "... He comes after 6 [p.m.]
with no other appointments on two
occasions." On March 10, Plawker clarified
his statement from Feb. 21 saying that it
"came from someone who was surprised
they had to wait as long as they did and that
person was surprised as well that Paul
Renaud could to do the fire inspection at the
same time."
Renaud offered to pick up the slack by being
appointed as a "secondary inspector" for $1.
He said the experience will help him gather
Advertisement
2 of 3
http://www.northjersey.com/templates/fdcp?unique=1301237618145
advertisement
credit for his subcode license.
According to the borough's Uniform
Construction Code, "Inspections shall be
performed within three business days of the
time for which it was requested."
"We would never create a situation that
would cause any inconvenience for the
residents of Englewood Cliffs. I am outraged
that elected and appointed officials are
attempting to malign the reputation of a
respected professional like Mr. Curry and
one can only wonder what self-serving
political motivation is behind Councilman
Plawker's false allegations," said
Councilwoman Carrol McMorrow, a
Republican, who also serves as the council
liaison to the Building Department.
At the time of the budget meeting, Curry was
only scheduled to do inspections on
Wednesday afternoons from 4-6 p.m. He said
he was hired as a fire inspector the day after
his resume was sent in and without being
interviewed.
3/27/11 10:55 AM
Format Dynamics :: Dell Viewer http://www.northjersey.com/templates/fdcp?unique=1301237618145

"I didn't even apply to be a fire inspector, I

applied to be a subcode official," said Curry.

According to Curry, when he was hired he

said he could work any afternoon after 4 p.
m., come during his lunch hour and work on advertisement
weekends. He served as a fire subcode and
fire official in both Fort Lee and Edgewater
and as a fire subcode in Palisades Park. On
March 4, two more hours were added to
Curry's inspection schedule.

Curry said the allegations that he was late are

false. "I've been on time for every single
inspection," said Curry on March 3.

At the March 9 meeting, Curry said he has

completed five inspections to date and he
has been on time for all of the inspections.

"I just want to do my job the way its

supposed to be done," said Curry.E-mail:
baskind@northjersey.com

Advertisement

3 of 3 3/27/11 10:55 AM