Monterey Aldermen Create Committee To Manage Codes Enforcement Contracting

Monterey Board of Aldermen created a new committee to manage the contracting of a codes enforcement officer.

Alderman Bill Wiggins made a motion based on a 2005 and 2016 precedent at a Monday night meeting. Wiggins nominated Aldermen Nathan Walker, Mark Farley, and Alex Garcia to the committee.

“You guys handle the screening,” Wiggins said. “The reference checks. You already have some applicants out I understand. Do the interviewing, do the recommending  and bring it back to this board.”

Discussion for codes enforcement came about when aldermen discussed a mess behind the Monterey Municipal building. Mayor JJ Reels said that it was something the city would be able to take care of if they had a codes inspector. City Attorney Will Mullins said he can enforce codes in the interim, but said it would be best to get someone to fill that position.

Mullins said Baxter and Algood have faced similar difficulties finding someone to hire for the position. Mullins said he and Baxter City Attorney Sean Fry discussed the idea of hiring a collective codes enforcer and splitting the cost among the three cities.

“He thought it might be a good resolution to try and find a full-time person for all three municipalities,” Mullins said. “And each individual municipality pay for the pro-rata share of what they use.”

Wiggins said that most codes officers do serve multiple cities.

The motion to form the codes enforcement contract hiring management was almost unanimous, save for Alderman Amy Martin with a “no” vote.