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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 4,2021 <br /> 2:30 p.m. <br /> 4. DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE FOR BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT— <br /> Continued <br /> Walsh answered in the affirmative. He said in his meeting with himself and Matt [Johnson] the <br /> bids came back on a percentage of fee basis which is unacceptable—they have already gone <br /> back to get an hourly basis. In the end,they decided there are three different realms of how this <br /> could work. Since the City is spending $210,000 a year already, they could hire a Chief <br /> Inspector and a Building Inspector all in-house and maybe cover it all. They could perhaps get <br /> only a Chief Inspector and outsource other inspections like they do now at an hourly rate, or they <br /> may not find a Chief Inspector and find only a Building Inspector and they can keep as much in <br /> house as possible and outsource the rest. He noted they do not know who will apply and are <br /> keeping their options open. He noted they asked Barnhart to go back to MNSpect and get an <br /> hourly rate because they were the only people that had any wherewithal to even handle this kind <br /> of operation. Walsh told them he does not know what Orono will be hiring internally because <br /> either way, if they are spending$210,000 and they can control as much as possible, they will <br /> look at those options. <br /> Printup said they have potential of significant savings for the taxpayers. <br /> Walsh said no,they are spending$210,000 and will spend that no matter what. He noted they <br /> will not save any money, but rather will have direct control of who they have on Staff, versus <br /> outsourcing. It could be a lot, a little, or all of it. They just don't know yet and are keeping all <br /> options open. Walsh said they have always had a Chief Inspector and outsourced the rest which <br /> was $130,000 but if the City can bring two people in and they are fabulous,the City can do that <br /> much less outsourcing and control it. <br /> Crosby said they have to see what is available in the marketplace. <br /> Johnson clarified they are not approving these positions but rather finding out what options they <br /> have to put the City in the best position. <br /> Printup said that is a good exercise. <br /> Walsh stated part of the exercise is to make sure they have a third party vendor ready to go on an <br /> hourly basis that is acceptable to the City Council. Then it is just a matter of how much of the <br /> work they receive. He said unless there are any other questions on the job descriptions, he would <br /> like to get those out, see what comes in and how they can fill those positions. <br /> Johnson moved,Printup seconded, to approve and advertise the two inspection positions as <br /> presented. Ayes: 5, Nays 0. <br /> Page 8 of 10 <br />