State officials to examine town's building inspectors
Published on August 11th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The State Department of Public Safety is coming to inspect Stoneham's building inspectors.
The town has two:Robert Columbus and Eugene Argiro. Columbus cannot handle cases involving individuals his son, Attorney Stephen Columbus, represents.
Stoneham Community Development Director Steve Sadwick said he requested the review "to validate what we do well and get recommendations for improvements."
The focus of the report will be on policies and procedures used in granting permit applications, Sadwick said.
"It is also a good time because we have two building inspectors now," Sadwick added.
According to a letter to Columbus from Thomas Rodgers, Chief of Inspections for the Department of Public Safety, "Of particular interest during the review will be... your (Columbus') status as a certified building code enforcement official."
In separate conversations Sadwick and Rodgers said the review was a standard procedure, not brought on by any recent events or concerns.
"We have to investigate every department in the state under Massachusetts General Law," Rodgers said. "We get to everybody eventually."
The timing of the state inspection set for Aug. 16 and 17 coincides with an evaluation of town departments by an outside management consultant and precedes a separate town review of Columbus by one day.
The town review of Columbus, stemming from a suspension last year, will be held on Aug. 18.
A related civil matter is still pending in U.S. District Court in Boston. In the plaintiff's complaint and request for trial Columbus alleges violations of his civil rights, retaliation and defamation by town officials, including current and former selectmen and Town Administrator Jeff Nutting.
The response by the town asserts that there is no basis for the claims and requests dismissal.
Stoneham builder Dennis Baine said Argiro's activity should also be examined.
"He fined me for putting up some metal siding on a building he owned part of," Baine said referring to a Montvale Avenue property.
State Building Inspector Derek Creaser later had Argiro rescind the fine.
Also, after complaints by several citizens about receiving fines without warning, the town altered policy to include an explicit notification before assessment of a fine.
Neither Argiro nor Columbus were available for comment. (Argiro is on vacation, and Columbus is out sick.)
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