Mattoon, who, like Neffinger, is an architect, will have oversight of such related areas as the Planning Department, the Building Department and the Conservation Department with regard to permitting processes for developments, businesses and residents.
West Springfield Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger, left, announces his appointment of Building Inspector Douglas P. Mattoon to the newly created post of director of planning and development.WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Springfield Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger has hired city Building Inspector Douglas P. Mattoon to fill the newly created position of city director of planning and development.
Neffinger made the announcement during a press conference Tuesday with Mattoon, a West Springfield resident, at his side. Mattoon’s appointment will become official Monday.
The mayor said Mattoon, who, like Neffinger, is an architect, will have oversight of such related areas as the Planning Department, the Building Department and the Conservation Department with regard to permitting processes for developments, businesses and residents.
“He will guide people through the process,” Neffinger said.
Creating such a position to streamline the permitting process was one of the Neffinger’s promises made during his mayoral campaign last year.
However, Mattoon, who has been building inspector since last fall, was quick to say the work will be a team effort.
“We are going to use the term ‘working with’ not ‘underneath’,” Mattoon said.
The position carries a salary of $75,000 a year to $100,000 annually. However, Mattoon is still negotiating the amount of his pay, something Neffinger said he expects will be in the low $80,000s.
About 30 people applied for the new position, four of them in-house candidates. Other than Mattoon they were Planning Administrator Richard A. Werbiskis, Conservation Commission Officer-Assistant Planner Mark Noonan and James Czach, senior project manager in the Engineering Department.
Neffinger has yet to fill the his newly created position of economic development director, an employee who will report to the director of planning and development.
Mattoon said his first priority will be coming up with a plan. The mayor said he also expects to fill the building inspector’s post to be vacated by Mattoon.
Mattoon, 55, grew up in West Springfield and is a graduate of West Springfield High School. He attended Keene State College in New Hampshire and holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute in New York City.
Mattoon has been an architect with Associated Builders Inc. of South Hadley, Alderman and MacNeish Architects and Engineers of West Springfield and George B. Post & Sons Architects of Huntington, N.Y.
Mattoon has served on the city’s Planning and Construction Committee and Planning Board. He is a former Town Meeting member. Mattoon has also been a coach with the Park and Recreation Department as well as a member of the Youth Sports Association Board of Directors.