The job has been changed to full-time in the wake of the tornado disaster and was advertised at approximately $50,000.
MONSON - The Board of Selectmen, at its Tuesday meeting, selected Paul F. Tacy, of Ashfield, as the town's new building and zoning enforcement officer.
Tacy was unanimously selected by the members, who cited his experience as the regional building commissioner for the Hampshire Council of Governments, and credentials as the president of the Building Officials of Western Massachusetts and vice president of the Massachusetts Federation of Building Officials.
Two other finalists were interviewed, Douglas K. Scott, of Barre, and David M. Deffely, of Westborough. Selectmen said it was a difficult decision.
The job has been changed to full-time in the wake of the tornado disaster and was advertised at approximately $50,000.
The last building inspector, Harold P. Leaming, left in mid-June to take a state building inspector job, but was reassigned to Monson, only until the end of July. Also, L. Chip
LaPointe, a former Monson building inspector, came out of retirement to volunteer his time on zoning enforcement issues, again, only until the end of July, so the selectmen were pressed to make a decision.
"We need to being some stability to that department," Selectman John F. Goodrich II said.
Tacy told the board that he has worked for the Hampshire Council of Governments since 1995, serving building needs in numerous communities, including Chesterfield, Huntington and Goshen.
"I'm very interested in working for Monson . . . working for one well-run town sounds like a pleasant change of pace," Tacy said, adding his present communities encompass 125 square miles.
He added that he intends to move to Monson.
Selectmen Chairman Richard Smith asked Tacy how he would handle angry people.
"With a smile," Tacy replied. "People are bound to get upset, that's part of the job . . . I just try to reason with folks."
Tacy added that he gives people the benefit of the doubt, and will not initiate an enforcement action unless he knows he is correct.
As the selectmen were discussing the finalists, Smith said that some of the townspeople are "on edge" in the wake of the tornado, and that the town needs someone who would be respectful to their feelings. While Smith said he preferred Scott over Tacy, he did vote with the rest of the board for Tacy.
In other news, Karen King told the selectmen that volunteers involved in the tornado cleanup effort will only be at the gazebo on weekends from now on, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.