Building inspector abruptly resigns

1
58

BEACON FALLS — The town’s building inspector resigned from the position earlier this month.

In a Dec. 7 email to First Selectman Christopher Bielik, former Building Inspector Jim Tucciarone said he would be resigning that Friday, Dec. 9, citing personal reasons.

As of this post, Tucciarone had not submitted an official signed letter of resignation, Bielik said. Bielik said he expects to receive the letter when Tucciarone comes to Town Hall to drop off his keys and pick up his last paycheck.

A message left with Tucciarone seeking comment was not returned.

Tucciarone’s resignation comes after the town conducted an investigation into how he accounted for hours worked on his time cards. He was placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 30 while the town investigated.

Prior to being placed on leave Tucciarone served as both the building inspector and interim zoning enforcement officer. The positions are two, separate 20-hour part-time jobs.

According to a report by the law firm Bircher, Moses, and Devlin, which the town hired to investigate the matter, there was an apparent overlap of hours during Tucciarone’s duties as building inspector and interim zoning enforcement officer on his time cards. The overlap meant Tucciarone billed the town for 40 hours some weeks while not physically working 40 hours, according to the report.

In October the Board of Selectman voted to take no action against Tucciarone and reinstated him as building inspector, but not as zoning enforcement officer. The town subsequently hired a new zoning enforcement officer.

Jim Baldwin is serving as the interim building inspector while the town searches for someone to fill the job, Bielik said. Baldwin, who is Seymour’s building inspector, is in the building department at Town Hall from 4 until 6 p.m. three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Bielik said.

Bielik said the town is trying to find a new building inspector as soon as possible.

“We are looking at finding a permanent solution for that,” Bielik said.

1 COMMENT

  1. When Mr Bielik was elected he promised a transparent and open office. It seem there is much more to this story. The rumors surrounding this situation are troubling. Someone do something!