Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board approve and adopt the department-specific class specification revisions for the Planning and Building Department’s Building Inspector I/II/III classes.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Human Resources collaborated with the Planning and Building Department to enhance the Building Inspector I/II/III classes, addressing challenges in the minimum qualifications that impacted recruitment and vacancy filling. Previously, these positions mandated certifications at the time of hire, creating difficulties in attracting highly qualified candidates with strong backgrounds in the building industry. Some were disqualified from the selection process due to not yet possessing an Inspection certificate.
Recognizing that new hires initially work under the guidance of a qualified inspector and don't perform inspections independently, the immediate need for a certificate is less critical during the learning phase. To address this, the certificate requirement has been extended to a reasonable period after employment, specifically upon completing the probationary period. This change also applies to advancing to the II and III levels.
Furthermore, additional certificate requirements beyond the baseline have been eliminated from the II and III levels. These revisions aim to enable candidates with various backgrounds in the building trades to join County service, leveraging their existing experience while learning the intricacies of building inspection. During their probationary period, they can obtain the necessary inspection certificate.
The primary goal of these updates is to empower Planning and Building to hire capable employees who can acquire the required certifications during their employment, rather than requiring them as a condition of being hired. This approach enhances the County's competitiveness with other agencies having similar qualifications for their inspectors.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could not ado...
Click here for full text