By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The borough plans to bulk up its zoning department with more paid staff members.
The Borough Council passed an ordinance Monday night that establishes salary ranges for newly hired and already designated zoning officials including a new full-time housing inspector and zoning officer.
George Chin was appointed a zoning official.
“We are making just a part-time salary position along with the rest of his part-time salary stuff,” Borough Administrator Henry Underhill said.
The ordinance states the salary range would be $6,000 to $12,000.
“The functions of the titles are not changing,” Mr. Underhill said. “We wanted a zoning official that spends more time in the borough so Mr. Chin will perform that function.”
Mr. Chin will enforce zoning in commercial zones and single-family zones.
Mr. Underhill said the borough will also hire a zoning officer at an hourly rate ranging from $14 to $35. Dave Bell was hired as the full-time housing inspector and zoning officer.
Chad Reed is listed on the borough website as the fire official and housing inspector. The fire official and housing inspector hourly rate ranges from $14 to $35.
“The housing official will continue to enforce housing regulations and property maintenance,” he said. “As for zoning, he will also be able to enforce those regulations.”
Quite often, property maintenance, housing and zoning issues occur within a single situation, he added. Adding housing enforcement to the fire official would enable him to address housing issues he comes across during his main fire safety role.
“It is just a way for us to broaden our view and address more situations with limited manpower,” he said.
Mr. Bell was previously working part-time with the borough.
“We are evaluating the new schedule and may set some goals later,” Mr. Underhill said. “He addresses housing and property maintenance at the same time.”
In general, the code office, which includes construction, zoning, planning, housing, and property maintenance, has a goal of enforcing the codes.
“Several of the codes are safety related,” he said. “Proper construction depends on good inspections.”
Mr. Underhill said Hightstown faces a volume of zoning challenges.
“The new arrangement will hopefully address more problems and over time reduce the number of issues,” he said.
