Williamsport Sun-Gazette
MARK MARONEY Reporter
mmaroney@sungazette.com
October 15, 2022

Williamsport City Council approved a resolution authorizing a consultant professional service agreement to fill a gap in the Bureau of Codes as the city continues with commercial and residential developments.

Barry Isett & Associates will work for $120 per hour. The administration is searching for a codes department administrator who is qualified.

The company has been providing building code officer service since July but with the amount of new permits and inspections to be done the firm required more money for expanded duties, according to Gary Knarr, zoning administrator.

Councilman Randall J. Allison noted how the codes department was in a transition phase.

“I think this is good because it shows there’s development going on,” he said.

“Also, the city doesn’t want to hinder development but these are going to require different certifications for these jobs and this allows us to constantly be moving forward.”

“Are we going to be outsourcing this forever or are we going to be looking for a codes administrator?” Councilwoman Bonnie Katz asked Knarr and Mayor Derek Slaughter.

The city has an advertisement on its website and other places. Interviews done have shown either candidates for the position are not fully certified and qualified or do not want to be a city resident or a combination of such barriers.

Knarr is doing both codes supervision and zoning and has reached out to other third-class cities while working with an employee at Barry Isett & Associates.

“I want the best possible person we can get, that’s one of the goals for me,” Allison said.

We want to maintain the best level of excellence that we can. I think we have that but we will make that part of our search.”