By Avice Meehan

James Clarke, who has served as Norfolk’s building inspector for nearly nine years, retired at the end of April. His departure leaves a vacancy in both Norfolk and Falls Village at a critical moment as the town undertakes construction of a new firehouse and the Haystack Woods affordable housing community nears completion.

“It is a difficult position to fill,” said First Selectman Henry Tirrell, as he headed to a meeting with his Falls Village counterpart, David Barger. The role is most often attractive to retired contractors who have a lifetime of experience.

The process of qualifying to serve as a licensed building code official—as the building inspector is formally known—is lengthy and is administered by the state. It requires training, exams and, once an individual is licensed, completion of 90 hours of continuing education every three years.

Many towns in Northwest Connecticut share a single building official and, at one point, Tirrell said that Clarke also supported Colebrook, Barkhamsted and Winsted. Goshen’s building official currently supports Warren, Roxbury and Bridgewater. The idea of creating a regional position has been discussed at the level of the Northwest Council of Governments, Tirrell said.

Neighboring communities have offered to assist Norfolk while the town seeks Clarke’s permanent successor, according to Tirrell. The firehouse project may require a different approach because of federal funding requirements and the volume of inspections. As the pace picks up, Tirrell said the town may need to contract with a licensed inspector to ensure construction is not slowed down.

“I am casting a wide net to [reach] people who are interested,” said Tirrell. As of Norfolk Now’s deadline, he reported that he had a “few possibilities” but nothing “firm.”