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Date: 7/27/2017
EAST?LONGMEADOW – The town of East Longmeadow hired a new Building Commissioner in March after the town lacked a full-time Building Commissioner since July of 2016.
In Town Manager Denise Menard’s report to the Town Council from June 27, she provided an update on the Building Department and more specifically, the great strides Building Commissioner Kevin Duquette has made over the first months of his tenure.
Menard offered statistics, stating that Duquette conducted 38 building permits and seven enforcement inspections in one month. Duquette completed 27 zoning enforcement-complaint inspections, which led to 14 new zoning violation notices to add to the current 20 open violation cases and five resolved cases.
“I have received positive feedback from people that have dealt with Commissioner Duquette, describing him as pleasant but firm and offering suggestions on how to resolve issues rather than just issuing orders and fines,” Menard wrote. “Commissioner Duquette fits the town’s goal of making doing business in town a positive experience.”
Since his employment in the Building Department, Duquette believes the department has made noteworthy changes in an effort to provide public safety services to the town.
“The number one goal is to continue to provide public safety to the residents, workers and visitors to the town of East Longmeadow,” Duquette said.
Duquette noted he foresees one of the larger challenges in his position is to enforce the town’s Zoning by-laws. He attributes this to the years of lack of enforcement. Duquette encourages residents to go to the town’s website and verify the Zoning by-laws that involve lawn signs, general signs, banners, commercial vehicle and recreational vehicle parking on residential property.
Duquette will serve a three-year term, ending in 2020.