PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Department of Community Development Director Sheila Roark Miller is now the county’s building official and fire marshal, too.
Former building official and fire marshal Leon Smith was laid off last Friday.
“In an effort to conserve resources and maintain services, I have assumed the responsibilities of the Building Official and Fire Marshall for the Building Division, here in our Department,” Roark Miller wrote in a Friday memo to DCD staff.
When reached by phone on Thursday evening, Smith said he hopes to stay in the building industry and possibly work as a consultant.
He declined further comment.
A 21-year employee of the department, Roark Miller defeated incumbent John Miller in the November election. She was sworn in to office Dec. 30.
Roark Miller worked as a code compliance officer and deputy fire marshal before the election. The two Millers are not related.
The building official/fire marshal manages the building division — a wing of DCD. The six-member staff makes sure that codes and safety standards are being met.
Roark Miller will oversee three permit technicians, two inspectors and two plan reviewers.
One staff member, Tim Taff, is both a plan reviewer and inspector.
Roark Miller said she isn’t concerned about her new role interfering with her duties as DCD director.
She said the building staff is well-qualified and experienced.
“They have the capacity to make quite a few decisions on their own,” Roark Miller said.
Half of the staff has at least 12 years of experience and International Code Council certifications.
More reorganization
Further reorganization within the department, including a permit center to free up planning staff, is anticipated in the next few months, Roark Miller said.
No more layoffs are expected.
Every department at the county had to cut its budget by at least 3 percent to help balance a $3.1 million deficit in the general fund.
Several positions within DCD were left unfilled when openings became available.
Code enforcement and community policing were moved from the auspices of DCD to the Sheriff’s Office.
During the campaign, Roark Miller took her former boss to task for proposing that permits be required for structures larger than 200 square feet.
Detached garages and sheds under 400 square feet don’t require a building permit as long as they meet code.
Miller’s proposal was met with strong opposition in an August hearing. Smith presented the proposed amendments to the county’s building code at that hearing.
County commissioners upheld the 400-square-foot exemption when they updated the county’s building and construction code in December.
John Miller became the executive director of the Stillaguamish tribe in Arlington on Jan. 4.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
