BDC Quarterly Bulletin - July 18, 2023
The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) appoints the Building-Development Commission (BDC) as an advisory board to Code Enforcement. Membership includes representation from the design, construction and development communities, as well as the public. Check out www.meckpermit.com and go to “About Us” for more information. Contact your representative if you have any specific issues you would like the BDC to consider.
The following is a brief summary of significant matters impacting the design and construction community on which the Building Development Commission and the Code Enforcement Department have focused on from April 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023. Further details on each of these follows:
1. NEW MECHANICAL/PLUMBING CODE ADMINISTRATOR
2. CODE HEROES
3. CODE ENFORCEMENT REALIGNMENT
1. NEW CODE ADMINISTRATOR MECHANICAL/PLUMBING
Ward Harris was introduced as the new Mechanical/Plumbing Code Administrator. Ward has 37 years’ experience in the industry and seven years’ experience with us. Code Enforcement is very pleased to have Ward as the new CA M/P. The Board was asked to inform their individual industries of our new Mechanical/Plumbing Code Administrator. We are working to get business cards, phone numbers and everything else in place for Mr. Harris.
2. CODE HEROES
CLINE DESIGN ASSOCIATES – ORLANDO PIZARRO and TEAM
This nomination came from our Mega Team. The Mega Team deals daily with the most complete
projects, and by extension, most advanced firms in the region. Many of the customers in our Mega
service stream are outstanding. So when the Mega Team staff want to single a customer out as
exceptional, it always gets my attention. Team manager, Eric Moore submitted Cline Design
Associates for consideration as a Code Hero. We have worked with the on multiple multi-family
projects. They are creative, they find workable solutions, but even more importantly, they are
unrelenting in their commitment to code compliance. Mr. Moore didn’t just say they do a good job
or a great job, he used the word “tremendous”. This is a high praise from a Code Official. From
their commitment to creative, code-compliant work, Mecklenburg County is proud to recognize
Cline Design Associates as a Code Hero.
SMITH HARRIS DESIGN ASSOCIATES – REBECCA HARRIS AND TEAM
Smith Harris Design Associates has been designing and delivering interiors for more than 30 years. Working with interior designers can sometimes be a bit of a lengthy process for Code Officials because as everyone in this room knows, North Carolina Building Codes are highly specific, lengthy, and involve a significant amount of specialty knowledge. Smith Harris Design Associates has been designing in this county and delivering quality, code compliant projects for more than 30 years. This firm has consistently displayed their commitment to their craft with their intentional approach to researching code and solutions when they encounter a situation that is new or different and carrying that knowledge forward to future projects. This commitment is echoed because their entire – all female design team is NCIDQ certified. NCIDQ certification is a rigorous process that requires interior designers not just to demonstrate their knowledge of interior design, but its intersection and applications with building codes, public health, safety and welfare. This allows for a better built environment and a better safer Mecklenburg County. For their commitment to code compliance in design work, Mecklenburg County is proud to recognize Smith Harris Design Associates as a Code Hero.
CHARLEY WATTS
Charley Watts’ reputation precedes him in the most wonderful way. Charley Watts has been an
architect for more than 30 years; a Queen City fixture. Over those years, he has helped to shape an
reshape Charlotte, designing both residential and commercial, from single-family houses to
churches to offices to industrial facilities to restaurants and retail. If you live, work, pray or play in
Charlotte, chances are Charley’s work has crossed your path. He is an AIA-certified and National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards-certified architect. He’s also an emeritus member of
this board, the Building Development Commission, and had he not served the maximum number of years allowed, we would have never allowed him to get away, We bring him back every chance we get through on task force and to seek his learned opinion and guidance as we work to serve our
customers better. Today we are bringing him back to thank him for his sustained commitment to
excellence and code compliance. Mecklenburg County is proud to recognize Charley Watts as a
Code Hero.
3. CODE ENFORCEMENT REALIGNMENT
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement will undergo a broad-ranging restructure division-wide, incrementally realignment, beginning in the next few months and culminating with the launch of Accela (~December 2023).
Why Restructure? We are an organization that embraces change when it will serve our customers well.
Accela will change the way we provide our services and we must align with that new model. It is more
efficient, effective with a better resource allocation. We are an organization that seeks to retain and
provide advancement opportunities for staff. It allows for better alignment with MeckACTs program
requirements and provides opportunities for growth. This will streamline budget management with fewer orgs and provide a more flexible budget.
Challenges of current structure include workgroups centered around supporting technology that will
sunset after Accela goes live. Unsustainable manager-to-staff ratio. Heavily siloed based on antiquated
BDC recommendations. Anticipated high attrition rate due to retirements within the next five years. Lack of organizational flexibility/barriers to collaboration and limited opportunities for advancement.
It is important to note that this is not a RIF, nor are we laying off staff and this is not downsizing. There will be no pay rate change unless staff chooses to pursue one of the many opportunities presented at a higher pay rate. This is an exciting new chapter for Code Enforcement.