Waiting for an answer

For several months now, the Town of Saratoga has been without a permanent zoning officer and building inspector. Beginning in March, with the resignation of Dan Ferrin, the position has been filled on an as-needed basis by Kent Smith while the Town of Saratoga sought a permanent replacement. That search, however, dragged on through the summer and into fall with no solution.

Recent discussions about the topic at meetings of the Saratoga Town Council and the Saratoga Planning Commission made it appear as if two applicants for the position had withdrawn their interest. A budget amendment to allow the position to go from part-time to full-time passed first reading on a vote of 3-2 in September, but was then tabled permanently. During the Nov. 12 meeting of the planning commission, the commissioners discussed the possibility of contracting out the position with WLC.

As these discussions have taken place, however, one of the two applicants has remained interested in the position. Encampment resident Barry Cole spoke with the Sun on Nov. 27 and stated that he was interested in the position at the Town of Saratoga specifically because it was part-time.

“In June, I think it was, you guys had a cover story about how the city had been looking for five months to find somebody and the problem they had was they could find people who were interested in full-time, but nobody was interested in part-time,” said Cole. “That was the jist of the article. I was sitting on my deck and I thought ‘That would work out perfect for me.”

Author’s note: the article “P&Z officer search continues” appeared on page 1 of the July 17 Saratoga Sun.

According to Cole, he called the Town of Saratoga and was informed he was to speak with Saratoga Town Clerk Suzie Cox. 

“She gave me an application, told me next couple days I’d come in and talk to Kent (Smith). Came in, filled out the application, turned it in. In that application, I specifically spelled out I could do either one, but I came initially for part-time,” Cole said.

Cole informed the Sun that he believed his experience in the industry made him a qualified candidate for the position. Beginning in 1974, the Encampment resident began building and designing homes. During that time, he also worked for Pulte Home Corporation and served as their project manager and regional manager.

After putting in his application and speaking with Smith, Cole was asked to attend the August planning commission meeting. Following that meeting, Cole was interviewed by Saratoga Town Council member Bob Keel. According to Cole, Keel had contacted him several weeks later to offer him the position and informed him that he was to start on Oct. 1.

Days after the phone call from Keel, Cole said he had entered the Saratoga Town Hall to begin filling out paperwork, but was informed that the job was not yet available. In the weeks following, Cole said Keel had reached out to him to inform him about the process of the budget amendment.

The Saratoga Sun reached out to the Town of Saratoga on Monday for a comment. That afternoon, Keel called the Sun. According to Keel, the governing body is aware that Cole is still interested in the job, but wanted to open up the advertising to increase the pool of applicants. Keel added that, prior to calling the Sun, he had called Cole and explained the situation.

On Nov. 27, when asked if he would still take the job with the Town of Saratoga if offered, Cole said he would. Most of all, Cole said, he wanted an answer on the position.