Oak Bluffs building inspector Mark Barbadoro has resigned after two and a half years on the job. Mr. Barbadoro also worked part time as the building inspector for Aquinnah.
Mr. Barbadoro confirmed in an email on Monday that he has taken a job as building commissioner in Fitchburg.
“My wife never felt at home on the Island,” he said.
Oak Bluffs town administrator Robert Whritenour said the selectmen would soon begin the process of finding a replacement. Meanwhile, he said Eladio Gore of Falmouth and Oak Bluffs would likely step in on an interim basis.
Oak Bluffs is also searching for an assistant building inspector, with Mr. Gore already providing some part-time work during that process.
Mr. Whritenour was confident that building department services would continue throughout the transition.
But Aquinnah town administrator Adam Wilson said Monday that the resignation has created a gap in his town that may be hard to fill.
“It puts us in a significant bind,” he told the Gazette. “It’s very difficult for this little town to find a certified building inspector for the four or five hours that we need him every week.”
Mr. Barbadoro took the job in Aquinnah following the departure of former building inspector Jerry Wiener in 2015.
Mr. Wilson said he has yet to discuss the next steps with the Aquinnah selectmen. He expected the town to pursue a similar sharing of services on the Island, or otherwise find a part-time inspector through the state.
In recent months, Mr. Barbadoro has pressed for action related to the historic Island Theatre on Circuit avenue, in light of three independent reports saying the building may collapse. Voters at the Oak Bluffs annual town meeting two weeks ago voted not to spend $200,000 for emergency bracing inside the building, against his recommendation.
“It’s going to be difficult to lose him,” Mr. Whritenour said. “He did a great job for us in Oak Bluffs and helped to bring our building program along.”
In addition to Mr. Barbadoro’s departure, town health agent Ade Solarin resigned in February to take a job in Somerville.
“We’ve spun two of our inspectors off into big city jobs,” Mr. Whritenour said. “It just goes to show there is a strong need for these types of positions. Hopefully we will be able to stabilize and get good people that can be here for the long term.”
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