SECTION 1. (a) There is hereby established in the town of Lakeville a department of inspectional services and permitting, which shall be responsible for the coordination and management of the inspection and permitting-related activities of the town as assigned by this act. The department of inspectional services and permitting shall be responsible for and shall perform the following functions:

(1)coordination of all inspection and permitting functions carried out by an officer or employee who falls within the scope of this act;

(2)maintenance in a central place of all records relating to inspections and permitting;

(3)coordination of enforcement actions for violations of the General Laws, state building code, local general and zoning bylaws, and rules or regulations which are subject to enforcement by an officer or employee of the town who falls within the scope of this act;

(4)the rendering of advice, assistance and guidance to all town offices and agencies in any matter relating to town  inspection and permitting services;

(5)the rendering of advice, assistance and guidance to all members of the public relating to town inspection and permitting services and the development of user friendly systems for the convenience of the public; and

(6)any other functions expressly delegated by the board of selectmen, conservation commission or board of health of the town of Lakeville, and agreed to be assumed by the director of inspectional services and permitting.

(b)All inspection and permitting services performed by or under the authority of the building inspector, board of health, inspector of gas piping and gas appliances, plumbing inspector, electrical inspector, zoning enforcement officer, conservation commission, or any other local inspection as may be authorized by vote of the board of selectmen shall be coordinated through the department of inspectional services and permitting.

(c)The department of inspectional services and permitting shall be headed by a director of inspectional services and permitting, who shall have the following specific powers and duties:

(1)to establish a full and complete inventory of all inspection and permitting services performed by any officer of the town that falls within the scope of this act;

(2)to establish common files, by property address or by reference to a map, block or lot reference, or both such address or reference, which shall be accessible to all persons performing inspection and permitting services for the town, containing recordings of all inspections performed by any town officer or  employee that falls within the scope of this act;

(3)to provide common services for all inspection and permitting related personnel and a centralized location for members of the public to obtain information concerning inspection and permitting services. The director of inspectional services and permitting shall also be available to said members of the public in order to assist them in implementing this act;

(4)to serve as facilities manager for town buildings, unless a separate facilities manager is designated by the board of selectmen;

(5)to supervise, direct and manage all personnel appointed or hired to perform the inspection or permitting services that fall within the scope of this act; and

(6)to supervise, direct and manage all personnel appointed or hired to perform other, permitting functions of the town of Lakeville, upon request of any board, committee or commission with permitting authority, and subject to the approval of the board of selectmen and agreement of the director of inspectional services and permitting.

(d) The director of inspectional services and permitting may also serve as the building commissioner or inspector, or zoning enforcement officer, or both, and if so designated by the board of selectmen, the holding of these multiple positions shall be considered a single office in the town.

SECTION 2. The board of selectmen of the town of Lakeville shall appoint and may remove at their pleasure a director of inspectional services and permitting who shall be the executive and administrative head of the department. The director shall possess all the necessary qualifications, experience and certification required for an inspector of buildings or building commissioner pursuant to section 3 of chapter 143 of the General Laws. Notwithstanding  any general or  special law to the contrary, the board  of  selectmen of the town  of Lakeville  shall also appoint  and may remove  at their pleasure any necessary gas, plumbing,  or electrical inspectors, who  shall possess the necessary qualifications, experience and  certification required under the General Laws.

SECTION 3. The appointment of a director of inspectional services and permitting shall satisfy the requirement of chapter 143 of the General Laws as to the appointment of an inspector of buildings or building commissioner.

SECTION 4. Any officer, employee, committee, commission, board or department performing inspection or permitting functions outside of the scope of this act shall continue to perform said functions, unless the committee, commission, or board responsible for such functions votes to delegate such functions to the department of inspectional services and permitting, and such delegation is approved by the board of selectmen in consultation with the director of inspectional services and permitting.

SECTION 5. All books, papers, documents, equipment, land and any other property which is in the custody and control of any officer, employee, committee, commission, board or department affected by this consolidation shall be transferred to the department of inspectional services and permitting, as necessary. All contracts in force shall be continued in force until they expire or are otherwise cancelled. Any judicial proceedings in which any officer, employee, committee, commission, board or department affected by this consolidation is a party, shall not be affected by the consolidation.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of selectmen  of the town of Lakeville is hereby designated as the appointing authority for all personnel  necessary to implement, execute and enforce the health laws and board of health regulations, including but not limited to the state sanitary code, and all personnel necessary to implement, execute and enforce the wetlands protection act, any local wetlands protection bylaw, and department of environmental protection and conservation commission regulations. The board may fix the salary or other compensation of such personnel, subject to the provisions of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. Nothing herein shall affect the obligations, rights and responsibilities imposed pursuant to chapter 150E of the General Laws, insofar as applicable.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon its passage.