Thank you Presque Isle
To the editor:
I want to take the time to finally thank the citizens and building owners of Presque Isle, a city that is a great place to live and have worked, and for the pleasure of meeting you and your contractors while you built, repaired or did renovation utilizing the services of what used to be the finest Code Enforcement Office north of Bangor.
I’m sorry this letter has been so long in coming, but it’s taken this long to officially separate from the city. I am officially the first Presque Isle city employee to be laid off. It is what it is.
You can now find the code office hidden in the fire department side of the Public Safety Building. There is a misconception started by the city manager that a firefighter does the same Life Safety inspections that the code officer does. Nonsense! The Code Enforcement Officer or Building Official, as the state refers to them, ensures from the concept of any project, whether it be new construction, repair or renovation, that Life Safety concepts, as well as the correct building practices, are in place in the design stage before it is permitted and in the end build before it is certified. The Fire Department inspects businesses/commercial property once a year, if you’re lucky.
Ever wonder why no other municipality has the Code Enforcement Office infused with the Fire Department? It simply has too many conflicts amongst the people who make their career as a firefighter and love doing that, and the Code Enforcement Officer who chooses a career enforcing codes that ensure the public’s health, safety and welfare are protected from the start to the finish of construction.
Thanks to all my friends from work who stuck with me through all this silliness. You are good friends. Thanks to those who shared their condolences for my Bev’s passing.
Citizens of Presque Isle, you are the force that should be leading the city in the direction that is needed, and not at the whim of the magnificent seven who think they absolutely know what you need and want without asking you and who have absolute power over you. That’s not how the city is supposed to be run; not how the City Charter reads. Go to the city’s website and read the City Charter and then ask the council — How are you representing me?
Jerry McAvaddy
Presque Isle
