NORWAY — The code enforcement officer has proposed an increase in the town’s building permit fees.
Joelle Corey-Whitman asked the Board of Selectmen at its Thursday night meeting to increase permit fees for current structures, commercial structures and renovations, and has asked for a permitting process for demolishing structures.
She has proposed that the fee for nonlivable space such as sheds and barns be raised from 5 cents per square foot to a flat $10 plus 5 cents per square foot. She has also suggested that decks and exterior stairs that are currently not permitted be covered under the permit fee.
Corey-Whitman has also recommended an increase in permits for livable space from 10 cents per square foot to a flat fee of $20 plus 15 cents per square foot.
The commercial fee that is currently 15 cents per square foot would be raised to a flat $50 plus 25 cents per square foot.
Under the plan, renovations that are currently $20 for the first $20,000 and $1 for every $1,000 after that would be raised to a flat $40 fee and $1 for every $1,000 after that.
“It will put the fees in line with other towns,” Corey-Whitman said.
She has also asked that a demolition permit application be approved with a $5 fee in order to provide the assessor’s office with information that a structure is gone and is no longer taxable.
Selectmen agreed with Corey-Whitman’s plan, but Town Manager David Holt said any change in the language of the building permit ordinance would have to be approved at a town meeting.
Corey-Whitman and other town officials are expected to meet with landlords, tenants and other residents Friday at 4 p.m. at the town hall to discuss resolving safety and health issues with numerous rental properties in town. Representatives from Avesta Housing, which administers the Section 8 housing voucher program, and the Maine State Housing Authority are expected to be at the meeting.
Corey-Whitman said the goal is to let tenants be aware of who they can talk to in town and to ensure that at a minimum rental units are up to date on safety issues such as fire escapes and smoke alarms.
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