CORTLAND City officials mull hiring a part-time zoning inspector

An interim service director has been appointed.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- City officials are considering hiring a part-time zoning inspector to fill some of the responsibilities that belonged to Service Director Paul Makosky, who was fired by council earlier this month.
A Youngstown engineering firm, MS Consultants, will continue to do design work that had also once been part of Makosky's job, said Mayor Melissa Long.
An ordinance authorizing a 16-hour-a-week zoning inspector is already on the books, although the position hasn't been filled for six years, Long said.
"It needs to be done," she said.
She said she expected to advertise the job in the newspaper.
Although the position has been created by ordinance, it was not funded by council in this year's budget, said Councilman Michael Hillman.
He said he would rather hire a new service director first and let that person decide if he or she wants the zoning job as well.
On Monday, council will discuss hiring a management consultant to review road, sewer, water and maintenance programs and possibly write a new job description for the service director, Hillman said.
Although Hillman said he will propose the ordinance so it can be discussed, he thinks council can come up with the service director's job description on its own.
Makosky earned $41,000 a year and ran the city's road, storm sewer, water and maintenance programs, in addition to serving as zoning inspector and doing some engineering work.
The city began relying on MS Consultants for routine engineering this summer, amid mounting dissatisfaction with Makosky's work. Makosky is an engineer.
On Monday, Long appointed Richard Moy interim service director. Moy has worked in the department for 12 years.
and is classified as a skilled laborer.