Above: Laurie Livoli has been appointed as the new Building Commisioner in Town. (from SAM video)
Last night, the Board of Selectmen appointed Laurie Livoli as the new Building Commissioner for Southborough. It seems she won’t be starting immediately. In the interim, the Town is using part-time help to cover the work.
Former Building Commissioner Mark Robideaux resigned this fall. Niel Hall has been acting as interim BC with office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I don’t have Livoli’s official start date, but indications are it will be in January.
Livoli is currently serving as Concord’s commissioner. She has been there for 12+ years. Prior to that she was a Building Inspector for Acton.
Southborough’s Building Commissioner acts both as the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector. Looking at Concords’ website, it appears that department separates the roles.
On Tuesday, Livoli told the board that she was looking for something a little different. She wants to get back in the field more and be involved in all aspects from the beginning – not just the paperwork. Earlier, she spoke of her background in architecture and construction management. She said she liked work in the fields and out on sites, being out with people and helping them.
She confirmed that enforcing ZBA decisions is part of the Commissioner’s purvue when complaints come in. She said that includes researching bylaws, letters/site visits and making sure conditions are met.
Selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf asked how she could help the Americans with Disability Act committee which is seeking to make sure all new projects are ADA compliant. Livoli said that she believed overseeing compliance, which is more of a civil matter, normally falls to a different Town official. But she had met with Concord’s ADA committee and others in the past to find out if there was another solution or help guide them. Phaneuf urged her to give the committee guidance.
In his recommendation, Town Administrator Mark Purple told the board that Livoli is the current president of the state’s association of building commissioners.
Selectmen universally praised the candidate’s qualifications. Chair Lisa Braccio said she was pleased that Livoli’s background was similar in terms of the “atmosphere” for open space and economic development. Selectman Dan Kolenda liked her reference to treating the job as customer service.
On questioning, Livoli said she hopes to stay here for as long as they’ll have her – at least three years. The board unanimously voted to approve her with a term ending June 30, 2021.
