Charlton finance committee backs updated inspection-fee schedule and sends it to Selectmen

The Finance Committee of the Town of Charlton voted unanimously to support a revised building inspection fee schedule and authorized staff to present the schedule to the Board of Selectmen.

The committee discussed a proposal prepared by the town's building inspector that raises certain permit fees to better match neighboring communities and provides modest increases intended to improve inspector pay. Committee members noted a recent large project at 241 Sturbridge Road had inflated fee revenue in recent years and that the revised schedule is intended to keep Charlton's fees competitive without producing abrupt year-over-year spikes.

Committee members asked staff about the last time fees were adjusted and reviewed a comparison chart showing Charlton on the lower end of the local fee range. The presenter said the proposed schedule would keep most fees in the middle of the local market while increasing the town share for some trade inspections (from $5 to $20 in one example cited).

Chair (speaker 1) called for a motion to endorse the schedule; after a motion and second the committee voted in favor. The committee's endorsement does not itself change fees; staff will forward the recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for final consideration.

The committee took no additional action on related permitting matters at the meeting.