Mount Clemens approves inspector-service contracts after debate over hours and pay

The Mount Clemens City Commission approved a set of one-year inspector-service contracts, each effective retroactively to July 1, 2018, to maintain inspection coverage across building, rental, plumbing and electrical functions.

Key contracts approved at the meeting included: Matthew M. Burman for building official, building inspector and mechanical inspector services at an annual fee of $68,000; Michael L. Faren for rental inspector services at $48,000 annually; Joseph A. Orr for plumbing inspector services at $37,000 annually; and Fusion Electric Inc. for electrical inspector services at $37,000 annually. Staff said each contract had been reviewed by the city attorney.

Commissioner Mener repeatedly questioned the flat-fee structure and urged either per-job or per-hour pay and clearer specifications of expected hours, citing fairness to contractors if inspection demand fluctuates. City staff and the city attorney explained that specifying set hours could jeopardize an independent-contractor classification under IRS tests and that dictating hours would likely require making the worker an employee. Staff also said the expectation is that inspectors be available five days a week during normal business hours and that contracts include 30 days' termination for nonperformance.

The commission approved the contracts by roll call, though some individual commissioners registered dissent on specific items. City officials noted that without contract approval the city risked lapses in inspection coverage while replacements were sought.