Mark Barbadoro at Oak Bluffs annual town meeting early this month.
Mark Lovewell

Oak Bluffs Building Inspector Will Leave to Take New Job

<p>Oak Bluffs building inspector Mark Barbadoro confirmed on Monday that he has resigned to take a job as building commissioner in Fitchburg.</p>

Oak Bluffs building inspector Mark Barbadoro has resigned after two and a half years on the job. Mr. Barbadoro also worked part time as the building inspector for Aquinnah.

Mr. Barbadoro confirmed in an email on Monday that he has taken a job as building commissioner in Fitchburg.

“My wife never felt at home on the Island,” he said.

Oak Bluffs town administrator Robert Whritenour said the selectmen would soon begin the process of finding a replacement. Meanwhile, he said Eladio Gore of Falmouth and Oak Bluffs would likely step in on an interim basis.

Oak Bluffs is also searching for an assistant building inspector, with Mr. Gore already providing some part-time work during that process.

Mr. Whritenour was confident that building department services would continue throughout the transition.

But Aquinnah town administrator Adam Wilson said Monday that the resignation has created a gap in his town that may be hard to fill.

“It puts us in a significant bind,” he told the Gazette. “It’s very difficult for this little town to find a certified building inspector for the four or five hours that we need him every week.”

Mr. Barbadoro took the job in Aquinnah following the departure of former building inspector Jerry Wiener in 2015.

Mr. Wilson said he has yet to discuss the next steps with the Aquinnah selectmen. He expected the town to pursue a similar sharing of services on the Island, or otherwise find a part-time inspector through the state.

In recent months, Mr. Barbadoro has pressed for action related to the historic Island Theatre on Circuit avenue, in light of three independent reports saying the building may collapse. Voters at the Oak Bluffs annual town meeting two weeks ago voted not to spend $200,000 for emergency bracing inside the building, against his recommendation.

“It’s going to be difficult to lose him,” Mr. Whritenour said. “He did a great job for us in Oak Bluffs and helped to bring our building program along.”

In addition to Mr. Barbadoro’s departure, town health agent Ade Solarin resigned in February to take a job in Somerville.

“We’ve spun two of our inspectors off into big city jobs,” Mr. Whritenour said. “It just goes to show there is a strong need for these types of positions. Hopefully we will be able to stabilize and get good people that can be here for the long term.”

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/24/2017 - 12:19

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KT Islander

Mark is a solid professional and will be missed. Fitchburg can't be the trophy job he wanted but it gets him out of OB and its dysfunctional and timid Board of Selectmen. He warned us, and I can't blame him for leaving before the Island Theater collapses. With his departure watch for the State to step in and take over this mess.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/24/2017 - 14:27

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Jimmy OB

Since it is public record by an independent panel that the theater is unsafe, and this is on the state's radar screen, I'm hearing that when the state inspector takes this case over after Mr. Barbadoro's departure his cheapest course of action will be to close that part of Circuit Ave and force abutters to shut down until the Halls fix up their property and the area is safe again from a building collapsing on people and property. Murdick's and Biscuits are probably in the collapse zone, and maybe Gio's and the Ritz. In all likelihood these abutters will be able to sue the Halls for lost business caused by this danger. Not to mention that tourists won't be able to walk that stretch of Circuit. This could get ugly for all of those business owners. Mr. Barbadoro picked a good time to change jobs, for sue. He did all he could.

Head in the sand Right here in OB

I hadn't thought about Circuit Avenue being shut down, but you might be right. Those walls are high and could tumble quite aways depending on which way they fall. The Halls are worth many millions -- can they really be allowed to potentially hurt people? Can't the town sue them now? How can we watch this slow motion train wreck happen right before our eyes? This is so sad to be held hostage by that family. We're getting heavy rains tomorrow and Wednesday with strong winds and I worry how many more storms it will take to bring the building down.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/24/2017 - 20:18

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Ulrika Edgartown

For all the whining a small handful of contractors and their henchman have done about how bad this guy was, how unfair and tough, it is just ridiculous that the guy never even reported anyone to their licensing authority. I think he was trying to protect the taxpayer, his job, but work with the politicians and compromise. For all the illegal crap he must have seen, those people celebrating right now should count their lucky stars he wasn't the type to punish, The taxpayers should demand stricter enforcement and a new building boss who calls out the guys who break the law. It is a few loud voices that ran him out and many thousands of people who lost here.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/25/2017 - 01:01

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Jane Chittick Washington and Edgartown

Good luck! I was born and raised in Fitchburg and the surrounding area is lovely. Plus it's an hour's drive to Boston!

WMB Wellesley/OB

I was raised in Lunenburg. Fitchburg has a great museum, too. Mark will find North Central Massachusetts is friendlier than the gruff island, and people tend to follow the rules there vs. what people try to get away with in OB. And that $950k home in OB? It's about $275k out there. Congrats on your new job.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/25/2017 - 08:02

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Jason

If something bad does happen to the Island Theater does OB have a disaster plan ready? Excavators on call, search and rescue dogs, mutual aid, etc? I saw families with strollers walking right by the decrepit building this weekend oblivious to the fact the walls could crush them. We need to be ready for action if this happens. I purposely avoid that side of Circuit when walking. Maybe blockades or barriers can be put on the sidewalk to push people to walk on the Lampost side of Circuit. I'm also not sure those taxis should be allowed to park by the theater. Maybe move the taxi stand to in front of Gio's takeout window?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/25/2017 - 09:10

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Adam OB

With the high profile responsibilities, seasonal demands, ever changing building code and stresses related to the position I believe the OB Building Department has been under under staffed and under paid and for far to long. I encourage the town to increase the cost for Building Permits to directly stabilize the personal needed in this position and support the positive influences like Mark Barbadoro. The cost of permitting is a small percentage of most projects. Properly staffing, then maintaining staff by paying the Building Department properly will directly influence Contractors and their clients seeking to increase the value of their property in OB. Thank you Mark for your workshops, attending the meeting with fellow Building Inspectors at the MVBG and your service at the multifaceted Building Inspector position.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/25/2017 - 11:34

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Richard Toole Oak Bluffs

Sorry to see you go Mark. Thanks for working to establish a much improved and respected Department in Oak Bluffs. Hopefully you have set things up and trained staff for an easy transition. Best of luck in your new job.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2017 - 09:06

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Sam Low Oak Bluffs

That's too bad. Mark was honest, direct and by-the-book. Fresh air.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2017 - 15:23

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James Greelish Fitchburg

On the off chance Mr Barbadoro is following this, we'd like to invite him to join Discussing Fitchburg Now on Facebook. It has 12508 members, and we'd like to introduce him!

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