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Author:
sum (FL)
So after packy posted the online permit thread I said my city still allows walk through permits but its more expensive. Well not anymore as I found out today.
Everything is online now.
They don't do walk through, walk up or walk in processing anymore.
Instead they put a big front desk with a secretary there to take your name, then you go to a sitting room to wait for your name to be called to be "processed".
So I have this roofing job and one of the bids containing a line item that's puzzling and I need to get clarification from the city. Now the chief roofing inspector I met before, his name is Raul, and I spoke to him before because he was sent incorrectly by the system to inspect a driveway job once at my house. Anyway I left him one, two, three voice messages last two weeks but no return call. Strange...May be on vacation? So I stopped into the city this morning because they have this staff counter meeting from 7 to 8 every morning where you can talk to inspectors.
I walked in and saw the new front desk. I said I wanted to see Raul or any reviewer or inspectors available in structures & roofing. She said ok and punched that into the computer. Told me to wait for my name to be called in the adjacent room.
I went to the room and its empty! Great, no line. I sat down and started to put together the pictures, survey etc and checked my messages. After a while I noticed there is a posting on the far wall saying "staff counter consultation has been suspended". Ummm...I think that's what I am here for...but surely if its not available the front desk would have told me, right? Yet the room is empty. I went back out to the front desk and said to her, I am here to see an inspector, I saw a posting saying they no longer hav..."THEY WILL CALL YOUR NAME". Okay...
After some time I got my name called and was told by a permit clerk that yes I can no longer speak to the inspectors over the counter.
They can no longer answer their phones, which explains why my calls were not returned.
I could however send them emails to ask questions. Every email is archived and tracked. Phone calls and causual counter meetings are too informal and not recorded or tracked, so no more.
Now I need to compose an email to ask my question that's hard to ask without pointing to surveys and pictures.
The front desk lady, she takes down your names on the computer. So she is basically a human version of a sign in clip board you see at banks.
I find it perplexing, that they took all human interactions out of permit processing, yet they made a human sit there to be a life size clipboard, and that human cannot even be human enough to tell me the purpose of my visit is no longer available.
Where is common sense?
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Author:
Phil Younie (CA)
"Where is common sense?"
The only thing I can think of is that this MAYBE is designed to slowdown or stop corruption .... payoffs/bribes?
I'd go all the way to the top and if that doesn't work have a letter writing campaign to the newspapers and local politicians.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
You are talking about city officials and have the temerity to ask about "common sense"? That would be an oxymoron.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Sum, go back to packy's original post and read my comment. Still applies. Your experience validates it more so.
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Author:
packy (MA)
and STILL some people want government to run our healthcare system...
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Author:
NoHub (MA)
Well they've done such a Great job with the VA...Lets turn it all over to them.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
sum......Just be glad they didn't remove the fact that they were actually suppose to call you, from their procedure. That woman would have you still sitting in that room. You can't fix stupid!
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