The City of Sarnia is hiring from within to fill the vacant chief building official position.
Ken Barros was appointed to the role on January 21 after being the city's building code technician, building official, and supervisor/deputy chief building official within the past five years.
He was also the plans examiner and building inspector for the town of Lincoln.
Interim CAO Alan Shaw said Barros is taking over from him as chief building official but the Director of Planning and Building job still has to be filled.
"The component of Chief Building Official has stayed with me-- I came to the city and basically carried it through my progression. It's not a formal part of the director's position, and it was felt that it would be better directed down to an existing employee," said Shaw. "So Ken is an existing employee that's been promoted, so there's been no new hire. The position of Director of Community Development Services and Standards remains open.
Shaw said Barros, an LCCVI graduate, is a great fit for the role.
"Ken is local and has built strong relationships with the local building agencies in our community," said Shaw. "He has gone through the Architectural Technology program at Fanshawe College and he comes to us with several years of experience. He has a level head, he has progressed through the organization and shows promise in regards to his abilities in upcoming years."
As the chief building official, Barros will work with local stakeholders and agencies to increase opportunities for local residential land development, and ensure construction complies with applicable codes and standards.
Meanwhile, the city is still working to fill the roles of finance director, and city solicitor and to name a full-time CAO.
Currently, Tammie Ryall is the interim Director of Community Development Services and Standards. The job posting for the position closed January 13.