Inspectors resign from TRCC

TRCC Inspectors Resign
Tuesday, 14 February 2006
Inspectors Display IntegrityThird party inspectors resign from the Texas Residential Construction Commission in protest (TRCC)."I'm not willing to risk my credentials as being viewed an endorsement for this nonsense. I can better serve the consumers of Texas as a private inspector and expert witness for defects before they waste their time with the SIRP claims. Effective immediately, please remove me as an active inspector with this commission.""So far from my vantage point on the front line, these inspections have accomplished nothing except bad will, for me, you and the state... I have written many newspaper columns stating I had high hopes for the TRCC. You may have seen some of those. I don't write those anymore."
Two Resignations:
Mr. Waddill,I reviewed a portion of the recent broadcast and stayed long enough to see the commissioners slamdunk Tom Killebrew into the advisory committee position for Inspector. I have to say I had no idea he was being considered since he bailed on the commission. This left me with the clear appearance of backdoor backscratching on the trade outs between him and Commissioner Brown.On comparison of résumés, there isn't a Commissioner on the panel that can look me in the face and honestly tell me Tom's credentials as an inspector or building official outmatch mine. Then we can look at my ICC builder certification and state certification as a neutral mediator. Those are all qualities and experience I was prepared to bring to the table and to provide to consumers of Texas.On a matter of neutrality, I have a real problem with the concept of the commissioners picking Tom. It's my understanding his company does a tremendous amount work specifically for the building community deriving a fairly substantial amount of money. Frankly , I have a hard time seeing neutrality in his position. It's also been my understanding that inspectors were to always be as neutral as possible to avoid this conflict.So were clear, this isn't an issue of sour grapes as much as it is an issue of realizing how disillusioned I've become with the commission. It's really unfortunate the comptroller's office didn't contact inspectors for our opinions prior to releasing that report. Comments apparently made about inspectors by your staff were insulting at the very least. There was a genuine hope that the advisory committee was going to be an opportunity for at least some sensible, honest and neutral voices to be heard, but I don't see that happening and don't expect it will change.Until legislation is passed to force correction of defects that we're finding as inspectors there is no point in the process or the commission. The standards are abysmal, communication between the commission and inspectors is extremely poor and the building community has quickly realized there is no penalty for work so bad it even exceeds the incredibly generous standards A&M pulled out of thin air. Finally, based on the public concern and feedback coming to me, I feel my reputation as an inspector and building official is jeopardized if I continue association with the commission. I'm not willing to risk my credentials as being viewed an endorsement for this nonsense. I can better serve the consumers of Texas as a private inspector and expert witness for defects before they waste their time with the SIRP claims. Effective immediately, please remove me as an active inspector with this commission.Regards,Glen M. Davis C.B.O. H.C.O. ************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Poage
To:
aaron.moore@trcc.stateThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Cc:
patrick.fortner@trcc.stateThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:59 PM
Subject: Inspections
Aaron,

When I started doing inspections for TRCC, I thought I would be helping people with difficult or dangerous situations. As an inspector, that is our business.

In fact inspections for TRCC do neither. They only lengthen the time people take to get a resolution to a problem, raise their expectations that someone (the TRCC, the state, and/or me) is there to help them, and it costs them money. So far from my vantage point on the front line, these inspections have accomplished nothing except bad will, for me, you and the state.

If this is not the case, you should improve the communication flow to the inspectors. As of the time I write this, it is non-existent. Keep in mind, we are the ones out there eye-to-eye with the taxpayers that pay your salary or fees.

I have written many newspaper columns stating I had high hopes for the TRCC. You may have seen some of those. I don't write those anymore.

Please remove me from the list of TRCC inspectors.

I wish you the best of luck in the future and sincerely hope all of you can get your act together and help the Texas homeowner.

Jim

Jim PoageSan Antonio, TX 78232