Bridgeport Makes Moves To Improve Permitting & Inspections

News release from the City of Bridgeport:

BRIDGEPORT, CT — [On Thursday], Mayor Ganim announced key appointments in the Building Department and Fire Marshal’s Division, as well as other operational changes aimed at improving the permitting and inspections process and enhancing customer service.

Appointment of Sean Masi as Building Official
Masi has served the City of Bridgeport for the past six years as the Electrical Inspector, after previously holding the same role in the City of Danbury. He is licensed in Connecticut as both a Building Official and Electrical Inspector, as well as an Electrical Contractor in Connecticut and New York. With extensive experience across the construction industry, Masi has progressed through every level of the field from apprentice and journeyman to foreman, project manager, and estimator. He has personally bid, bonded and executed residential, commercial, industrial, and government construction projects to completion. Beyond his professional expertise, Masi is deeply engaged in his community. He currently serves as Chairman of the Ansonia Zoning Board of Appeals and is the former Chairman of the WPCA. Widely recognized as a problem-solver, he is committed to going the extra mile to ensure excellence and accountability in his work.

Improving customer experience with the Building Department and making the building processes more efficient will be major priorities during Masi’s tenure as Building Official.

Appointment of Joseph Carr as Fire Marshal
Carr has over 25 years of dedicated service in the Bridgeport Fire Department, beginning his career as a firefighter in 1998 and advancing to the role of Fire Inspector in 2018. Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated strong leadership, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to public safety. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. Additionally, he is a state certified fire professional with extensive experience in code compliance, safety regulation, and community fire prevention initiatives.

Improving inspections and plan reviews by the Fire Marshal’s Office will be a major priority during Carr’s tenure as Fire Marshal.

Hours of Operation
Based on feedback from developers and contractors who frequently engage with the City’s land management departments, the Zoning and Engineering Offices have now moved up their hours of operation by one hour to better align with the Building Department’s hours and better serve the public. The new hours of operations are:

Zoning Department: 7 AM – 4 PM
Engineering Department: 8 AM – 4 PM
Building Department: 7 AM – 4 PM

Other Improvements to Come
In response to a study commissioned by the City to evaluate the City’s permitting and inspections processes, the City’s land management departments and ITS Department have been meeting regularly to make improvements to their processes and procedures that will create efficiencies and better serve the public. Some improvements made to date include better email communication with clients regarding the status of permitting and inspections. Future improvements to the permitting process will include merging zoning compliance into the building permit process to reduce paperwork and streamline the building process.

“These changes reflect our commitment to making City government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of our residents and business community,” said Mayor Ganim. “We’re confident that the leadership of Mr. Massi and Mr. Carr, coupled with process improvements, will help us better serve the people of Bridgeport.”

“Through these appointments and operational changes, we are demonstrating to both residents and those developing our City that we are being responsive to their concerns,” stated Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Gaudett. “We will continue to make improving the permitting, licensing, and inspections processes of the City a top priority.”