Norristown Replaces Yerkes As Contractor for Building Inspection Services

According to The Times Herald, Norristown will be replacing Yerkes Associates, the West Chester company it's contracted with the last five years for building inpsections.

Eight companies, including Yerkes, submitted proposals to a code enforcement committee and after review, the committee recommended Horsham-based Code Inspections Inc. to provide contract building inspection.

“You always arrive at a point where you want to look at other options,” Municipal Administrator David Forrest told the Herald.

According to the Herald, the building inspection and code enforcement departments have had problems for years and consultants have criticized both for not having properly certified staff, a understaffed inspection team and poor organization.

Yerkes and other outside contractors were reportedly paid $509,882 last year for services and Yerkes was apparently paid a large portion of that.

According to Forrest, new hires in the department – one made late last year and one still being sought – will result in the municipality relying less on outside contractors.

Read more about this story and see a video of Municipal Manager David Forrest discussing the issue here.