Farmingville, NY - Residents doing business with the Town of Brookhaven’s Building Division are benefitting from new enhancements that improve their experience online and at Town Hall, saving them time and money. Over the past three years, staff from the Town’s Information Technology and Building Divisions have been working together, under the direction of Supervisor Ed Romaine, to develop new, automated processes that maximize productivity and provide the public with more efficient and cost-effective services.
Supervisor Romaine said, “In the past, dealing with the Building Division could be a very difficult and time consuming experience, but now it’s become more user-friendly for residents and staff alike. I commend those at Town Hall who worked together to upgrade our systems, streamline the process and make it more convenient for everyone.”
Priorities set by the Supervisor included improving specific back-office departmental functions, automating the inspection scheduling process and making more efficient use of Building Inspectors’ time. The Supervisor also initiated the effort to maximize the mobility of Building Inspectors to keep them in the field serving the public.
By virtually eliminating the use of paper and switching to tablets with a new “Inspector App,” Town Building Inspectors can electronically manage documents “on the go,” with no need to hand write on paper in the field and then re-type into a computer when back in office. They can also upload plans, documents and photos for use in the field, making it unnecessary to print the items, significantly reducing the Town’s use of paper. There is also a new “Investigator App,” which provides data from other Town departments such as Fire Prevention, Law and Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management (formerly Waste Management).
To maximize online services provided to the public and minimize travel to Town Hall, many Building Division functions are now available on the Town’s website with some offering money-saving discounts. The following can now be done online:
- Permit Renewals can be done online, saving residents 10% on permit fees. The number of permits renewed online in the first half of 2017 have nearly doubled compared to the first half of 2016.
- House Rental Licenses can be renewed online, saving residents time.
- Accessory Apartment and House Rental Licenses can be searched online.
- Reservations can be made online for an appointment with the Building Division, allowing residents to choose the specific days and times that are most convenient for them.
Learn more about the Town of Brookhaven’s Building Division and access our online services.