EL building official leaves for new position after 19 years

Joseph Smith hopes to serve the town differently

East Lyme — The town Chief Building Official Joseph Smith said he is resigning from his position, effective Friday, to take a similar job in Windham.

“It’s been a good 19 years,” Smith said. “It’s a great place to work. I’ve learned a lot here, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”

Still, he thinks it’s time for a change. He’s also looking forward to serving the town differently, perhaps on a board or commission, and it would be better to do that when he’s not an employee of the town, he said. He has lived in East Lyme for more than 20 years.

Smith said he will begin Monday as the building official for Windham.

“He served us well,” East Lyme First Selectman Mark Nickerson said. “He was al-

ways professional and always maintained the high standards for building projects in our community, and he will be missed.”

Steven E. Way, the town’s part-time assistant building official, will serve as fulltime interim chief building official for the next six months, as the town assesses which direction to head in, Nickerson said. George Gardner will serve as interim part-time assistant building official, according to the first selectman’s office.

Nickerson said that Way has been directly involved with the elementary school renovations project since the beginning and will provide continuity with building inspections.

Way said Smith’s departure is a huge loss for East Lyme, as Smith had so much experience and knew an incredible amount of history, but he’s sure Smith will make himself available to assist as necessary.

“Obviously, it’s a challenge and an opportunity for me, both of which I’ll jump into and give 110 percent to,” said Way, who has served as assistant building official in East Lyme for nearly five years and has a background in construction.