Barrington is looking for a new building official.

Dennis Begin, who worked as Barrington Building Official for the last five years, parted ways with the town in mid-May. 

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said the town has since hired Neil Hall with 4Leaf Inc. to complete the necessary building inspections on an interim basis.  

“We’ve had a fill-in qualified building official serving … he’s a contract employee. Under contract,” Hervey said. “He’s been keeping everything running smoothly. We have everything covered and we’re working on hiring a new building official.”

Hervey said the building official job opening has been posted for weeks. He added that a number of people applied for the position. 

“We are reviewing the applicants and we’re actually going to meet with (Barrington Town Planner) Teresa (Crean) this week about next steps,” Hervey said. “Hopefully we’ll have the long-term solution worked out this summer. Sometime this summer.”

Barrington hired Begin in May 2019, replacing longtime Barrington Building Official Bob Speaker, who retired after holding the post for 34 years. Previous to Barrington, Begin worked in the building inspector's department in North Attleboro, Mass.

Barrington initially paid Begin $72,000 per year. 

When he was first hired in Barrington, Begin did not yet have Rhode Island certifications to complete some of the tasks required by building officials. The town hired a firm to handle building inspections until Begin earned the certification. 

In an interview with the Barrington Times, Hervey would not specify why the town and Begin parted ways. 

“He no longer works with us,” Hervey said. 

When pressed for more information — specifically asked if Begin resigned — Hervey said: “I’ll have to get back to you how much more I can share.”

Two days later, the Barrington Times reached out to Hervey for details. Hervey wrote: “I can’t share anything more than the fact that he no longer works for the town.”