Westwood hires new full-time building official

Westwood made a significant addition to its city staff Tuesday, hiring a new building official on a full-time basis who will handle both codes enforcement and building inspections.

The council met in special session to approve the hiring of Jim Sherman (no relation to city clerk Fred Sherman), who has 13 years of experience at Gardner as a chief building official.

The job combines two previously part-time positions of code enforcement and building inspection. Both of the positions were vacant and Westwood had been forced to contract out the work. Westwood provides the services to Mission Woods and Westwood Hills as well on a contractual basis.

Westwood has seen a recent surge in re-development activity – especially with the Woodside Village project – and city officials hinted there may be more coming based on recent contacts. Mission Woods may have activity in some of its buildings on Shawnee Mission Parkway.

Sherman will start in the position this week.