By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Mayor Doug England has tapped New Albany native David Brewer to fill the building commissioner slot for the city.
Brewer, age 36, graduated from New Albany High School in 1991, owned David Brewer Construction from 2000 to 2007 and most recently worked for the Southern Indiana rental housing outfit Neace Properties.
Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz had been filling in as building commissioner after Ron Hartman was reassigned to code enforcement last summer.
“We need to bring this office into the 21st century,” Brewer said. “We have antiquated systems and procedures. I intend to upgrade the computer hardware and software and institute systems that are user friendly not only to the staff but, also, the construction industry.”
Better accounting methods were recommended by the State Board of Accounts, after the agency’s 2008 audit of the city found building permit fees were not charged in some cases.
New Albany is also in the midst of a battle to cleanup dilapidated structures around the city — a chore that will now be headed by Brewer.
“My administration has been ratcheting up code enforcement activities since day one. David’s experience and expertise with home remodeling and rental property management makes him an excellent candidate to focus on the rental housing stock of our central city neighborhoods,” Mayor Doug England said.
Brewer came highly recommended with endorsements from builders and city officials such as Terry Ginkins and Lamar Dowell, England said.
“Brewer is an excellent choice,” said Ginkins, who is a former city building commissioner and a current member of the New Albany Redevelopment Commission.
“David is a notch above,” said Lamar Dowell, owner of New Albany Heating and Air and a member of the New Albany Building Commission.
Brewer will head a commission staff of five employees, which includes two building inspectors and two concentrated code enforcement officers. He is married with three children and currently lives in Georgetown, though he noted he would like to move back to New Albany soon.
