Legee Named Commissioner of Inspectional Services Department

Town Manager James McKenna announced the appointment of Al Legee as the Commissioner of the newly formed Winthrop Inspectional Services Department.

Legee, who has served as the building inspector for the City of Chelsea since 2004 and has been in the construction field for many years, was introduced to the Town Council at its meeting Tuesday night at the Joseph Harvey Room. He will begin his new position on May 1.

McKenna said that Legee was selected from a large field of candidates for the administrative position that has a base salary of $75,000.

“Tonight I have the honor of introducing our latest appointee as the commissioner of inspectional services, Al Legee,” McKenna told the Council. “We had many applicants for this position and Al came out on top as the best candidate for Winthrop. He brings a whole set of vision, goals, and objectives to the position and he conducts his business very well. We’re really pleased to have filled such an important position with someone with Al’s credentials and enthusiasm.”

McKenna said Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty, Fire Chief Paul Flanagan, and former Boston building commissioner John Eade were involved in the selection process.

“Al came here with very good recommendations from Chelsea,” said McKenna. “Our instincts tell us that he’ll run a good ship.”

McKenna said the town has always had a Building Department and certain inspections conducted by that department, but the Town Council decided to adopt a new Inspectional Services Department.

“The department incorporates other individual efforts including health, habitation, and sanitation, inspections,” said McKenna. “It’s a good coordination  because it provides staff support and a level of teamwork that we need to have in these inspectional areas.”

McKenna said that when a person visits a property in the town, “there are a suite of issues that could present themselves – some health related, some habitation related, some structurally related – and one hand needs to know what the other’s doing or thinking about a property. It allows us to take a complete look at when we inspect a property.”

McKenna said the new Inspectional Services Department will be housed in offices at the Department of Public Works headquarters on Kennedy Drive.