Comments in the media place blame for building permit delays on the city’s lack of staff due to low pay (“Bill speeding up building permits poised for final vote at City Council,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 8).

While this may be a factor, equally important to consider is the availability of qualified and willing professionals in our community to be a plans examiner.

Based on my interactions with them, plans examiners have experience, skill set and temperament that required years to develop and is not readily hired off the street.

The city has provided options to address this issue by instituting the third-party review program and the one-time review process, which includes the design/construction community, in the permitting process.

As a design professional, I also am frustrated with a long review time, but I also recognize the city’s responsibility regarding life safety and health concerns, and the key “check and balance” role it has in the construction process.

Ken Kajiwara

Kaneohe

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