Online Permitting Popular in Brewer
Builders praise system

Mike Wood constructed 22 houses in Brewer last year. So far this year, he has built eight. Wood said he needs a lot of permits and enjoys the convenience of an online permitting system started in Brewer about 18 months ago. "It makes the process a lot easier. We can pull permits for four or five houses in 10 minutes," said Wood. The process used to take hours, he said.

Online permitting, a process launched by the city, is a relatively quick and easy method to obtain a variety of permits issued by the code enforcement office. The timesaving procedure is quite popular among those who use it, and city officials praise its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Despite its user-friendly characteristics, online permitting has not caught on in much of northern and central Maine. State offices use it for a variety of purposes, but evidence is missing on its use in communities other than Brewer, according to the Maine Municipal Association.

The slow growth of online permitting perplexes Brewer officials, who praise the many benefits of the process.

"Practically everybody who has used it loves it," said Economic Development Director Andrew Sachs. The process is another example of the "cultural shift in Brewer" and its continuing efforts to be business- and customer-friendly, according to Sachs.

Of the 160 permit applications received each month, about 40, or 25 percent, are done online, according to code enforcement officer David Russell. Russell thinks the process is "wonderful" and "a convenience for everyone."

"I've found with A.J. Coleman [builders of Brewer's Wal-Mart Supercenter], Cianbro [company building the Eastern Maine Healthcare complex on outer Wilson Street] and Ruby Tuesday [a restaurant under construction] that contractors, especially out-of-state contractors, very much appreciate it," said Russell.

Russell also advocates online permitting for the "home renovators, the deck builders. I encourage it anytime I can," Russell said.

The service allows users to apply through the Internet for permits for residential and commercial building projects, electrical and plumbing work, street openings, oil-burner and heating-equipment installation, signs, sewers and certificates of occupancy.

It simplifies a process that used to require permit-seekers to go to City Hall for a form, fill it out, submit it with a check and wait for the city to review the application.

Sachs said offering online permitting makes the process "more customer-friendly and easy to administer." He pitched the idea to Russell who, with the help of technology coordinator Mary Stuart, worked to turn the helpful suggestion into reality.

It cost the city about $2,000 to get the process started. HCP Computers of Carmel was hired to digitalize permit forms. There is also a $25 per month fee connected to the service. The cost was minimal compared to the benefits to permit applicants and city officials, according to officials.

To access the service, users should visit the city's Web site at www.brewerme.org and then choose the icon titled "code permits."

Once the application is submitted, an e-mail will be sent from the code enforcement office acknowledging its receipt. A second e-mail will state whether the application is approved or rejected.

Payment for the application still must be sent through the mail, however. Recipients of approved applications will be given a window of time to make payment.

A copyright story from the Bangor Daily News by Nancy Garland, Of the NEWS Staff: Wednesday, August 6, 2003