Building Commissioner Paul Turner to retire in late September

Wareham Building Commissioner Paul Turner is planning to retire in late September, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan said.

Sullivan said that the town is in the process of interviewing candidates to fill Turner’s role. The town published a job posting in late July for the role.

Sullivan said the town plans to have a new candidate lined up by the time Turner retires.

Turner has been criticized by homeowners in recent years for inconsistently enforcing rules and refusing to close open permits, which can create the perception for homebuyers that there are unfinished projects or problems with the home. These permits usually relate to small projects that did not receive an official sign-off before they expired after 180 days. 

Building inspectors in nearby towns have told Wareham Week that they work with residents to close these open permits.

A large group of Wareham residents and business owners spoke out against Turner at the Tuesday, Aug. 18 Wareham Select Board meeting. Joe Crepeau, who organized people to speak at the meeting through a Facebook post, described his experience working with Turner as “arbitrary, capricious, contradictory and confrontational.”

Lakeville resident Bill Bachant, who operates a real estate office in Swifts Beach, said business owners have refused to relocate to Wareham until Turner leaves office. “Citizens and businesses are terrorized by this guy,” Bachant said. “Literally terrorized.”

Nancy Roy faced difficulties when selling her home because she still had open permits that Turner refused to close. “There’s a lot of unfinished business and difficulties folks are having, losing money, leaving town, never wanting to do business with the town of Wareham,” she said during her speech at the Aug. 18 Select Board meeting. “I’d like to see the next person be better vetted.” 

Turner did not respond to multiple requests for comment.