Building official being investigated
Clement has been head of the building department and its 22 employees since 1988, when he came to work for city. The building department is responsible for inspecting architectural plans and construction sites for compliance with the building code. Clement also is a former president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21.
Building official being investigated
RICHMOND: Sources say Clement, on paid leave, is accused of improperly influencing real estate investments
By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay has put Building Official Fred Clement on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into possible misuse of his position.
Lindsay verified this week that Clement is on administrative leave but declined to comment further. However, three sources who do not work for the city and spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity said Clement is being investigated for allegations that he improperly influenced real estate investments.
He was put on leave as of Nov. 29 after he attended a short meeting with Lindsay; assistant city manager Leslie Knight; a union official; and Planning Director Richard Mitchell, Clement's immediate supervisor.
Clement, whose annual salary is $130,000, will receive his regular paycheck during the investigation, which is expected to take at least six weeks.
Clement has been head of the building department and its 22 employees since 1988, when he came to work for city. The building department is responsible for inspecting architectural plans and construction sites for compliance with the building code. Clement also is a former president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21.
Attempts to reach Clement by phone Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Clement has long had a reputation for being an ineffective manager. He is known for not returning phone calls and is often away from the office without explanation, according to several contractors.
The Richmond building department has a reputation for being inefficient. It can take as much as six months longer to get building plans approved in Richmond than in unincorporated North Richmond, which is overseen by the Contra Costa County Community Development Department, said building contractor Mark Howe, president of the MSH Group.
"You can expedite plan checking with the county because they let builders take plans to a private company," Howe said. "In Richmond, builders have to wait up to six months for plan checking, which can add $100,000 onto the building costs."
Clement had money troubles for years, according to documents filed with the Contra Costa County Recorder's Office. Clement has been in default on his mortgage at least nine times since 1992 and has had three state and federal tax liens on his El Sobrante home. In the past two years, he has had six garbage liens on his property, which resulted from not paying his garbage bill.
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