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Pound Ridge Building Inspector Perry Provides Integrity

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. -- Some travel long distances to find an honest man who takes pride in his work, especially when in civil service and generating neither fame nor fortune. We are lucky to have such a person in James Perry, our Town Building Inspector.

Charlotte Sasloff, left, James Perry, center,  and Arthur Travis work in the Pound Ridge Building Department.

Charlotte Sasloff, left, James Perry, center, and Arthur Travis work in the Pound Ridge Building Department.

He is originally from Lexington, Ky., and made his way east where he attended SUNY Plattsburgh and then moved to our area in 1968. For several years he was a self-employed home builder and due to his talent, was hired as Assistant Inspector. He appears humble but takes pride that when he took the civil service test, his grades came in at first place. Since 1996, he has been the person property owners go to for construction inquiries and required permits to maintain what he refers to as public safety.

Those are the two most important words anyone will hear coming from Perry. He is also up front that he is not political when upholding the interests of residents and business owners alike.

He takes his job seriously, especially when dealing with the lack of proper protection over such issues as fencing. He points out how five children in our community drowned as a result of poor pool fence construction. In most cases he explained, a property owner did not submit a plan or application for a permit. This is why he explains his goal is not to give anyone a hard time but to make his office available to all property owners.

What most people in town should appreciate about Jim is how he provides a reference guide for understanding electrical and plumbing installation. Everyone should also know he gives free advice and an honest opinion to help save money so we do not have to do the same work twice.

If our town was in the blue grass region of Kentucky, Jim would be just another country man. Here in Pound Ridge, he is one of the most genuine and hard-working public officials I have ever met. We are also lucky to also have in this department two other employees. Art Travis is the Assistant Inspector and has an equally high standard for his work. Charlotte Sasloff runs the office and knows at any given moment where every printed sheet of paper is located.

Laurance Baschkin is a resident of Pound Ridge.

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