After reviewing Director of Inspectional Services Myles Burke's credentials, the state Department of Public Safety has determined for a third time that Burke is not qualified to be an inspector.

Inspectors are required to obtain certification from the state Board of Building Regulation and Standards, per Massachusetts General Law.

Burke has twice appealed the decision of the state Building Official Certification Committee, which in September determined that he does not "meet the minimum qualifications" to be an inspector, and thus could not receive certification, according to documents obtained from the Department of Public Safety by way of a public records request.

The committee cited a lack of supervisory experience as the reason for its findings.

"Although your resume indicates that you have experience in construction, the Committee ascertains the information submitted on your resume did not include enough detail related to building construction or design to demonstrate that you meet or exceed the qualifications for the position of inspector of buildings," a September 9 letter from the committee, addressed to Burke, reads.

The letter indicated that Burke must request a public hearing "to appeal the decision to remain in the position of inspector of buildings for the Town of Wareham."

Burke appealed the decision, which led to an October 13 hearing with the committee. After the hearing, the committee still found that Burke did not meet the required qualifications, according to an October 22 letter from the committee to Burke.

Burke again appealed the committee's decision, and provided the committee with documentation from his work with the Lawrence Housing Authority, where he was employed for 15 years as a housing specialist. The committee determined on January 5, however, that the additional information provided "did not clearly indicate any supervisory experience," according to a letter dated January 14.

Burke has 45 days from the date of the letter to appeal the decision to the state Building Code Appeals Board.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews said that certification is actually not a requirement of the position of Director of Inspectional Services, and that Burke is seeking certification on his own.

"He has all the credentials to do his job. ... He oversees the department, he's not an inspector," Andrews said. When Burke visits buildings, “he'll make an assessment and then [Building Inspector] Andy [Williams] will follow up."

Andrews said the Inspectional Services Department has been transformed in the months since Burke arrived in April.

“If I didn't have a Building Inspector, then yes, we'd have to find somebody, but we've transformed the department to become more efficient," Andrews said.

Andrews said he couldn't comment further on the personnel matter.

Burke and representatives from the state Board of Building Regulations and Standards could not immediately be reached for comment.

Burke's hiring came under criticism shortly after he was brought on board. In May, Selectman Cara Winslow expressed concern that he was hired at a rate of $75,000 per year, though the position was advertised at roughly $51,000 per year. Andrews responded to the concern by pointing out that the department would be taking on additional responsibilities.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.