HALIFAX - October 17 - The Halifax Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Friday morning to appoint Rod Palmer as Interim Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer, bringing 25 years of municipal building department experience to the town as it navigates significant development projects and fills a critical vacancy. Palmer, who currently serves as part-time Building Commissioner in Carver, will begin immediately with a term running through January 31, 2026, with possible extensions.
The Full Story
The board convened for a special meeting at the Halifax Town Hall on October 17, 2025, with Chair Jonathan Selig presiding and Selectman Thomas Pratt participating via Zoom. Selectman Bill Smith was absent due to vacation. The sole agenda item was the appointment of Palmer to fill the Building Commissioner position, which became vacant two weeks prior.
Palmer, a resident of Carver where he lives with his wife and two children, presented an extensive career history spanning a quarter century in municipal building departments across southeastern Massachusetts. His career began in 2000 when he was appointed Building Commissioner for the Town of Raynham, where he served for over eight years. He then moved to North Attleboro as Building Commissioner for eight years, followed by more than five years in the same role in Falmouth before retiring in late summer 2021.
Following his retirement, Palmer returned to municipal service in interim capacities, first in Wareham and then in Carver, where his interim position evolved into a permanent part-time role at 23 hours per week. The Carver position provides him the flexibility to serve Halifax while maintaining his current commitment.
During the interview, Palmer detailed his extensive experience with large-scale commercial and municipal projects. He described working in Falmouth, a community that swells from 40,000 residents in the off-season to over 100,000 in summer, where he oversaw “enormous residential subdivisions, complexes, commercial buildings, many, many government buildings from community centers to town halls to park and rec buildings.” His portfolio has included projects ranging from 250,000-square-foot Walmart stores to major developments in Raynham’s industrial park and North Attleboro’s commercial corridors.
Chair Selig questioned Palmer about his approach to zoning enforcement, an area that often presents challenges for municipalities. Palmer outlined a communication-first strategy that he has employed throughout his career. “Enforcing zoning can be very challenging,” Palmer explained. “It’s not a criminal offense, so it’s something that, you know, I try to have a good understanding of what the violation is.” He described his typical approach: analyzing complaints to determine if a violation exists, reaching out directly to property owners to explain the issue, and attempting to resolve matters through dialogue before escalating to town counsel or court proceedings.
“Some folks don’t even know they’re in violation,” Palmer noted. “So I try to communicate with that person as well as the complainant and help them understand what the issue is and how to maybe resolve the issue before it goes any further, where it might have to go to court or to the next step.” He emphasized that this approach has proven cost-effective, as “getting town council involved is expensive. Going to court is expensive.”
The board expressed particular interest in Palmer’s ability to keep pace with Halifax’s current building activity. Selig noted that “we have a lot of building going on right now with a lot of good sized projects” in Halifax Center. Palmer acknowledged the workload considerations, stating that while the position is capped at 24 hours per week, he believes that timeframe is sufficient for a community of Halifax’s size. “I work in Carver 23 hours, and I think it was 12,000 people and we have quite a bit going on and I achieve what needs to be done in 23 hours without a problem in Carver,” he said.
Palmer confirmed he maintains current certification as required by Massachusetts law, attending continuing education courses to maintain his Building Commissioner license. He also expressed willingness to attend Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings proactively, even without being asked. “I try to attend any planned board meetings or zoning board meetings that are something that I think warrants my presence,” Palmer said. “It’s, in most cases, more beneficial for me to attend a zoning board hearing or a planning board, whether it’s a site plan review or a special permit, just so I have an understanding and idea of what’s working its way up.”
The board also confirmed Palmer’s familiarity with online permitting systems. While he may not know the specific software Halifax recently implemented, he expressed confidence in his ability to adapt quickly to the platform.
Selectman Pratt, participating remotely, focused his questions on Palmer’s availability and capacity to handle the workload. “My question was just going to be about availability, making sure that you’re not stretching yourself too thin, 23 hours a week in Carver up to 24 here,” Pratt said. Palmer confirmed his comfort level with the commitment for the 100-day initial term.
Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy, who was instrumental in identifying Palmer as a candidate, offered strong endorsement during the meeting. “He stood well above any other candidate that came in for interviews,” Fennessy said. “I can just say that he’s one of the best employees I’ve ever had in there. Excellent. And the personality, everything, it all melts together. You know, I think Halifax is being well served here.”
The board voted unanimously, 2-0, to appoint Palmer, with the appointment taking effect immediately on October 17, 2025. The board also voted unanimously to authorize Fennessy to negotiate and execute the employment contract on behalf of the town. Palmer’s initial term will run through January 31, 2026, with provisions for extensions if necessary.
Chair Selig expressed confidence in the appointment, noting the timing was critical given the recent departure of the previous Building Commissioner. “We have a, we have an interim filling in for us who left last week, two weeks ago. So timing is of the utmost importance as well,” Selig said. “It’s nice when the timing works and we have a qualified candidate like yourself to really come in and hopefully make this as seamless as possible.”
Why It Matters
The Building Commissioner position is critical to Halifax’s ability to process construction permits, enforce zoning regulations, and oversee the safety and code compliance of all building projects in town. With significant development currently underway in Halifax Center and throughout the community, continuity in the Building Department directly affects homeowners seeking permits for renovations, businesses planning expansions, and developers working on larger commercial and residential projects. Palmer’s extensive experience with large-scale projects and his measured approach to zoning enforcement should provide stability during the transition period while the town conducts a search for a permanent Building Commissioner.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To appoint Rod Palmer as Interim Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Town of Halifax, effective October 17, 2025, with a term ending January 31, 2026, with additional extensions if necessary. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-0 (Unanimous). (Timestamp: 13:25)
Motion: To authorize Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy to act as signing authority for the employment contract. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-0 (Unanimous). (Timestamp: 14:10)
Motion: To adjourn the meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-0 (Unanimous). (Timestamp: 14:54)
What’s Next
Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy will negotiate and execute the employment contract with Rod Palmer. Palmer will begin serving immediately as Interim Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer. The town is expected to conduct a search for a permanent Building Commissioner, though no specific timeline was discussed at this meeting.
Full meeting available via Area 58 Community Access Channel.