Bureau of Building Inspection makes changes

Pittsburgh's Bureau of Building Inspection (BBI) has a new chief and will be undergoing many changes starting in January. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he wants the BBI to be more effective in what they do in order to better serve the community. Ravenstahl named Sergei Matveiev as the new chief of the bureau. There will be changes in code inspection. It will be an integrated process. Also, inspectors will be provided with much-needed tools, including handheld computers and bureau-provided vehicles. New inspectors will take proper training classes, and older inspectors can also take classes to be better trained in what they do. The costs to provide all of this is expected to exceed $1 million, but Ravenstahl believes "it's a worthwhile investment."