Evening star., 1950-04-28
Building Inspection
Rules Are Reviewed
After Discipline Of 7

TuNi HtSSIyiIlIC VI 4
The administrative regulations
OF the District Department of In
spection were being reviewed to-
day as one building inspector
faces dismissal and another, a
formal investigation.
Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner Thomas j. Hayes III said
some changes in the manual of
instructions undoubtedly" would
result.
Assistant Building Inspector
Lester w. Kimble was placed on
annual leave last week after al
legedly allowing some building
alterations to proceed when they
were not covered by a permit.
Disclosure that Mr.. Kimble is
slated for dismissal followed the
Commissioners announcement
yesterday they had suspended As
sistant Building Inspector Fred
erick A. Humm.
Cases Not Connected.
Daniel B. Maher, special as
sistant corporation counsel, was
designated to conduct a formal
investigation of charge that
Mr.. Humm received money from a
builder whose construction project
was under his supervision.
District officials said there was
no connection between the two
cases.
Col. Hayes said no other mem
bers of the department are under
suspicion or investigation.
Col. Hayes said one of the
changes being contemplated by
Robert H. Davis, District Director
Of Inspection. in the manual
would be the addition of a pro-
vision to require any individual
in the department who had any
indication of improper conduct
involving the department to re-
port It TO the appropriate official.
Another provision already in
the manual, which forbids en-
ployes to accept any money gifts
or gratuities in connection with
their work, probably will be tight
ened. Col. Hayes said.
Could Be Made More Specific.
The manual already covers
these points, Col. Hayes said, but
the Corporation Counsel's Office
has suggested they might be made
even more specific.
The regulations now in use we're
approved and made effective in
February, 1949, and have not been
changed since then. Col. Hayes
said that other sections may also
come in for changes if they are
indicated.
Mr.. Davis said Mr.. Kimble
had admitted permitting some un-
authorized work to start on build
ings at 1914, 1890 and 1884 Euclid
street NV, formerly used by
Garfield Hospital as nurses dormi-
tories and later sold.
Buildings Converted.
Mr.. Davis said one of the build
ings was damaged by fire last
December, and that a permit was
issued to cover repairs Of that
damage. 1t was learned last week,
he said, that work had been un-
dertaken to convert the buildings
to apartments. They had been
apartment buildings before their
use by Garfield Hospital, he said.
Mr.. Kimble's dismissal was rec
commended, Mr.. Davis said, for
disobeying instructions to see that
construction work stayed within
the limits of building permits.
Mr. Kimble has been an assist
ant building inspector since Sep
tember IT, 1947. His salary is
$3,700 year.
The Commissioners told Mr..
Humm in letter suspending him
they had been informed that
there is sufficient cause to believe
that you, on or about January 10,
1850, did receive money from one
Henry Levin, a person connected
with or associated with the Aldon
Construction Co. with offices at
1929 Vermont avenue NV"
Humm Case Involves $500.
j. j. Ilgenfritz, deputy director
Of inspections, said the alleged
sum involved in the Humm case
was 5000.
Mr.. Humm denied he had had
any money transactions with Mr..