Sean Lydon to serve as Interim Commissioner of Inspectional Services Department

Mayor Kim Janey today announced the appointment of Sean Lydon as the Interim Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Marc Joseph will assume the role of Deputy Building Commissioner, and Paul Williams will assume the role of Assistant Housing Commissioner. ISD administers and enforces building, housing, health, sanitation and safety regulations mandated by city and state governments. Inspectional Services is made up of five regulatory divisions charged with serving the public by protecting the health, safety and environmental stability of Boston's business and residential communities.

“In Boston, it is critical that we continue to protect and improve the quality of life for all of our residents. I believe Sean, Marc and Paul will excel in supporting these endeavors in their new capacity,” said Mayor Janey. “With a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership, I know that they can lead this department with dignity and respect for our city and its residents.” 

Lydon has worked for the City of Boston for 25 years, and most recently served as Deputy Building Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Building Division, where he managed over 50 staff members, including Building Officials, Administrative Support Staff and Plans Examiners. Prior to that role, Lydon worked as a Building Inspector where he was charged with enforcing building and zoning codes.   

Lydon served six years in the United States Marine Corps and later worked for Raytheon, Rockwell and Beckman on aerospace and defense programs. He graduated from Fullerton College in California with a major in business. He later attended Wentworth Institute of Technology for construction supervision. Lydon is also a State Board, Certified Building Inspector. He currently resides in Jamaica Plain with his wife and three children.

Following the transition of Sean Lydon, Marc Joseph will assume the role as the Deputy Building Commissioner. Joseph began his career 20 years ago as a Building Inspector charged with inspecting buildings within the city, ensuring compliance with the Massachusetts State Building and Boston Zoning Codes.  

Joseph was later promoted to a Plans Examiner for ISD, where he was responsible for performing plan reviews for new construction, repairs and maintenance projects within the City of Boston. This was in addition to ensuring compliance with all applicable codes and other related laws, ordinances and regulations. Joseph holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and a diploma in drafting architecture tech, as well as several other certifications. Joseph was born and raised in Haiti and is trilingual in Haitian Creole, French and English. 

In his new role, Joseph will oversee all building permit and inspection activities, zoning reviews and the Zoning Board of Appeal hearings and decisions as well as the Board of Examiners licenses. This division employs 22 building inspectors, ten electrical inspectors and eight plumbing inspectors, all of which are responsible for inspecting all construction or renovation work to ensure that proper safety standards are followed.  

Additionally, Paul Williams will assume the role of Assistant Housing Commissioner vacated by Claudia Correa, a long-time resident of East Boston. During her tenure at ISD, Correra oversaw the implementation of the Short Term Rental (STR) program, student move-in and a vast majority of housing initiatives, ensuring Boston's residential homes are safe and sanitary. As the Assistant Commissioner, Williams is charged with enforcing the State Sanitary Code and the City Ordinances, all of which regulate the quality of Boston’s public and private housing stock. He will lead a team of inspectors and administrative staff who ensure rental units are safe, sanitary and code compliant throughout Boston. Williams will also lead the department in continuing to expand the use of mobile technology.

Williams graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science. He then went on to Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, focusing on Budget and Finance Management, Statistics for Policy Makers and Performance Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Agencies. Williams has 32 years of government experience, beginning at the Federal Reserve and then landing at the City of Boston as the Office of Budget Management. Williams was later promoted to Senior Management Analyst at ISD where he was responsible for leading the Department’s IT initiatives, including building the capacity of all department inspectors to work effectively in the field through mobile devices and wireless connectivity, managing the tech team to improve service response to staff members’ IT needs, and leading the purchase and implementation of software to improve department operations and service delivery to the public.

The mission of the Inspectional Services Department is to serve the public by protecting the health and safety of Boston’s businesses and residential communities. The Department consistently aims to fairly administer public health, safety, land use and environmental regulations throughout the City of Boston. The Department will continue to utilize resources to promote the quality of life in Boston through education, enforcement and providing emergency services.