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NORTH ATTLEBORO - With past experience working both as a home builder and as a building commissioner, Rod Palmer says he knows what it's like to stand on both sides of the counter in the building inspector's office.

Realizing that the requirements of building codes can be daunting to homeowners, Palmer, the town's new building inspector, said he plans to create a user-friendly atmosphere to help make the process easier.

"When I'm in the office, my door is always open - whether you're a homeowner, architect, engineer or contractor," he said. "The town hall is open Thursday evenings and I'm going to try to be here on those evenings as often as possible so homeowners can stop by to get their questions answered."

Palmer, who has been on duty in North Attleboro for about three weeks, already has piles of paper neatly stacked on his desk and a steady stream of visitors and phone calls.

Palmer came to North Attleboro from Raynham, where he served as a building commissioner for about eight years. "It was a fantastic job - the town of Raynham was a fantastic community to work in. It's a lot like North Attleboro - extremely organized, well run, well managed," he said. "It was a great place to break into the industry."

Prior to serving as a building commissioner, Palmer owned his own housing development and building business for 18 years.

He gave that business up when he became a building commissioner, but still has a keen interest in the trade - and is in the process of building his own new home in Raynham.

Palmer said it was a hard decision to leave the community, but he was ready to face the new challenges a larger town like North Attleboro would present.

"Raynham is a much smaller community - less than half the size of North Attleboro. I wanted the opportunity to learn more, advance my career and also to earn more money," he said. "I don't mind working hard."

It is too early to tell whether there will be changes in his department, Palmer said, adding that he is still familiarizing himself with the town.

"There is a learning curve to understanding all of the town's zoning bylaws and making sure there is some consistency in how they are interpreted," he said. "I don't want to reinvent the wheel. Before I make any changes, I need to make sure I understand how the town operates."

So far, Palmer said his town hall co-workers have helped ease his transition into the post.

"Not a day goes by that someone doesn't poke their head in to let me know they're willing to help with anything I need," Palmer said. "It's a very comforting, helpful and supportive environment."

Palmer said the office works hard to process less complicated permits quickly, often issuing the smaller permits for items like roofing, siding, windows and doors within the same day - and even over the counter, in some cases. He also invited residents to contact the building inspector's office to obtain guidance during the planning stages of a project - particularly if the homeowner is unfamiliar with the process.

"If a homeowner is considering an addition or any work - from a swimming pool to the installation of a solid fuel burning appliance - I want them to know they can give us a call or stop in, whether they are planning to do the work themselves or hire someone else," he said. "We may be able to guide them in the best direction by telling them what kind of questions to ask a contractor and what criteria they have to meet in their plans."