Gregory Sykes speaks to the Lakewood Board of Trustees. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD — The Village of Lakewood and the town of Busti continue to share services.

Monday, the Lakewood Board of Trustees appointed Gregory Sykes, of Lakewood, as an additional Fire Code inspector.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity,” Sykes told the board.

“So are we,” Mayor Randy Holcomb replied.

As part of the shared fire code inspector agreement, Sykes will split his time between the two municipalities. It is expected that at its next regular meeting, Monday, the Busti board will hire Sykes as a fire code inspector as well. All Busti Town Board meetings will be held in the Town Administration Building, located at 125 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. All meetings are to begin at 6:45 p.m., and all meetings are open to the public.

Sykes also is a licensed New York State Home inspector, is a Lakewood native having graduated from Southwestern Central School, and the former Lakewood Elementary School.

Sykes recalled that his father once ran for village trustee, and said he learned a valuable lesson during his father’s campaign. Even though his father did not win the trustee seat, Sykes embraced the negative experience and turned it into a positive one.

“He always told me that you should be in local politics. Everybody should,” Sykes said of his father.

Sykes said a friend of his mentioned there may be an opportunity to serve as an additional fire inspector, so Sykes decided to apply. Sykes is also a state-certified radon gas testing official, and certified through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to carry out Safe Home inspections.

“Anybody buying through HUD, the inspections are a little bit stiffer. They (HUD Officials) want a safe environment,” Sykes added.

He said he also is active in the Lakewood Baptist Church and owns Secure Home Inspection Services, secureinspections.org.

“We’re glad you stepped up,” Trustee Richard Fischer said.