OTISFIELD — In 2013, Kate Matthews was 23 and starting her first municipal government job as an administrative assistant in Naples. Her desk sat between the town manager and the code enforcement officer, giving her a center-of-the-action view of both roles and often placing her in their conversations.

Matthews said she worked for several town managers in Naples, but only one code enforcement officer — Renee Carter.

“I felt so supported by her,” Matthews said. Carter brought Matthews to meetings and quizzed her on scenarios she might encounter as a code enforcement officer.

“She wanted more women in the field,” Matthews said, describing Carter as a mentor. In the Bethel area, there are three other female code officers: Newry’s Joelle Corey, Bethel’s Courtney McPherson and Greenwood’s Anne Kwoka.

Data from Zippia Careers indicates a steady increase in women entering the profession, with women accounting for nearly 33% of code enforcement officer positions nationwide between 2010 and 2021.

Code enforcement quickly intrigued Matthews.

“It was critical thinking. … I loved people coming in asking ‘What can we do with our property?’ Thinking on your toes and working with contractors is funny because sometimes they try to test you … they probably do that to everybody,” Matthews said. “I learn every day from contractors … not everything is black and white. It’s a learning situation from both sides.”

There is no such thing as a typical day, she said.

Regarding inspections, Matthews said every town is different. Applications necessary for private utilities in a small town for a dwelling unit include an HHE-200 (for a septic system, from a licensed site evaluator) showing their well and setbacks, which usually would be reviewed prior to building applications.

“Our job is basically life safety,” she said.

Matthews, who began in Otisfield about seven months ago, oversees land use, planning, E-911 addressing, subdivisions and road measurements for the town of about 4,000 people, while navigating local ordinances and state statutes.

New legislation can be challenging, particularly in rural towns reliant on private septic systems and wells. The new Accessory Dwelling Unit laws, she said, have led some property owners to assume they can automatically add an apartment.

“We have to tell people that they will have to pay to enlarge their septic,” Matthews said.

She stays current by attending Maine Municipal Association meetings, the annual Maine Building Officials & Inspectors Association code conference, code enforcement roundtables and local board meetings.

“There’s always new information. I’m always learning and absorbing,” she said.

As a homeowner, Matthews said she tries to help people feel supported.

“They share their souls with me. I feel like a half-time therapist,” she said. “We get off topic. They understand I’m only here to help them.”