02-19-1992 CITY OF EDGEWATER
BUILDING TRADES REGULATORY AND APPEALS BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 19, 1992
7:00 P.M.
A Special meeting of the Building Trades Regulatory and Appeals Board
was called to Order at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 1992 in the
Community Center by Chairman Robert Howard.
ROLL CALL:
Members present were Lester Yarnell, Gary Butt, Les Ogram, Michael
Nelson, and Chairman Robert Howard. John Ciaffoni and Douglas Cole were
absent. Also present were Chief William Vola, Electrical Inspector Frank
Conrey, Community Development Director Mark Karet, City Attorney Krista
Storey and Recording Secretary Lisa R. Warren.
The topic of discussion for the Special Meeting was the Handyman /Home
Improvement Occupational License offered by the City of Edgewater. This
meeting was to be an open hearing for public input on this subject.
Chairman Howard asked the Board to introduce themselves and asked when
members of the audience were speaking to introduce themselves and their
jobs. He stated he doesn't want to hinder anybody's income or their jobs
but he felt the Handyman /Home Improvement Category needed to be
deleted from under Contractors in the Occupational License and placed
under the Other category after it had been defined as to what the License
Holder could and could not do. Chairman Howard asked for input from the
audience.
There was discussion regarding the placement of the Handyman /Home
Improvement Occupational License under the Construction category and
the pros and cons of that placement and the ambiguity of the name of the
category.
Chairman Howard asked Electrical Inspector Conrey to pass around
pictures of work that was done at a home in Edgewater by unlicensed
contractors who were supposedly Handymen. There was discussion
regarding exactly what Handyman /Home Improvement Occupational
License holders could and could not do. It was discussed that some
Handymen had stepped over the line by doing work that should only done by
licensed contractors such as electricians, plumbers, heating and air
conditioning, and general contractors.
Chairman Howard said the Board's intent was to delete Handyman /Home
Improvement category from under Contractors and to propose a special
category that limits what they can do to cleaning and repair. He stated
the public needs to be educated as to what the Handyman /Home
Improvement can and cannot do.
There was discussion about pulling permits and tracking the work being
done that way. It was noted that most of the work being done was without
a permit or with the permit being pulled by the owner. Mr. Nelson stated
if they know of someone operating outside the law they need to report it.
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Building Trades Regulatory and Appeals Board
Special Meeting 2/19/92 Page 2
There was discussion as to it being an enforcement problem, not a problem
with the definition of the license or it's placement. Ads from the
Pennysaver were read that stated the Handymen could do electrical work,
plumbing, air conditioning, room additions, etc. There was discussion as
to how they could advertise without using their State License numbers as
contractors are required to do by State Law. Chief Vola stated this had
been addressed to the Pennysaver and their reply was they were not an
enforcement agency and they printed a disclaimer in their paper.
The Board members discussed their views as to the actions they felt
needed to be taken. The primary concern was for the public's safety and
welfare. The general consensus was to move the Occupational License
from the Construction Trades and to clearly define what could and could
not be done. There was concern over the name being Handyman /Home
Improvement as a Handyman should not be doing home improvement as it
implies changes to a structure. The name Home Maintenance Service was
suggested.
Chairman Howard stated he feels that most people don't even know this
Board exists and he explained that the Board was there to hear complaints
and appeals if anyone feels they have been wronged by a contractor. He
stated this was an advisory board that can make recommendations to the
City Council for changes to City Ordinances.
Chairman Howard thanked the people for coming to the open meeting and
closed the open hearing. He stated he wanted to keep people informed of
what was going on.
Chairman Howard called a Recess at 8:20 p.m. Meeting resumed at 8:29
p.m. Mr. Nelson thanked Chairman Howard for the good job he had done
handling the open hearing.
Mr. Butt moved to table this to the next regular meeting and get with the
City Attorney for the wording. Motion died for lack of a second.
There was discussion regarding the definition to be used for this category
and what they could and could not do. There was discussion regarding the
procedure to follow and it was determined that the Board would make it's
recommendation and it would go to Council with Staff Comments. It was
suggested to come up with a definition and to bring it back before the
Public.
Mr. Ogram moved to have another open meeting as close to the Regular
Meeting of March 19th as possible when the Community Center would be
available. Mr. Nelson seconded. Motion CARRIED 5 -0. Mr. Yarnell moved to
adjourn. Meeting adjourned 8:55 p.m.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Lisa R. Warren
Recording Secretary
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