HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05.21.20251 (Pages 1 to 4)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 1
CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
TIME: 8:30 A.M.
PLACE: Commission Chambers of the Roger Poitras Annex
2300 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
James "Travis" Leonard (Chair)
Tony Jerger (Vice Chair)
Michael DiFrancesco (Secretary)
Adam Sampson
Roger Priest
Michael Pride
Gary Morris
Michael Kauffmann, Jr.
BOARD ATTORNEY:
Richard V. Neill, Jr.
Page 2
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ---
3 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Good morning. It's 8:31 on
4 Wednesday, May 21st. I call the Licensing Board
5 meeting to order. Please call the roll of
6 contractors and new members.
7 RECORDING SECRETARY: We got Mr. Sampson.
8 MR. SAMPSON: Yes, ma'am.
9 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. DiFrancesco.
10 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Yes, ma'am.
11 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Leonard.
12 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Yes, ma'am.
13 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Jerger.
14 MR. JERGER: Yes, ma'am.
15 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Pride.
16 MR. PRIDE: Yes, ma'am.
17 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Priest.
18 MR. PRIEST: Yes, ma'am.
19 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Morris.
20 MR. MORRIS: Yes, ma'am.
21 RECORDING SECRETARY: And Mr. Kauffmann.
22 MR. KAUFFMANN: Yes, ma'am.
23 RECORDING SECRETARY: Thank you.
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: If everybody had an
25 opportunity to read the minutes from last meeting,
Page 3
1 do you have any discussion or any corrections or
2 deletions?
3 (No response.)
4 Hearing none. I'll accept a motion to
5 approve.
6 MR. PRIEST: Motion so moved.
7 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Motion by Mr. Priest. Do
8 we have a second?
9 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Second.
10 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. DiFrancesco.
11 All in favor?
12 THE BOARD: (Responded affirmatively.)
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
14 (No response.)
15 Thank you very much.
16 Madam Secretary, can you please swear in the
17 Staff members?
18 RECORDING SECRETARY: Raise your hand and
19 state your name for the record.
20 MR. JERRAHIAN: Michael Jerrahian.
21 MS. GUY: Paula Guy.
22 MR. WINKLER: Michael Winkler.
23 MS. MOISE: Mirlande Moise.
24 RECORDING SECRETARY: Do you affirm to tell
25 the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
Page 4
1 truth?
2 THE STAFF: (Indicated affirmatively.)
3 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: This portion is being
4 reserved for public comment. Anybody wishing to
5 come up and speak, now is your time to do so.
6 (No response.)
7 Seeing nobody, we close the public comment.
8 Next is following applications to be
9 recommended for approval by consent.
10 Any discussions, any deletions?
11 (No response.)
12 Seeing none. Motion to approve.
13 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Motion to approve.
14 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Motion by Mr. DiFrancesco.
15 Second --
16 MR. SAMPSON: Second.
17 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. Sampson. All
18 in favor?
19 THE BOARD: (Responded affirmatively.)
20 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
21 (No response.)
22 Madam Secretary, please read that into the
23 roll.
24 RECORDING SECRETARY: The following
25 applications are recommended for approval by
2 (Pages 5 to 8)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 5
1 consent: Xavier Salazar Andueza. That will be
2 Nordwest Group, LLC for plumbing.
3 Russel Power for plumber journeyman.
4 And peter Carbonara, Carbonara Construction,
5 Inc., for landing clearing.
6 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Up next is applications for
7 approval by reciprocity. Any deletions, any
8 discussion?
9 (No response.)
10 Motion?
11 MR. PRIDE: Motion to approve.
12 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Second.
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Motion to approve by
14 Mr. Pride. Second by Mr. DiFrancesco.
15 All in favor?
16 THE BOARD: (Responded affirmatively.)
17 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
18 (No response.)
19 Madam Secretary, please read that into the
20 roll.
21 RECORDING SECRETARY: The following
22 applications are recommended for approval by
23 reciprocity:
24 Robert Bogacz, Bogacz Ventures, LLC, d/b/a
25 Elite Fence, fencing contractor.
Page 6
1 And Kervin Balbosa, KervPro, LLC, glass and
2 glazing.
3 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Up next approved
4 administratively. Please read that name into the
5 record.
6 RECORDING SECRETARY: Jesus Placeres Ramos,
7 PJA Electric, LLC, electrical contractor.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Thank you very much.
9 We have an application to be reviewed by the
10 Board.
11 Is Mr. Kenneth Pratts here?
12 MS. GUY: No, sir.
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Thank you so much.
14 I have had an opportunity to read the
15 application. I'm sure everybody did as well on
16 this Board. I had some questions for Mr. Pratt,
17 and I wish he was here.
18 MS. GUY: Me as well. I believe it was
19 confirmed by the Recording Secretary that he was to
20 be in attendance.
21 RECORDING SECRETARY: Yes. He did confirm the
22 other day he would be here. I believe he's just
23 lost.
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: What is the will of the
25 Board? Do we want to table this and see if
Page 7
1 Mr. Pratt shows up?
2 MR. PRIDE: Yes, sir.
3 MR. SAMPSON: Yes, sir.
4 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I'd like to make a motion to
5 push the review to the next Board so that maybe he
6 can be here and answer some questions?
7 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Do you want to push the
8 review for later on in today's meeting and see if
9 he shows up and then we'll see -- then we'll hear
10 it then?
11 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Well, if he doesn't show up
12 for today's meeting, let's -- let's push it for --
13 to the next Board, July 16th.
14 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Okay. We have motion by
15 Mr. DiFrancesco.
16 MR. PRIEST: I'll second it.
17 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. Priest. All
18 in favor?
19 THE BOARD: (Responded affirmatively.)
20 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
21 (No response.)
22 Thank you.
23 Waiver of right of hearing for failure to pay
24 -- pay or appeal a citation.
25 Ms. -- Ms. Mirlande?
Page 8
1 MS. MOISE: Good morning.
2 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Good morning.
3 MS. MOISE: That case has abated.
4 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: It has abated?
5 MS. MOISE: Yes, sir.
6 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I spent an hour and a half
7 reading that, preparing for that. I'm so glad that
8 it was abated. Thank you.
9 MS. MOISE: You're welcome.
10 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Winkler, Disciplinary
11 Case No. 1. Roof Doctors, LLC.
12 MR. WINKLER: Yes, sir.
13 For the record, I'm submitting six photos
14 taken by St. Lucie County Building Inspector
15 Andy Wentz on January 20th, 2023. Two
16 engineering -- to engineer letters submitted from
17 Summit Design & Forensic, Incorporated. Permit No.
18 Roof, ROOFR-2303-002393, an inspection information,
19 complaint affidavit, contract, notice to appear,
20 United States Postal Service tracking information,
21 email from Ms. Rosa Salinas to the Roof Doctors and
22 the DBPR information.
23 On December 10th, 2023, Rosa Salinas filed a
24 complaint affidavit for a tear off and reroof work
25 done by Calvin Lars Christensen and/or
3 (Pages 9 to 12)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 9
1 Roof Doctors, LLC.
2 From February 26th, 2024 to September 20 --
3 September 23rd, 2024, the final roof inspection has
4 been inspected six times by three different
5 inspectors and failed every one of them. No
6 additional work or inspections have been done since
7 September 23rd, 2024. On February 2nd, 2024, I had
8 contact with Calvin Christensen of Roof Doctors who
9 advised me he was waiting an engineer report so he
10 could schedule the final inspection. February 6th,
11 2024, I had contact again with Roof Doctors,
12 Calvin Christensen that the permit wasn't allowed.
13 Mr. Christensen had an approved letter for the
14 insulation that the low-sloped roof system on
15 Permit No. ROOFR-2303-002393. Mr. Christensen was
16 advised that the form had to be completed by the
17 qualifier and uploaded separately from the approved
18 review. He was then advised that he could schedule
19 the final inspection so the permit could be closed
20 up. On March 21st, 2024, I left a message for
21 Mr. Christensen to follow-up on the status for the
22 final inspection. When I didn't get any response,
23 the Notice to Appear was issued by U.S. Certified
24 Mail to Calvin Lars Christensen and/or Roof Doctors
25 on December 26th, 2024. The Notice to Appear
Page 10
1 scheduled before the St. Lucie County Contractor
2 Licensing on Wednesday the 19th of March at 8:30.
3 A second notice was issued to appear on
4 January 16th, 2025 due to the March Contractor
5 Licensing Board meeting being canceled. This one
6 was scheduled for May 21st, 2025. The violations
7 for the St. Lucie Code Ordinance is as follows:
8 Section 10-67, revocation or suspension of
9 certificate of competency. Parenthesis 3,
10 Disregards and violates an applicable state or
11 local building code, regulation or law. No. 8,
12 parenthesis, Abandons a construction project in
13 which the contractor is engaged or under contract
14 as a contractor. A project shall be considered
15 abandoned 90 days after the contractor terminates
16 the project without just cause or without proper
17 notification to the homeowner, including the reason
18 for termination, or fails to perform work under the
19 contract for 90 consecutive days.
20 On January 21st, 2025, United States Postal
21 Service tracking service showed that the NTA was
22 delivered and signed for. As of May 21st, 2025,
23 I've had no further contact with Calvin Christensen
24 and/or Roof Doctors, LLC since February 6th, 2024.
25 Permit Roof, ROOFR-2303-002393 remains expired
Page 11
1 since August 26th, 2024.
2 Do you want the recommendations?
3 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Do you want to catch your
4 breath, Mr. Winkler?
5 (Laughter.)
6 Is Mr. Calvin Christensen or a representative
7 of Roof Doctors, LLC in the building?
8 (No response.)
9 Seeing none, what is the Board's pleasure?
10 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I will make a recommendation
11 to accept.
12 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Make a motion.
13 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I'll make a motion to accept
14 Staff's order of -- to revoke his Certificate of
15 Competency privilege of Calvin Christensen and/or
16 Roof Doctors, LLC for a term not to exceed 365 days
17 for new permits only. After the revocation period,
18 written request must be made to the Board to
19 reinstate Calvin Christensen and/or Roof Doctors
20 permitting privileges. A copy of the Board's order
21 will be forwarded to the Florida Department of
22 Business and Professional Regulations and the
23 surrounding municipalities.
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Thank you, Mr. DiFrancesco.
25 We have a motion. Do we have a second?
Page 12
1 MR. MORRIS: Second.
2 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. Morris. All
3 in favor?
4 THE BOARD: (Indicated affirmatively.)
5 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
6 (No response.)
7 Motion carries unanimously.
8 Questions for Staff?
9 (No response.)
10 Did I just see Mr. Pratts walk in with his
11 wife?
12 MS. GUY: Yes, the qualifier is present.
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. DiFrancesco, you're the
14 one that made the motion to carry it on, but
15 Mr. Pratts did show up. Would you like to hear
16 that case?
17 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I would like to make a
18 motion to hear the case.
19 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Sounds great. Legal
20 counsel, do we need to make a motion so I can
21 approve to hear the case?
22 MR. NEILL: Not really. I think you all
23 tabled it for his appearance so --
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Perfect.
25 MR. NEILL: -- just take it up when you're
4 (Pages 13 to 16)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 13
1 ready.
2 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: That was -- that was my
3 understanding, so I appreciate that.
4 MR. PRATTS: Good morning.
5 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Pratts, good morning.
6 MR. PRATTS: Good morning. How are you doing?
7 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I need you to raise your
8 right hand. State your name on the record to be
9 sworn in.
10 MR. PRATTS: I'm Kenneth Pratts.
11 RECORDING SECRETARY: Your address?
12 MR. PRATTS: 1072 SW Deauville, Port St.
13 Lucie.
14 RECORDING SECRETARY: Do you affirm to tell
15 the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
16 truth?
17 MR. PRATTS: Yes, ma'am.
18 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Pratts, good morning.
19 MR. PRATTS: Good morning.
20 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: So A/C cleaning duct
21 business?
22 MR. PRATTS: Yes.
23 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: How's that going?
24 MR. PRATTS: It's going so far good. I'm
25 enjoying it. My wife's enjoying it. My son also.
Page 14
1 He's showing an interest in HVAC so -- I was doing
2 it for -- I did it for almost -- a little bit over
3 nine years, but I stopped and I got into CDL.
4 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: The trucking business.
5 MR. PRATTS: Trucking business. I needed a
6 little break from being the attic to tell you the
7 truth.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Now you want to go back?
9 MR. PRATTS: Yes, because of my son. So he's
10 showing an interest. And you know what if -- and
11 you know, he pushes me. He'd be like, Dad, come on
12 we get this. So I'm very excited. He got me
13 excited, so I want to back and -- I want to do a
14 little bit more than just ducting. I want to be
15 able to clean coils, run duct work, you know,
16 piece. And he's very interested in it, and I'm
17 like -- this is something, like, I would love to do
18 with him in, help our family in, and give back to
19 the community somehow --
20 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Sure.
21 MR. PRATTS: -- in the future.
22 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Sure. One of the pleasures
23 that this Board does have is sponsoring people just
24 like you that want to be able to go ahead and
25 take the test. The only challenge I have is that
Page 15
1 you haven't really done any A/C work for a very
2 long time, other than change out -- or cleaning
3 some duct work.
4 MR. PRATTS: Well, I did -- I worked for
5 Lindstrom --
6 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Uh-huh.
7 MR. PRATTS: -- when I started. Service
8 America, All Year Cooling, a lot of big companies.
9 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I'm not an A/C contractor,
10 but I can imagine the technology's changed. I'm
11 swimming contractor and technology's changed very
12 rapidly, so --
13 MR. PRATTS: Yeah.
14 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: -- that would be my only
15 concern.
16 MR. PRATTS: Yeah, but -- yeah, but I'm
17 willing take refreshment course, and I'm, you know,
18 always trying to expand myself and learn, but I'm
19 not going to really go into that. I'm going to
20 really concentrate on the cleaning part, because I
21 really want to be able to do more services, like,
22 cleaning out the coils, changing duct work. You
23 know, the big jobs like --
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: So while you're on the
25 property now cleaning out duct work the client
Page 16
1 goes, Hey, would you like to clean my coils? And
2 you go, I'd love to, but I don't have a license.
3 MR. PRATTS: Exactly. Exactly. So I would
4 love to do the little jobs that the big companies
5 don't like to do. That's where I'm trying to
6 focus.
7 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I appreciate that
8 Mr. Pratts. I have no further questions of
9 Mr. Pratts.
10 Does any body on the Board have any questions?
11 (No response.)
12 Thank you for being here. Seeing none I'll
13 have a motion.
14 MR. PRATTS: Thank you so much.
15 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I'd like to make a motion to
16 accept Mr. Pratts chance to take the test.
17 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Perfect. Thank you,
18 Mr. DiFrancesco.
19 MR. PRATTS: Thank you so much, everybody.
20 Thank you.
21 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: We're not done yet. Do we
22 have a second?
23 MR. JERGER: I'll second.
24 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. Jerger. All
25 in favor?
5 (Pages 17 to 20)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 17
1 THE BOARD: (Indicated affirmatively.)
2 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
3 (No response.)
4 MR. PRATTS: Thank you so much.
5 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Now we're done. Good luck.
6 MR. PRATTS: Thank you. Thank you.
7 MR. NEILL: Mr. Neill, would yell at me if I
8 let you off the hook on that one.
9 MR. PRATTS: Okay.
10 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I believe we're on to
11 Disciplinary Case No. 3; is that correct?
12 MS. GUY: Two.
13 RECORDING SECRETARY: Two.
14 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Case No. 2. Mr. Winkler?
15 MR. WINKLER: Yes, sir. Case No.
16 2412-0000095. For the record, I submit four photos
17 taken October 4th, 2024 taken by St. Lucie County
18 Building Inspector Paul Desentz. A Notice to
19 Appear, Permit No. ROOFR-2405-005456, and Permit
20 No. BLDR-2411-007467. Emails from the homeowner
21 Mr. Tumberger. Emails and pictures taken and
22 submitted to me by St. Lucie County Inspector Paul
23 Desentz and Lisa Hennessey of Hall-Sammons,
24 Incorporated. Contracts, estimates and check No.
25 5789, 5958. Previous contractor licensing case
Page 18
1 2209-108812 disciplinary case for Douglas Sammons
2 and/or Hall-Sammons, Inc. Section 10-67,
3 Violation, parenthesis 4, Performs any act which
4 assists a person or business in engaging in the
5 unlicensed business of contracting, as defined
6 herein, that the certificate holder knows or has
7 reasonable grounds to know that the person or
8 business is unlicensed. Also included in the
9 finding of facts and conclusion of law and order
10 from the Contractor Licensing Board on
11 January 18th, 2023.
12 Also Case No. 2209-0000017. Contractor
13 Licensing Board case, Citation No. 2999 per section
14 10-99. Violation C. It shall be a violation of
15 this article for any person, individual
16 partnership, corporation, firm, association or
17 other entity to, parenthesis 11, aids and abets any
18 unlicensed person or business or organization. I
19 also include the finding of fact, conclusion of law
20 and order from the Contractor Licensing Board
21 orders on January 18th, 2023. Also submitting
22 United States Postal Service tracking system
23 information and DBPR information.
24 On May 24th, 2024, Permit No.
25 ROOFR-2405-005456 was applied for and issued on
Page 19
1 June 4th, 2024 for the homeowner, Mr. Tumberger at
2 21 Majestic Way. The contractor and the permit to
3 J.A. Taylor, Incorporated and/or Kyle L. White. A
4 job description for tear off shingle, install
5 Petersen edge, block, one inch standing seam over
6 Polyglass TU MAX self-adhere underlayment.
7 On October 4th, 2024, St. Lucie County
8 building inspector Paul Desentz conducted a roof
9 inspection and observed a crew removing a chimney
10 on the roof. Mr. Paul learned that they were not a
11 crew -- they were a crew that works for
12 Retrofits & Renovations. Paul checked the permit
13 and did not see Retrofits & Renovations, this is
14 the subcontractor, on the permit and neither was
15 the scope of the work being done. Paul advised
16 them they were not listed at the subcontractor on
17 the permit and the scope of work that they were
18 doing was not on the permit.
19 On October 15th, 2024, I emailed the homeowner
20 Mr. Tumberger and her responded that there are two
21 contractors on the job, Retrofits & Renovations and
22 J.A. Taylor Roofing. He provided me an estimate
23 from J.A. Taylor, and it was dated April 16th,
24 2024, and an estimate from Retrofits & Renovations
25 dated May 2nd, 2024. Retrofits & Renovations
Page 20
1 estimate, noted on line 2, it was quoted to remove
2 the chimney. He also included a notice of
3 commencement, a check 5789 paid to J.A. Taylor for
4 $7,000. I asked Mr. Tumberger about a check for
5 Retrofits & Renovations, and he stated it did not
6 require a down payment because the work was less
7 than $5,000.
8 J.A. Taylor, Incorporate and/or Kyle L. White,
9 is a certified roofing contractor. Retrofits and
10 Renovations, LLC, and/or Eden P. Agnew is not a
11 licensed contractor.
12 On November 4th, 2024, Permit No.
13 BLDR-2411-07467 was applied for for the chimney.
14 Contractor applying for the permit is Hall-Sammons,
15 Incorporated, Douglas Sammons. As of
16 December 5th, 2024 the permit has been issued. On
17 December 5th, 2024, I emailed Mr. Tumberger, the
18 homeowner, and asked him if he hired or knew who
19 Hall-Sammons is or the contractor working for him.
20 He said he did not hire them and it was the first
21 he heard or knows of this person. He said
22 J.A. Taylor and Retrofits were the only two people
23 that he hired for the job.
24 On February 12th, 2025, Mr. Tumberger provided
25 a Check No. 5958 dated for January 6th, 2025 made
6 (Pages 21 to 24)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 21
1 out to Retrofits & Renovations for $4,200.
2 Notice to appear was issued by U.S. Certified
3 Mail to Hall-Sammons, Incorporated and/or
4 Douglas J. Sammons on April 11th, 2025. The Notice
5 to Appear is scheduled before the St. Lucie County
6 Contractor Licensing Board on Wednesday, the 21st
7 of May, 2025.
8 Violations of 10-67, Revocation or suspension
9 Certificate of Competency. Parenthesis 4, Performs
10 any act which assists a person or business in
11 engaging in the unlicensed business of contracting,
12 as defined herein, if the certificate of holder
13 knows or has reasonable grounds to know that the
14 person or business is unlicensed. He applied for a
15 chimney permit, himself as a contractor, for which
16 the work was done by Retrofits & Renovations, LLC,
17 and/or Eden P. Agnew.
18 Parenthesis 5, Conspires with an unlicensed
19 person by allowing a Certificate of Competency to
20 be used by the unlicensed person to evade the
21 provisions in this division. When a certificate
22 holder allows a certificate to be used by one or
23 more business organizations without having any
24 active participation in the operation, management
25 or control of such business, organization, such act
Page 22
1 shall constitute prima facie evidence of an intent
2 to evade the provisions of this division.
3 Parenthesis 10, Commits fraud and/or deception
4 or other misconduct in the practice of contracting.
5 On April 14th, 2025, United States Postal
6 Service tracking showed the Notice to Appear was
7 delivered and signed for.
8 On January 18th of 2023, Contractor Licensing
9 case 2209-108882 was brought before the Contractors
10 Licensing Board for a 10-67 (4) violation against
11 Douglas J. Sammons and/or Hall-Sammons. Contractor
12 Licensing Board found Mr. Sammons and/or
13 Hall-Sammons did commit the violation and placed
14 them a two-year probation period.
15 January 18th, 2023, Contractor Licensing Board
16 also heard case 2209-0000015 for a Section 10-99
17 violation where the Board found that Mr. Sammons
18 and/or Hall-Sammons did commit the violation and
19 ordered them to pay $500 citation within 30 days of
20 the Board meeting. For the record, a prior notice
21 was issued by U.S. Certified Mail to Hall-Sammons
22 and/or Douglas Sammons on December 9th, 2024 for
23 the January 15th, 2025 Code Board, but it was
24 adjourned on January 15th, 2025. On the 16th of
25 January, 2025, I contacted by email
Page 23
1 Ms. Lisa Hennessey of Hall-Sammons and had contact
2 with her. At this point, he does have a couple of
3 open permits. If you would like me to read those
4 into the record, I would do that. Other than
5 that --
6 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I would, please,
7 Mr. Winkler. Thank you.
8 MR. WINKLER: Okay. Permits is for Permit No.
9 BLDR-2406-006538, which was applied for on
10 June 10th, 2024 at 2710 Pine View Drive. Between
11 June 14th of 2024 the Zoning Building and
12 Mechanical requested resubmittals for the permit.
13 Again, July 16th through the 22nd of 2024 Zoning
14 and Building and Mechanical requested resubmittals.
15 Again, between August 23rd and September 3rd, 2024,
16 Zoning, Building, and Mechanical requested
17 resubmittals again. As of May 21st, 2025, the
18 permit still requires, Zoning, Building, Mechanical
19 and Building resubmittals. I did an inspection and
20 found no work had been done at 2710 Pine View Drive
21 as of May 15th, 2025.
22 Permit No. BLDR-2505-008619 was applied for on
23 April 1st, 2025 and issued on May 15th, 2025 for an
24 address of 9205 South Indian River Road.
25 Permit No. BLDR-2505-008975 was applied for on
Page 24
1 May 14th, 2025. The permit is in the cue to have
2 the application competency check as of
3 May 21st, 2025. The address for that is
4 115 Queen Ann Court. Unfortunately, I tried to get
5 out there yesterday but the causeway going in and I
6 couldn't get out there and I ran out of time
7 Tuesday.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: That's okay, Mr. Winkler.
9 Thank you. That's a lot of information. We
10 appreciate you bringing that up.
11 Is Mr. Sammons here?
12 MR. SAMMONS: Yes.
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Sammons, would please
14 like to come up and speak to the Board?
15 I do need you to state your name and address
16 to be sworn in for the record?
17 MR. SAMMONS: My name is Douglas Sammons. My
18 address is 1183 Northeast Bernard Street,
19 Jensen Beach, Florida.
20 RECORDING SECRETARY: Please raise your right
21 hand?
22 Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole
23 truth and nothing but the truth?
24 MR. SAMMONS: I do.
25 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Sammons, thank you for
7 (Pages 25 to 28)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 25
1 being here. Mr. Winkler [verbatim], what is your
2 take on this?
3 MR. SAMMONS: Well, I'm -- I'm kind of
4 confused with this thing. I don't even know why
5 this was -- I didn't know -- to be honest with you,
6 I've been a contractor a long time. I didn't even
7 realize that there was -- I've known Eden Agnew
8 with Retrofits & Renovations for, I don't know,
9 eight or ten years. We work together, we share the
10 same office so -- anyway, I was confused about
11 this, there being need a permit to demo a chimney
12 down the roofline. That was -- that was news to
13 me. I thought if you -- now, I understand if you
14 tore it down and rebuilt it, that needs a permit.
15 I totally get it. So I didn't really realize
16 that -- you know, after the fact situation that the
17 demo was even a violation. So maybe that's my bad
18 for being negligent or something or I should have
19 called. I didn't know. So now I understand. I
20 mean, I don't know what constitutes a permit if you
21 have to -- if you tear down a chicken or you're
22 tearing anything down you have to have a permit, is
23 that -- I mean, I'm not being a smartass. I'm
24 asking, you know. Does everything need a permit to
25 be demoed?
Page 26
1 MR. JERRAHIAN: Yes.
2 MR. SAMMONS: Everything needs a permit to be
3 demoed?
4 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Sammons --
5 MR. SAMMONS: Is that true?
6 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: -- that was our building
7 official that just spoke.
8 MR. JERRAHIAN: Yes, sir.
9 MR. SAMMONS: Okay.
10 MR. JERRAHIAN: Any new construction,
11 alterations or demolitions require a permit.
12 MR. SAMMONS: Okay. I understand a new -- but
13 I mean -- I'm talking about the demo is the only
14 thing we're concerned about, is his chimney was
15 demoed --
16 MR. JERRAHIAN: New construction --
17 MR. SAMMONS: -- down the roof line.
18 MR. JERRAHIAN: -- alterations and demolitions
19 all require --
20 MR. SAMMONS: Alternations, demolitions.
21 MR. JERRAHIAN: -- a permit. That's correct.
22 It's a structure.
23 MR. SAMMONS: So I have -- I have another job
24 that I've been looking at and talking to the owner
25 and there's a -- there's an old building, about a
Page 27
1 ten-by-ten building is falling down in the back
2 yard.
3 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Sammons, we are talking
4 about the violation that has occurred on this
5 property. If you have questions of Staff, you can
6 take your personal time and ask Staff after --
7 MR. SAMMONS: Okay. All right. Okay.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: -- this meeting is over.
9 MR. SAMPSON: Okay. I'll get back with --
10 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: I have no further questions
11 of Mr. Sammons. Does anybody have any questions
12 for Mr. Sammons?
13 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Mr. Sammons, the reason why
14 you're here is because you -- you loaned your
15 licensed out, you hired an unlicensed contractor to
16 perform a job for you. I'm looking at letter here.
17 It says, Tim, I have contracted with
18 Retrofits & Restorations to remove the chimney and
19 make area ready for new roof. Please coordinate
20 with them accordingly. Thanks, Bob Tumberger.
21 Does that have anything to do with him?
22 MR. SAMMONS: Well, I ended up going in and
23 pulling the permit and taking care of this thing.
24 MR. DIFRANCESCO: After the fact?
25 MR. SAMMONS: After the fact, yes.
Page 28
1 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Okay. So you did hire an
2 unlicensed contractor?
3 MR. SAMMONS: I -- yes, I did, sir. I can't
4 deny that.
5 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Okay. That's why you're
6 here.
7 MR. SAMMONS: I mean -- okay. All right.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Anybody else have any
9 question for Mr. Sammons?
10 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Mr. Sammons, the permits
11 that you were in for, have you -- have they been
12 issued to you?
13 MR. JERRAHIAN: One has, sir. One has been
14 issued. 9205 Indian River Road.
15 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: One is still pending?
16 MR. JERRAHIAN: One's been --
17 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Over a year?
18 MR. JERRAHIAN: It's getting pretty close to
19 it, and the other one --
20 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: More recently?
21 MR. JERRAHIAN: -- came in the other day. On
22 May 14th it was submitted for 115 Queen Ann Court,
23 and it's still waiting in the cue to be reviewed.
24 It hasn't even been opened yet because they're
25 behind with all the requests.
8 (Pages 29 to 32)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 29
1 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Sure.
2 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Mr. Sammons, have you
3 started that project, the 9205?
4 MR. SAMMONS: Yes.
5 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Are you working on it
6 personally or do have somebody -- Retrofits on it
7 also?
8 MR. SAMMONS: I'm sorry, I didn't understand.
9 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Have you started the job --
10 MR. SAMMONS: Yes.
11 MR. DIFRANCESCO: -- the one permit that you
12 have issued?
13 MR. SAMMONS: Yeah.
14 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Can you tell me how far
15 along you are on it?
16 MR. SAMMONS: I couldn't give you right up to
17 date moment. I mean, I would have to -- you know,
18 I haven't been there in the last few days.
19 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Mr. Winkler, can you give me
20 the update on that?
21 MR. WINKLER: Yes. I happened to stop by
22 there yesterday and Retrofits is on the job. They
23 already had the footer and the wood in the ground
24 for the porch. So they are working away on it.
25 And their permit is issued for that, but
Page 30
1 Mr. Agnew's crew is working on that, too.
2 MR. SAMMONS: I spoke with him about a week
3 ago about getting the footers and stuff together.
4 So that's -- unfortunately, I'm -- I'm limited
5 about how much I can get out on job sites. So
6 that's unfortunate for me. I've got some severe
7 health issues.
8 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. DiFrancesco?
9 MR. WINKLER: Also, on that, just in case I
10 didn't hit on it, the Board found him and placed
11 him on a two-year probation on January the 18th,
12 2023, and this took place prior to January 18th,
13 2025, the two-year probation end.
14 MR. DIFRANCESCO: Mr. Sammons, is there any
15 reason why you keep hiring unlicensed contractors
16 to do your work?
17 MR. SAMMONS: Retrofits and -- he has -- he
18 now has a license, sir, so that was -- been in the
19 process, but he now has a -- he's obtained the
20 State license, so that will -- I guarantee you that
21 will never happen again. I didn't do it
22 intentionally but it happened. I'm not going to
23 deny it. And like I said, he is -- Mr. Agnew, with
24 Retrofits & Renovations, has obtained a license and
25 he's in the process of getting it set up with the
Page 31
1 State licensing board.
2 MR. MORRIS: But were you on probation and
3 then did it again, if I'm hearing Mr. Winkler,
4 correct --
5 MR. WINKLER: Yes, sir.
6 MR. MORRIS: -- you're organization already,
7 and then you used Retrofits an unlicensed
8 contractor --
9 MR. WINKLER: And the prior hearing was the
10 same, Retrofits and Mr. Sammons.
11 MR. MORRIS: So you did know?
12 MR. SAMMONS: Yeah, I did know.
13 MR. MORRIS: Okay. I have no further
14 questions. I'm ready to make a motion.
15 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Anybody else have any
16 questions of Staff regarding Mr. Sammons?
17 (No response.)
18 Hearing none. Mr. Morris, go ahead.
19 MR. MORRIS: Motion to accept Staff
20 recommendation to revoke permitting privileges for
21 Douglas J. Sammons and/or Hall-Sammons, Inc. for a
22 total not to exceed 365 days for new permits only.
23 After the revocation period, a written request must
24 be made to the Board to reinstate
25 Douglas J. Sammons and/or Hall-Sammons, Inc. a copy
Page 32
1 of the Board's order will be forwarded to the
2 Florida Department of Business and Professional
3 Regulations and the surrounding municipalities.
4 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: We have a motion by
5 Mr. Morris. Do we have a second?
6 MR. DIFRANCESCO: I'll second.
7 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Second by Mr. DiFrancesco.
8 All in favor?
9 THE BOARD: (Indicated affirmatively.)
10 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any opposed?
11 (No response.)
12 Motion carries unanimously. Thank you for
13 being here.
14 MR. WINKLER: Mr. Leonard, just to -- so I
15 understand correctly. The permit BLDR-2505-008975
16 that was just applied for on May 14th shall not be
17 issued, correct, if I'm hearing you correctly?
18 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Mr. Winkler, I believe
19 Mr. Morris's motion was to revoke the permitting
20 privileges --
21 MR. WINKLER: Okay.
22 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: -- for Mr. Sammons for new
23 permits only. Am I correct when I say that,
24 Mr. Morris?
25 MR. MORRIS: Yes, it is.
9 (Pages 33 to 35)
749cd5e8-2523-402b-8ef2-728e2c455251Electronically signed by Suzanne Badley (301-277-379-1582)
Page 33
1 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Thank you.
2 MR. DIFRANCESCO: So I believe that would be
3 any permits that are not issued yet.
4 MR. MORRIS: Yes.
5 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: That is correct.
6 Staff Disciplinary Case No. 3, Bayview
7 Construction.
8 MS. GUY: Mr. Chairman, the County is
9 requesting a continuance to the July 16th meeting
10 based on the fact of contractor's active compliance
11 efforts to rectify the situation.
12 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Okay. This is the same
13 case we had for -- previous that got pushed to this
14 meeting?
15 MS. GUY: That is correct.
16 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Just making sure. Old
17 business, seeing none.
18 New business, discussion of a special meeting
19 for June 2nd.
20 MS. GUY: Yeah. I would like a request to be
21 placed on the record that the special meeting
22 request scheduled for June 2nd, 2025, it's to
23 accommodate the 45-day continuance that was granted
24 by the Board at the April 16th, 2025 meeting for
25 the J.B. Waterproofing and Roofing. The case
Page 34
1 number is 2412-0000098.
2 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: And I do -- I want to
3 apologize to Staff. That was probably my oversight
4 on that one. I would have, in hindsight, would
5 like to have the motion at the next meeting. I'll
6 make sure I won't make that mistake again. I won't
7 allow that to happen.
8 MS. GUY: Thank you.
9 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: So I'll take full ownership
10 on that one. I didn't make the motion, but I'll
11 take ownership of it.
12 MS. GUY: Okay. Thank you.
13 CHAIRMAN LEONARD: Any further questions of
14 Staff?
15 (No response.)
16 Meeting adjourned.
17 (Concluded at 9:02 A.M.)
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 STATE OF FLORIDA )
Page 35
1 COUNTY OF ST. LUCIE )
2
3 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
4 I, KAREN M. BELLEMARE, FPR, a Shorthand
5 Reporter, certify that the foregoing transcript,
6 Pages 1 through 34 inclusive, was transcribed from
7 an audio recording that was provided by
8 St. Lucie County. The transcript is a true and
9 accurate transcription to the best of my ability.
10 I certify further I am neither attorney nor
11 counsel for, nor related to, nor employed by any of
12 the parties to the action, and further, that I am
13 not a relative or an employee of any party in this
14 action, nor am I financially interested in the
15 outcome of this action.
16 Dated this 9th day of June, 2025.
17
18 _____________________________
19 Suzanne Badley, Court Reporter
20
21
22
23
24
25