Escambia Contractor Competency Board Revokes Contractor’s License Amid Licensing Dispute

In a decisive action, the Escambia Contractor Competency Board voted to revoke a contractor’s license for five years, underscoring its commitment to maintaining standards for contractor compliance. The decision followed extensive deliberation over the contractor’s suspended permitting privileges and previous non-compliance with board orders. The revocation, which affects the contractor’s ability to operate within the county, was passed with a narrow majority.

1:56:05The board’s decision to revoke the contractor’s license came amidst a backdrop of unresolved issues related to open permits and alleged violations of licensing rules. The contractor, whose permitting privileges had been suspended since April 2024, faced scrutiny over whether he could complete work on existing projects. Despite his suspension in Escambia County, the board acknowledged that the contractor could still potentially operate in other jurisdictions. This situation raised questions about the effectiveness of local disciplinary actions and the broader implications for public safety.

Board members expressed concerns about the contractor’s good faith, noting that there were open permits he could have worked on during the suspension period. The discourse included discussions on whether to extend the suspension for another year or proceed with a complete revocation. A member highlighted the importance of being clear about the action taken, emphasizing the finality of a revocation decision, which would preclude the contractor from working within the county for at least five years.

2:24:43The ramifications of the board’s decision were significant, with members contemplating the impact on property owners with open permits associated with the contractor. Concerns were raised about how to effectively communicate the status of these permits to affected property owners, considering the potential complications for property sales and insurance claims. The board discussed the necessity of notifying property owners through mail, phone, or email to ensure clarity and prevent any misunderstandings regarding their permits.

42:08The meeting also addressed another case involving a contractor, Timothy Sanders, who sought the reinstatement of his delinquent contractor’s license. Sanders had not renewed his license due to inactivity in the county and was now facing issues related to unpermitted work affecting a homeowner’s insurance. The board deliberated on whether to reinstate Sanders’ license to allow him to rectify the situation, acknowledging the potential disadvantage to the consumer if his license remained inactive. Ultimately, a motion was made to reinstate the license for the sole purpose of resolving the outstanding issues, with the stipulation that Sanders provide updates on the permits in question.

1:02:38Further complicating the proceedings was a case involving a dispute between LY Yang Lee and Mr. Tran of M&H Construction Services. Mr. Lee sought disciplinary action against Mr. Tran for non-compliance with a final board order, citing emotional and financial distress due to unresolved payments. Mr. Tran’s license had been suspended due to a different case, preventing him from pulling permits since April 2024. The board deliberated on whether to take additional disciplinary action, weighing the implications for public safety against the need to ensure compliance with board orders.

Discussions around the Lee-Tran dispute revealed tensions and communication gaps between the parties, with Mr. Lee expressing skepticism about Mr. Tran’s intentions and the status of settlement negotiations. Mr. Lee’s insistence on disciplinary action highlighted the complexities the board faces in balancing contractor accountability with the broader interests of public safety.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country: