Monday, August 8, 2022

About the Contractor Competency Issue....



A number of citizens have rightly expressed concerns about a couple of licensed contractors in the County who have not finished work and who have accepted large up front fees for such work and not paid customers back the money.

It's been all over the press and Facebook.  Folks are angry and upset.

After speaking with staff today on this issue particularly, I am told that if restitution in the amount of $62,052.42 is not proved to have been paid back to customers by Banks Construction, Inc., by August 10th--Wednesday--this firm's license will be immediately suspended and this company will not be able to any work which requires this license--- nor will they be able to pull any additional permits.  In addition to this restitution, I'm told this firm owes fines in the amountof $16,379.56 that must be paid by 9-1-2022.

There are additional customer complaints on this particular firm--this $62,052.42 represents the first group of complaints..

I am told there is one more firm who also has had a number of complaints for non-performance and non-payment and this firm must also pay restitution or have their license suspended.  I will be getting more information on that company tomorrow, and I will post that here.

3 comments:

  1. LDJ doesn't belong on this board.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think contractor competency board members need to be able to nip this type of problem in the bud.

    LDj is very vocal. Even if he calls himself libertarian, he almost sounds like an anarchist in his outspoken opinions about government regulation. He isn't for it yet sits on a board the public depends on to ensure compliance.

    As a warm butt seated on the CCB yet abstains from voting because he knows and likes somebody is unacceptable.

    Remove and replace.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Attention! The author here is a highly respected & credible professional attorney. This is around the time the CCB started to go downhill. what is for certain, is the behavior was not corrected not only but worse, has continued to decline. From: XXXXXX Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2019 10:36 AM To: Tim Tolbert ;Subject: Employee Complaint Mr. Tolbert,In an effort to observe the chain of comm& I am initiating this email directly to you to inquire about the procedure to initiate a formal complaint against Ms. Jennifer Hampton. As you know I recently appeared as counsel for XXXX XXXXX with respect to a complaint initially filed by the XXXXXX. This was my first experience with proceedings of the Competency Board & I was shocked by the self-righteous, overbearing, rude, & inappropriate behavior & commentary from Ms. Hampton. In my opinion, Ms. Hampton has fallen into a well-known pattern of a staff member who has forgotten her place in the process. She is actively engaged in giving legal advice, interrupting speakers, interfering with the introduction of evidence, & working behind the scenes to accomplish what she believes to be the correct outcome. While she does not possess the qualifications to even sit on the Board, she clearly views herself as the lead prosecutor on behalf of the County & an ex-officio board member. Prior to my hearings I sat with great disappointment as I watched her try to manipulate the hearings & their outcome. I could not help but feel sorry for those unrepresented citizens as they suffered from the interference caused by Ms. Hampton. I also watched the frustration on the face of some of the Board members as they tried to rationalize & sort through the false & misleading information they were being given. Fortunately, several members of the current Board are smart & intuitive enough to work towards a fair & balanced resolution. In my case Ms. Hampton first unilaterally denied the motion for extension in disregard of the rules, then she cooperated behind the scenes with the other side to coerce a settlement. Take a look at the attached picture taken during the proceedings. This is the counsel for the opposing party privately consulting with Ms. Hampton on our case. She did this multiple times & even had a private meeting in the hallway with them. Does this comply with your notions of due process? If you were on the other side would you feel comfortable that you were getting a fair hearing. After you consider that issue, watch the video from yesterday’s hearing. Pay attention to the moment at 14:47 when she outbursts “liar” while I am speaking. Do you think this is an appropriate level of decorum for your staff? Continue to watch as she interrupts at will to counter argue anything she disagrees with. Who is running the proceeding? What role is Ms. Hampton supposed to play at these hearings. Is she the prosecutor? Member of the board? She is not qualified to be either. M. Hampton is actively interfering with the process, the Board function, & denying the citizens of this County due process the efforts of Ms. Hampton to skew the process. Even then, our hallway decision to pay $XX,000, a full refund was directly influenced by the reality that the game was rigged. Is this how you want the process to work?This email is my effort to observe the chain of comm& & seek guidance on the proper procedure. Please advise on the course of conduct either you intend to take or I should follow from here. I would ask that you look at her emails & phone records. I have a great deal of pride regarding my contributions to this County & feel obligated to pursue this issue until appropriate action is taken. I have learned that petty & trifling people who act the way Ms. Hampton has will often seek revenge. @ 14:47 "LIAR!" https://escambiacountyfl.new.swagit.com/videos/68517/28 you ain't foolin anyone 'round here! lest the BOCC https://youtu.be/ESengtOSGg0?t=21

    ReplyDelete

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