MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM - Okaloosa County, Florida



MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM

OKALOOSA COUNTY ELECTRICAL COMPETENCY BOARD

MINUTES

February 4, 2016

The regular meeting of the Okaloosa County Electrical Competency Board was held Thursday, February 4, 2016, 3:00 PM, at the at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, first floor BCC Chambers, 1250 Eglin Parkway N., Shalimar, Florida. Board members in attendance were Brent Smith, Jeff Linn, Debra Ripley, Edward Cochran, Jr., Kennith King, Wayne Barlow and Robert Garcia. Joel Richardson was not in attendance.

Growth Management staff in attendance were Renée Lucas, License Specialist; and Deborah Clabaugh, Financial Coordinator

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Brent Smith called the meeting to order.

A. Roll Call

Ms. Deborah Clabaugh took roll call.

II. ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS

Chairman Smith acknowledged the guests.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 3, 2015

Motion to approve the minutes made by Robert Garcia; second by Wayne Barlow; approved unanimously.

IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ms. Renée Lucas informed the Board that Mr. Daniel “Joe” Roach has agreed to serve for 3 years on this Board as a Consumer Representative. Ms. Lucas stated that Mr. Roach was approved by the Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting on February 2, 2016 and will begin his service on this Board at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 3, 2016 if there is an applicant requiring a meeting. Ms. Lucas informed the Board that Mr. Roach spent 26 years with the United States Air Force as a machinist and instructor and now works in civil service as a machinist and tool manufacturer. Ms. Lucas stated that Mr. Roach has lived locally for a number of years.

V. OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Lucas stated that purged contractor, Mr. Robert Holcomb, whose case was heard at the December meeting is registered to take the Business & Law per the Board’s order. Ms. Lucas restated the Board’s motion:

Motion, as amended, that we allow him to have his card reinstated with the contingency that he take the Business & Law exam and pass it and pay all fines all within 90 days made by Jeff Linn; second as amended by Kennith King; approved unanimously.

Ms. Lucas stated that, as 90 days was given by the Board in December, Mr. Holcomb has until March to pay his fines and back fees. Ms. Lucas further stated that staff won’t issue Mr. Holcomb his Competency Card until his fees are paid and he has passed the Business & Law exam.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

a. Swearing in Applicants/ Speakers

Ms. Clabaugh swore in the applicant.

c. Purged Contractor:

1. Bryan Lee Warren - Individual

Ms. Lucas stated that Mr. Bryan Warren took and passed his Residential Electrical exam on March 18, 1989 at which time Business and Law was included in the exam. Ms. Lucas informed the Board that Mr. Warren’s State license was issued on April 17, 1989 in error by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) as State Registered Electrical License #ER0011843. Ms. Lucas stated that the State re-issued the license under the correct classification of a Residential Electrical Contractor, State License #ET0000493 in October of 1997. Ms. Lucas further stated that Mr. Warren remained licensed with Growth Management until August 31, 2011 and staff purged his Okaloosa County Residential Electrical Competency Card on September 1, 2013 after 2 years of non-payment. Ms. Lucas stated that staff verified with DBPR that Mr. Warren’s State License was placed in a Null/Void status on August 31, 2010. Ms. Lucas informed the Board that, per a statement provided to staff, Mr. Warren had not been using his license for a number of years due to the downturn in residential construction. Ms. Lucas stated that, in the statement, Mr. Warren further stated that he did not renew his license due to funding his daughter’s education and caring for his terminally ill father, and instead obtained employment as a project manager with a company and oversees a student apartment complex in Pensacola. Ms. Lucas informed the Board that Mr. Warren’s father passed away in 2013 and since that time he has been working towards partnering in an electrical business and opening to more opportunities in the electrical field. Ms. Lucas reminded the Board of Okaloosa County Electrical Ordinance 07-48, Section 3-3 and amended Ordinance 09-20 (g): Expiration, Renewal and Retired Certificates:

The Board may give special consideration in purged license cases concerning family illness, military deployment, and other circumstances as the Board deems appropriate.

Ms. Lucas informed the Board that Mr. Warren is present seeking the reinstatement of his Okaloosa County Residential Electrical Competency Card. Ms. Lucas stated that, with that approval, Mr. Warren will complete the steps required to reinstate his State Registered Residential License # ET0000493.

Ms. Lucas stated that staff is requesting, should the Board agree to reinstate Mr. Warren’s Residential Electrical Competency Card, that all back fees and penalties, totaling $900.00, be paid and that a payment deadline be included as part of the Board’s motion.

Mr. Bryan Warren was present to answer questions from the Board.

Chairman Smith asked Mr. Warren to explain his situation to the Board.

Mr. Warren stated that the primary reason he let his license lapse was partly due to his father’s illness, but mostly due to financial constraints caused by the economy. Mr. Warren further stated that his wife’s real estate business collapsed and their income was cut by almost 2/3. Mr. Warren stated that he was traveling to South Caroline twice a month to care for his father and finally he moved his father in to his home so that he could be cared for full time. Mr. Warren further stated that, at that time, he could not see a time when he would be able to use his license again. Mr. Warren stated that for the past few years he has worked as a project manager for an electrical services company dealing with multi-family residential properties. Mr. Warren further stated that he has learned a great deal about management and feels that he is in a good position to go back into business. Mr. Warren stated that he has a partner who is currently part owner of a company but is not a license holder who is now ready to dissolve the partnership he is in and start a new company with Mr. Warren as the qualifier. Mr. Warren further stated that, between his partner and himself, they have over 50 years of experience in the trade.

Chairman Smith asked Mr. Warren why he didn’t just put his license in an inactive status instead of letting it lapse.

Mr. Warren stated that, at that time, he didn’t believe that he would ever have the opportunity to use his license again and thought about leaving the electrical field completely. Mr. Warren stated that he was trying to look towards the future and try to build something for himself.

Jeff Linn reminded the Board that this issue has come before them before and one of the main issues has always been whether the applicant’s reasoning qualifies as a hardship. Mr. Linn further stated that, in this case, due to Mr. Warren’s having to care for his father that in this case there are grounds for hardship.

Kennith King asked about continuing education and how it would apply to the reinstatement process.

Ms. Lucas stated that, per the Governor’s Order, in cases like this continuing education hours would only have to be made up back to the last renewal period, therefore Mr. Warren will only go back to 2014 and will have to make up only 14 hours of continuing education hours. Ms. Lucas stated that Mr. Warren will still have to go through the State’s hardship process as well and be approved by the State. Ms. Lucas further stated that, if the State approves Mr. Warren’s application, his license would go into an inactive status and he would then have to apply for a change of status to activate his license.

Mr. King asked if the State takes this Board’s order into consideration.

Ms. Lucas stated that Mr. Warren can’t even apply to the State without this Board returning his local Competency Card. Ms. Lucas further stated that Mr. Warren’s Competency Card would not be active, nor will he be able to use it, as he’ll still have to apply to the State and be approved as well as having to take the required continuing education courses. Ms. Lucas noted that, if approved, Mr. Warren’s license will renew in August so he could choose to take all 28 hours (14 to reinstate and 14, for 2016 renewal) and renew through the next period as well.

Motion to approve contingent that he pays all fines all within 90 days made by Jeff Linn; second as amended by Wayne Barlow; approved unanimously.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS

Ms. Lucas stated that there are 3 Board members whose terms will expire and asked each if they were willing to serve another 3 year term.

a. Board Renewals:

1. Edward Cochran Jr

Mr. Cochran agreed to serve another 3 year term

2. Brent Smith

Chairman Smith agreed to serve another 3 year term

3. Debra Ripley

Ms. Ripley agreed to serve another 3 year term

b. Chairman/Vice-Chairman Election

Nomination of Brent Smith to continue as Chairman made by Robert Garcia; nomination seconded by Edward Cochran Jr. Mr. Smith accepted the nomination and was elected unanimously.

Nomination of Jeff Linn to serve as Vice-Chairman made by Edward Cochran Jr; nomination seconded by Kennith King. Mr. Linn accepted the nomination and was elected unanimously.

Ms. Lucas provided a brief overview of the Sunshine Law stating that Board members may not discuss Board business with each other in any format, to include fax, email, text, face to face, Facebook, twitter, messenger pigeon, etc. Ms. Lucas further stated that Board members can always contact staff with questions. Ms. Lucas stated that applicant files are always available for Board member review and she is more than willing to let any Board member view the file, although they’ll have to travel to Crestview as that where her office is located.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Chairman Smith declared the meeting adjourned.

Prepared by: ________________________________________

Teresa A. Mullins, Recording Secretary

2.8.2016

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