INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A presentation made by swimming pool contractor Joel Molinari at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting brought into public view what commissioners acknowledged is a serious problem with unlicensed contractors operating in the county.
Molinari said he and other licensed contractors of his acquaintance frequently see unlicensed pool maintenance and repair companies picking up supplies and heading out to do jobs.
He said he was bringing the matter to Commission’s attention partly out of self-interest, to protect his legitimate business, but also because license requirements help protect the public and ensure quality work.
Commissioner Wesley Davis said the problem is not confined to pool contractors.
“I get calls from lawn care guys and other businesses who say they are being undercut by unlicensed guys stealing their jobs,” Davis said.
“Honest people who do things the right way are being put at a disadvantage,” said Board Chairman Gary Wheeler.
Commissioner Peter O’Bryan said unlicensed contractors in lawn care and other businesses “are a public safety issue” that needs to be addressed.
County staff said they take the problem of unlicensed contractors seriously and try to respond to complaints in a timely manner.
“We have inspectors and if we get a call about an unlicensed contractor and an inspector is in the area we send him right over,” said Building Official Jose Guanch.
At the same time, Guanch admitted it is hard to enforce the contractor licensing ordinance.
“We can impose a $500 fine for doing work without a license, but we have to catch them in the act. Even then, the homeowner may say the guy is a friend who is helping them, not a contractor.”
Guanch and other county staff also said enforcement was difficult because they are short-handed.
“We did have a fulltime person who took care of unlicensed contractor complaints, but I eliminated that position during the recession,” said County Administrator Joe Baird.
Commissioner Wheeler suggested a sting operation in which the county would pose as a homeowner needing work and then inspect the licenses of contractors who showed up to bid.
“If they have a license we could pay them for their time and if they don’t we could issue the $500 fine. That would make them think twice about doing unlicensed jobs,” Wheeler said.
Other commissioners laughed at the suggestion, and Commissioner Davis said the county could go one step further and film the sting for a realty television show, but Wheeler appeared to be at least halfway serious.
“If we aren’t going to enforce these ordinances, we should get rid of them,” he said.
Molinari asked for guidance in how to respond when he sees unlicensed contractors and offered to meet with building division officials to discuss ideas he said he has for addressing the problem, but no meeting was set.
Commissioners Joe Flescher, Wheeler, Davis and O’Bryan agreed inadequate policing of unlicensed contractors is a significant problem in the county and expressed sympathy for Molinari. Davis mentioned the possibility of reinstating the full-time enforcement position in the next budget, but the board took no action to remedy the situation.
