Minutes 07/22/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

July 22, 1980 To date, the City's involvement in these cases has been secondary. We advise the consumer concerning his legal recourse and where necessary, City inspectors appear as expert witnesses in court proceedings. In cases involving a licensed general contractor, the City takes stronger and more direct action with the state licensing authority. However, mn general, consumer complaints have not involved licensed contractors. The General Assembly has been beseiged with similar complaints throughout the Common- wealth. As a result, legislation was passed authorizing the Department of Commerce to require, every contract of $1,500 value or more to be performed by a licensed contractor. The legislation further establishes a new classification for small contractors, Class B. The Class B contractors are not required to be bonded. However, a relief fund has been establishe for consumer reimbursement when the consumer's complaint has been upheld by a court of law and when there is no practical way to receive reimbursement through normal court methods. The General Assembly's actions became effective July 1, 1980, and since that time, the City has been prohibited from issuing a building permit to anyone but a licensed contractor. The staff feels that this legislation will be effective in greatly reducing the number of consumer complaints received over the past few years. While this does not require the bond specifically requested by the petitioners, it does provide additional protection for the consumer with minimum additional regulatory requirements. Therefore, it would be my recommenda tion that we monitor the effectiveness of the new procedure for the next year, and if it has not been effective, we consider establishing a local licensing board and bond requirement at that time. A copy of the new regulations are attached for your review. Mrs. J~ A. Folkes, 323 Mt. Vernon Avenue, spoke as a citizen who had unsatisfactory work done by a home improvement contractor, which resulted in a court case at her expense, and requested that the city take some steps to protect the~niti~en against home improvement con- tractors who do not complete the job or that the work is inferior. Motion of Mr. Gray and seconded as information, and the matter to be by unanimous vote. by Mr. Beamer, the City Manager's report to be received referred to the meeting of August 12, 1980, was adopted The following reports from the City Manager were presented: 80-252 "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to~appr6priate $80,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund for the construction of additional foundation and pile work required for the future addition of one level of parking for the Harbor Street Garage. The Portsmouth Parking Authority has requested the contractor to furnish a bid price for the construction of additional piling for a future deck for the Harbor Street Garage, as well as a bid price on adding an additional level. The current contract is for a 717 car parking facility and the additional construction would provid~ the foundation and piles necessary to add one additional level now or at a future date. The cost of the additional pile and founda- tion is $80,000 and the price quoted to add the additional level no~ is $578,000. The addi- tional level when built will expand the capacity from 717 cars to 865 cars. Based on previous direction from City Council it is my recommendation that we accept item 1 in order that we may provide for the additional parking spaces in the future. The Portsmouth Parking Authority is meeting on Monday and we will have a recommendation for the additional level at the Council meeting. The City Manager recommends adoption on first reading. On motion of Mr. Barnes and seconded by Mrs.~W~bb, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, and by unanimous vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $80,000 FROM THE CAPITAl IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL FOUNDATION AND PILE WORK REQUIRED FOR THE FUTURE ADDITION OF ONE LEVEL OF PARKING FOR THE HARBOR STREET GARAGE.' Motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mrs. Webb, notify the contractor to proceed on the $80,000 for vote. that the City Manager be authorized to future addition, and was adopted by unanimou 80-2S3 "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $50,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund for repairs to the dam and spillway at Lake Cohoon. The City has previously appropriated $86,000 for Phase I of the repairs to the spillway and dam required by the State Water Control Board's Inspection Report. The Capital I~prove- ments Program for 1980-81 allocated $50,000 for the balance of the work that is requi~ed at Lake Cohoon. The additional work will include removing spalled concrete and deteriorated reinforcing bars and replacing them with new materials. There were also other deteriorations uncovered in the south wall during the initial repair that needs to be done immediately in order to protect the integrity of the structure. The funds included in this appropriJtion should be sufficient to cover the repair costs to the dam and spillway under Phase I. The City Manager recommends adoption on first reading." On motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mr. Beamer, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, and by unanimous ~ote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $50,000 FROM THE CAPITAl IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR REPAIRS TO DAMS AND SPILLWAYS AT LAKE COHOON."