10
Florida Pool Pro
sm
• November 2014
I am not a licensed Swimming Pool Contractor but I am an involved industry
professional. I have spent time with the Barrier Code, Specialty Subcontractor
Licensing, a great affiliation with the Building Officials Association of Florida
(BOAF), state and national codes, state of Florida Building and Construction
Board appointees and unlicensed activity. The last one, unlicensed activity is
the one that our industry has been talking about since...well, since licensing
came about.
It is time for to you join us in action. We need more eyes and ears throughout
the state.
You may ask, “Why should I bother? Right now, everything is going smoothly
and I am making money again.” How about if another trade or unlicensed
person could legally take 1/4, 1/3, or more of your business? What would you
say then?
Last month, I attended a hearing in Brevard County where an unlicensed
person, swapped out a 1 hp motor (dry end) for a larger, 1 1/2 hp motor. The
County’s Licensing Department charged the individual with unlicensed activity.
At this hearing, presided by a Special Magistrate, the defendant represented
himself and told the department’s representatives and Magistrate “he did
nothing wrong.” He cited the county’s own words that the work had to be “over
$1,000 of value, and of no consequence,” and he thought it fit that.
Also at that hearing, were Roy Lenois, Artesian Pools of East FL, Vice
Chairman of the State of Florida CILB (Construction Industry Licensing Board),
Albert Underwood, Aqua Blue Pools of Central FL (who sits on the Brevard
County Trade Licensing Board); and Dominick Montanaro, M & M Pools (a
past president of FSPA). A technicality caused the hearing to be adjourned
to a later date but the defendant was agreeable to stay and informally speak
with all interested parties.
The three FSPA members, who gave of their time and traveled, spoke at
length about the “life safety and consequence” issue at hand. Simply put,
By Paul Roth, Roll-A-Way Protective Pool Fence /
It just happened again
DIGGING UP IDEAS
