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minhous 07-22-19
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minhous 07-22-19
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9/25/2019 1:37:31 PM
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Office Of Council
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Housing
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7/22/2019
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Chairman Anderson expressed concerns that many residents may think that the registered list is <br />an endorsement of contractors and think they have been vetted by the city. Assistant Director <br />Swallow asked questions regarding what the content of a contractor education program might <br />look likeand posed the possibility that smaller contractors that are readily available to do work <br />may run into issues with the amount of insurance the city requires. This proposed training may <br />create another hurdle for them and deter them from doing business in the city. The timing of the <br />orientation may also pose problems as well. <br />Councilman Rader asked if the orientation was intended to be implemented by the city or a third <br />party. Chairman Anderson stated that it seemed to be intended to be a controlled process in <br />house by the city, such as making a packet available to contractors and the contractors then <br />showing some sort of competency for the contents of the packet or doing business in Lakewood. <br />Councilman Bullock added that the concept behind the legislation is that Lakewood has shifted <br />into a growth mode that comes with challenges. As Lakewood has had home price increases <br />consecutively for 4 years, contractors are going to continue to do work on homes, and Bullock <br />stated that the city should want to make sure their doing good work and make sure that people <br />are buying a good product. He stated that contracting is a less regulated and less uniform <br />profession and the city ought to show leadership and crack down on the bad actors out there. <br />This legislation was intended to follow the success of the landlord training, which is required <br />nd <br />once every 2year. He proposed a quarterly training that would facilitate engagement of <br />contractors in a positive way and as a way to catch underperforming, bad actors. <br />Councilman O’Malley expressed concern that it would deter a significant number of contractors <br />in the city. He added that the landlord training is not analogous, as it is worth someone’s while <br />due to the steady stream of business that comes with being a landlord. This reality is not the <br />same for contractors who may work in the city infrequently. Chairman Anderson stated he’s <br />heard from landlords and contractors that they are not afraid to go through an extra step if it <br />provides some sort of competitive advantage form them. He provided examples of contractors <br />reporting on each other for not pulling permits for work. The administration expressed concerns <br />about whether putting them through a program would actually make them a better contractor. <br />Councilman Bullock stated that the questions posed by Commissioner Meyers have the tone that <br />he does not approve of the legislation and added that the legislation is not intended to be <br />punitive. Commissioner Meyers replied that the Building Department is not a trade schooland <br />that his department cannot education contractors in their trade, nor should it be putting tests <br />together to train people. The Building Department enforces code and that code is a minimal <br />standard.Members of the committee expressed concern that homeownersmay not be familiar <br />with good contracting practices or construction. Commissioner Meyers stated that it would be <br />worth educating the homeowners, not contractors, as they are ultimately the project managers. <br />The Building Department only does point in time inspections. It was discussed that the Building <br />Department being the enforcement contact in the ordinance may present a conflict of interest. <br />Councilman Bullock stated that the landlord training is run by multiple city departments and that <br />the city should have a collective effort to get the attention of contractors. <br />Chairman Anderson stated that there are far fewer contractors operating in Lakewood than the <br />number of landlords and homeowners and that there’s a need for the city to be cognizant of not <br />creating a training program. He expressed a desire to make sure folks are competent and working <br /> <br />
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