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Resident says town issued permit to contractor with canceled insurance; requests process review
Summary
A resident whose driveway work later failed inspection said the contractor used an insurance certificate that was canceled before the town issued a license and permit; he urged the town to verify contractor insurance during permitting.
At the May 6 meeting John Ruscosi, a homeowner, told the council he contracted New Concept 66 Incorporated for a driveway and patio project that cost him far more than expected after the work failed inspection. He said the town issued a contractor license and building permit even though the insurance certificate he received was canceled two months before the license application.
Ruscosi said he called the insurer and discovered cancellation quickly, and that the town’s office did not verify the validity of the insurance certificates presented by contractors. He described the resulting repair and litigation costs as growing from an expected $10,000 job into a $40,000 replacement and said the contractor was later arrested on unrelated charges; he is pursuing civil remedies.
Planning and Building Director Sheila Shine and Town Manager Griffin were not presented as contesting the facts but were asked to review procedures. Ruscosi urged the town to change its review process to verify insurance certificates at the point of permit issuance to prevent similar harm to other homeowners. Town staff accepted the complaint and said they would work with the homeowner and review permitting checks and processes.
The council did not take immediate legislative action; staff said they will examine the permitting and licensing verification procedures.
