Board denies reinstatement request for plumbing contractor Michael Bergeron; orders retest

The Plumbing Piping Work Examining Board on April 24 denied a petition by plumbing contractor Michael Bergeron to reinstate his P-1 license and directed him to retest if he wants the license restored. The board held a reinstatement hearing at Bergeron's request after he paid a $750 civil penalty tied to a continuing-education (CE) audit stemming from 2019. Department counsel Cynthia Fernandez told the board Bergeron paid the fine in May 2025 and petitioned for reinstatement. "The decision to revoke Mr. Bergeron's license was issued in 2022," Fernandez said, summarizing the department record and the CE audit. Bergeron told the board he had not completed CE credits since about 2018'19 and said personal and health circumstances and the disruption of COVID-19 contributed to missed requirements. He said he would comply with CE obligations going forward. Board members expressed concern about the lapse and code changes since Bergeron last held the active P-1. Several members said a retest was appropriate after multiple years out of compliance. Peter Alfieri moved and Carlton Pember seconded a motion not to reinstate the license; the motion passed. The board advised Bergeron to reapply and retake the licensing exam. Department staff informed Bergeron that changes to the law now require retesting after a multi-year lapse and that current rules set a longer lapse period for retest than under previous versions of the statute. Bergeron confirmed his mailing address for the record and the board closed the hearing by instructing staff to provide him with application steps and requirements for retesting and CE compliance.