Operator Dawn Charette testifies at Structural Pest Control Board reinstatement hearing; panel takes matter under submission

Dawn Marie Charette testified on April 17, 2019 before the Structural Pest Control Board at an administrative hearing seeking reinstatement of revoked operator license OPR 9119. The hearing was conducted by Administrative Law Judge Marcy Larson and included a presentation of the petition package by Christopher Young of the California Attorney General's Office. Charette represented herself and described rehabilitation steps, training certificates, passing headquarter inspections and a recent Department of Agriculture site inspection she submitted at the hearing.

The board admitted the petition packet as Exhibit 1 and later admitted a pest control business headquarters inspection report (marked Exhibit A) that Charette handed to the court. Christopher Young reviewed the licensing and disciplinary history in the petition packet, including the underlying accusations, prior reinstatement petitions and appeal documents that resulted in the revocation of Charette's operator license after proceedings stemming from a March 2005 fumigation at a 30-unit condominium complex.

Charette acknowledged that she made a “poor decision” to fumigate food and that she failed to review the fumigation log, and she admitted negligence for not removing food before the fumigation. She repeatedly disputed superior court and board findings that an occupant, Ms. Williams, was in the structure during the fumigation and told the board she had not seen the evidence that led the board and the courts to that finding. The Attorney General’s representative told the board Charette still did not accept the factual findings that Ms. Williams was in the structure at the time of fumigation, and said that raised concerns about whether Charette had accepted responsibility.

Board members questioned Charette about company operations and whether she had complied with conditions of prior disciplinary orders that prohibited holding certain roles; she testified that she “helps run” DNS Termite but said a licensed operator runs the company on technical matters and that she does not perform licensee duties in the field. Charette described personnel changes, safety-policy changes and outreach to industry committees since the underlying incident.

At the close of testimony both sides gave brief closing remarks. The board chair stated the matter was submitted for the board's consideration and that the board would go into closed session to reach a decision; Charette was told she would receive a decision at a later date. No formal reinstatement was granted at the April 17 meeting.