Charlotte County board accepts staff recommendations to suspend permitting privileges, asks state to consider fines

The Charlotte County Construction Industry Licensing Board on Tuesday accepted staff recommendations to suspend local permitting privileges for two contractors and forwarded both cases to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (FCILB) with a request that the state consider monetary fines and, if violations persist, potential license revocation.

Ken Garcia, a contractor licensing investigator, told the board that case CI-25-00025 alleges Jose r Villega of Next Level Builders Southwest Florida LLC used an unlicensed individual on an addition at 8153 Drew Street, failed to maintain required subcontractor documentation, missed inspections and did not renew or close permit number 2024000208525. Garcia said the homeowner had paid the company but that some amounts were still outstanding and that the final permit review showed the permit had not been closed. "It is the recommendation of the Charlotte County Licensing Division that Josue Vileja's permitting privileges and right to work as a contractor in Charlotte County be suspended," Garcia told the board, and staff recommended forwarding the case and the board's order to DBPR, Sarasota County and the FCILB.

Daryl Dillo, another contractor licensing investigator, reported a separate case, CI-25-00059, involving Daniel j Alavera doing business as DGC Development Corporation. Dillo said his final permit review found 13 expired permits remaining and that the permits had failed to be renewed and final inspections obtained. He recommended suspension of Alavera's permitting privileges and forwarding the record to state authorities for possible action.

Board members discussed the limits of local authority after recent legislative changes. Ben Bailey, community development director and acting building official, told the board that local jurisdictions now have fewer locally controlled license categories and cannot suspend state licenses; the county's enforcement tool is denial or curtailing of local permitting privileges and preparing a detailed record for the state to act on. "We don't suspend licenses. Only the state can do that. We can deny permitting privileges in our county only," Bailey said.

Board member Mike Melton moved to accept staff recommendations with an amendment asking the DBPR to consider monetary fines as part of state punishment and that the contractors be required to appear before the board as a condition of reinstatement. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The board instructed staff and the county attorney's office to prepare boilerplate language and a menu of recommended motions and penalties to present at a future meeting so the board can apply consistent remedies in similar cases.

The board's actions are administrative recommendations to the state licensing authority; the FCILB and DBPR retain authority to impose fines, suspend or revoke state licenses.

Votes at a glance: - CI-25-00025 (Jose r Villega / Next Level Builders Southwest Florida LLC): board accepted staff recommendation to suspend local permitting privileges and forward to DBPR/FCILB with request to consider monetary fines; motion passed by voice vote. - CI-25-00059 (Daniel j Alavera / DGC Development Corporation): board accepted staff recommendation to suspend local permitting privileges and forward to DBPR/FCILB with request to consider monetary fines; motion passed by voice vote.

The board made no state-level enforcement decisions; both cases were referred to state authorities per established procedure.