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Hammond board waives late fees for local plumber after owner says he didn’t receive notices; controller’s office says notice was mailed
Summary
A Kavara Plumbing LLC owner told the Hammond board he did not receive prior notices and asked for a waiver of $400 in late fees; Lisa Serrano of the controller’s office said staff mailed a notice in August 2024 and explained the difference between contractor and business licenses. The board voted to waive the late fees.
A representative for Kavara Plumbing LLC asked the Hammond Board of Public Safety on Jan. 29 to waive $400 in late-business-license fees, saying he never received the city’s prior notices and only learned of requirements this year.
“I’m embarrassed to say. It’s caused me a lot of stress…If you are okay with this would be to pay their normal fees for the years I missed and I won't miss again,” the owner said, asking the board for leniency.
Lisa Serrano of the controller’s office replied that staff had mailed a notice in August 2024 explaining the distinction between a contractor’s license (qualifications to perform work) and a business license (permission to operate within the city). “A contractor's license relates to the qualifications to perform the work while a business license allows a business to operate within the city,” Serrano said, and staff emphasized they are applying the requirement consistently going forward.
The owner said he paid a required street-opening bond after learning of the issue and asked the board to waive past penalties. Board members discussed options and the board voted to waive the late fees by voice vote. Staff offered the owner a copy of the notice and the opportunity to pay at the meeting’s close.
The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the motion to waive the fees was seconded and approved by voice vote.
