CLEARWATER –– The Pinellas County Commission is set Tuesday to discuss legislation aimed at adding more oversight to the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board — and appeasing the legislator who has vowed to block any such efforts.
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The draft proposal to improve government oversight of the licensing board includes adding term limits for member of the agency's governing board and adding a member to represent the county administrator.
SPECIAL REPORT: Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board plays fast and loose with disciplinary process
Other tweaks would add a representative of the remodeling industry to the board and update the names of trade groups who nominate members to serve.
The commission is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m., and the proposal is the last item on the agenda.
SPECIAL REPORT: Pinellas licensing board leader Rodney Fischer described as a 'bully' and 'suspicious' in clashes with employees and county officials
The changes fall far short of commissioners' goal to gain control of the state's only independent construction licensing board, an autonomous agency that operates outside county government.
But that goal was dashed when state Sen. Jack Latvala shocked Pinellas County commissioners last week when he said he would block any legislation aimed at adding oversight or significantly altering the licensing board.
Executive director Rodney Fischer retired last week amid a series of reports by the Tampa Bay Times that raised questions about the way the board disciplines contractors and how Fischer ran the agency.
The Florida Legislature created the board in 1973, so only legislators can fix it.
Commissioners and the county administrator wanted to model the licensing board after one in Palm Beach County that reports to government officials. They said Pinellas taxpayers have complained to them about the culture and lack of oversight at the licensing board.
The proposal would also ban members from serving more than four consecutive years as chairman. The Times found that several members of the Pinellas board have served for decades.
The original special act also had term limits, but those were removed years later.
The agency's governing board is currently composed of 21 members: 14 private contractors and seven local building and fire officials. The appointments are approved by the County Commission, but the board runs itself and reports to no other authority.
Latvala who said he has known Fischer for 30 years, said bringing in a new executive director and changing the way board members are appointed is enough reform for now.
He said lawmakers don't have enough time to overhaul a 44-year-old board before the Florida Legislature meets next month
Fischer told the licensing board staff last week that he retired as part of a "deal" to keep the agency from being placed under county oversight. Latvala confirmed he talked to Fischer about keeping the board autonomous but made no promises in return for him to step down.
Contact Mark Puente at mpuente@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2996. Follow @MarkPuente
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