CLB Minutes 08/20/2025 (Draft)
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COLLIER COUNTY
CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD
August 20, 2025 – 9:00 a.m.
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor, Naples, FL 34112
Present Members:
Todd Allen – Chairman
Kyle Lantz – Vice Chairman
Richard Joslin – Board Member
Jennifer Cassidy – Board Member
Stephen Jaron – Board Member
Matthew Nolton – Board Member
Absent Members
Thomas Johnson
William Drury
Michael Meister
OTHERS PRESENT
Timothy Crotts – Assistant Director, Code Enforcement
James Klum – Chief Building Official
Doug Sposito – Deputy Building Official
County Attorneys and staff
Any person wishing to appeal a decision made by this Board must ensure that a
verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes testimony and
evidence upon which the appeal is based.
1. Roll Call
Chairman Todd Allen called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.
2. Agenda Additions and Deletions
• Item 10A continued for 30 days.
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• Item 10C deleted (case abated).
Motion to approve the amended agenda by Richard Jocelyn; second by
Matthew Knowlton. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approval of Minutes (July 16, 2025)
Motion to approve by Steven Jarin; second by Richard Jocelyn. Motion carried
unanimously.
4. Public Comment
No public comments.
5. Hurricane Preparedness Report
Mr. Crotts reminded the Board of Ordinance 22-190, which requires the CLB to
reconvene during declared states of emergency in order to authorize issuance of
temporary emergency-restricted competency certificates. These certificates may
last up to six months and allow qualified contractors from other jurisdictions to
assist in recovery. He emphasized the importance of readiness for the 2025
hurricane season.
6. Orders of the Board
Motion by Chairman Allen to authorize signing of Board orders; seconded and
approved unanimously.
7. Old Business
7A. NOVA Homes South Florida, Inc. (Qualifier: Mr. Costa)
• Background: Previous Board orders (October 16, 2024, and December 18,
2024) required completion of a project and issuance of a Certificate of
Occupancy. The orders warned that failure to comply would revoke permit-
pulling privileges across Collier County.
• Staff Report (Mr. Kratz): Staff recommended privileges not be reinstated,
citing continued failure to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy despite time
extensions and a private settlement with the homeowners (the Gatos).
• Attorney Kerry Goggin (for NOVA Homes): Asserted that a confidential
settlement transferred the permit to the homeowners as Owner-Builder,
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resolving disputes. He argued no further cure was possible and compliance
should be considered achieved through the settlement.
• Deputy Building Official Doug Sposito: Testified multiple deficiencies
remained unresolved. Some simple issues were corrected (truss repair,
window compliance), but four major structural concerns persisted.
Submitted affidavits were inadequate; engineering reports were rejected. X-
ray testing revealed rebar discrepancies (No. 8 required, No. 5 found). No
destructive testing had been provided to verify compliance.
• Board Concerns: Members expressed that the settlement effectively
attempted to “negotiate away” compliance obligations. They emphasized the
Board’s duty to protect the public by ensuring projects are completed
properly.
• Discussion of Remedies: The Board weighed permanent revocation versus
suspension. Attorney Neal advised suspension with review periods may be
more appropriate than indefinite revocation. Several members stressed
accountability and the need for concrete verification.
• Motion: Continue case for 30 days, leaving revocation in place, pending
further engineering reports from the homeowner’s engineer. Additionally,
Board attorneys may be granted in-camera review of the settlement
agreement if permitted by parties.
• Vote: Motion passed unanimously.
7B. Juan Carlos Lopez – License Review
• Background: At July meeting, Mr. Lopez was ordered to provide proof of a
credit score of 660 or greater.
• Staff Report: Mr. Lopez submitted a credit report showing a score of 621
(previously 591). Staff acknowledged improvement but noted the threshold
had not yet been met.
• Recommendation: Reinstate license with six-month probation, requiring
Mr. Lopez to raise his score to 660 or greater. If achieved, probation will be
lifted; if not, he must return before the Board.
• Motion: Motion by Chairman Allen to reinstate license with six-month
probation; second by Richard Jocelyn.
• Vote: Motion passed unanimously.
8. Public Hearings
8A. Case of Peter Cowley (Kallie Construction – Permit Violation)
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• Respondent’s Request: Mr. Cowley, age 74, requested a continuance,
stating new counsel (Mr. Justin Gistle) had only been retained the day prior
and additional documents (15 pages) were introduced late. He emphasized
his limited prior appearances and the complexity of hurricane-related
allowances.
• Staff Report: Staff opposed continuance, noting Mr. Cowley had known of
the charges since June and no timely communication had been received from
counsel.
• Board Discussion: Members debated fairness to the displaced homeowner
versus Mr. Cowley’s right to representation. Some expressed frustration at
repeated delays; others stressed due process.
• Motion: Motion by Steven Jarin to grant a final continuance of 30 days,
with case to be heard at the next scheduled meeting without further delay
regardless of attorney availability.
• Vote: Motion passed 4–1.
9. Next Meeting
The next CLB meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2025.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:20 AM.
COLLIER COUNTY
CONTRACTORS’ LICENSING BOARD
_________________________________________
Chairman Todd Allen
The Minutes were approved by ____________________________________
Chairman Todd Allen
as presented___________________
or amended____________________