CLB Backup Documents 10/22/2025BEFORE THE COLLIER COUNTY CONTRACTORSLICENSING BOARD
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA,
CONTRACTORS' LICENSING BOARD
Petitioner
Case Number:
v. CEMIS20240004396
License Number: 28576
MAHARAI DACOSTA,
D/B/A: NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Respondent
STIPULATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND AGREED ORDER
MAHARAI DACOSTA and BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONTRACTORS' LICENSING BOARD (hereafter BOARD) hereby
stipulate and agree:
1. On October 16`�', 2024, a public bearing was held, and substantial, competenC
evidence was presented by the petitioner which proved to a clear and convincing standard that
MAHARAI DACOSTA, DBA: NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC committed the
violation as set forth in the administrate complaint, attached here to as Exhibit A.
2. On October 161i, 2024, an ORDER OF THE BOARD, (hereafter Board Order) was
issued requiring that the respondent shall complete the project and obtain a certificate of
occupancy or completion for the property within 60 days. Failure to obtain the certificate of
occupancy or completion within 60 days will result in the permit pulling privileges being
revoked until the certificate of occupancy or completion is obtained.
3. On December 18"', 2024, MAHARA DACOSTA was granted an Extension of Time
by the Contractors' Licensing Board and was given an additional 30 days to abide by the
BOARD ORDER issued on October 16"i, 2024. The respondent failed to comply with the terms
of the Board Order and the permit pulling privilege of the respondent were revoked.
4. On July 14"i, 2025, MAHARAI DACOSTA dba: NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH
FLORIDA, INC (PLAINTIFF) and PAUL GATTO, AND MONIKA GATTO (DEFENDANTS)
entered into a stipulated settlement agreement regarding a civil action among the Plaintiff and
Defendants. This civil action was settled, and a non -disclosure agreement was signed by both
parties.
5. On August 5"i, 2025 —Permit Number PRBD20210103027 was changed to an
OWNER/BUILDER permit under the names of Paul and Monika Gatio.
6. On August 5°i, 2025, a hearing was requested by MAHAI�IA DCA OF NOVA
HOMES OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC to request the reinstatement of permit pulling privileges.
This request was continued by the Contractor Licensing Board.
7. Respondent and the BOARD agree that the respondents permit pulling privileges
shall remain under revocation until such time that the certificate of occupancy or completion for
permit number PRBD20210103027 has been issued by the Chief Building Official for Collier
County. Once the certificate of occupancy or completion has been issued, the respondent may
appear before the Board for reinstatement.
8. County staff agrees that once the certificate of occupancyy�
or °completion for permit
number PRBD20210103027 has been issued by the Chief pin i
Lngial for Collier County,
;11p
County Staff will not object toAthereinstatement of the permit pulling privileges by the
Contractor Licensing Board, with the understanding that the Contractor Licensing Board will
have the final decision.
Executed this /r day of October 2025.
PI _�
Maharai Dacosta Timothy Crotts
Respondent Assistant Division Director, Code
Enforcement
hereby:
ORDER ADOPTING STIPULATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
THE BOARD BEING FULLY ADVISED on the Stipulated Settlement Agreement, it is
ADJUDGED that the foregoing Stipulated Settlement Agreement is adopted in its
entirety, and the parties are ordered to comply therewith.
DONE AND ORDERED at the regularly set Contractors' Licensing Board hearing at
Naples, Collier County, Florida on this 'ZZ day of � C�`(1 `�j �t,� ___ , 2025.
Toaa Allyn--'
Chairman
Contractors' Licensing Board
CONTRACTORS' LICENSING BOARD
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
Petitioner,
vs,
Case No: CEMIS20240004396
License No. 28576
MAHARAI DACOSTA,
d/b/a NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH FLORIDA
INC
Respondent
AMENDED ORDER
THIS CAUSE came on for public hearing before the Contractors' Licensing Board
(hereafter Board) on October 16, 2024, for consideration of the Administrative Complaint
filed against MAHARAI DACOSTA, qualifier of record for NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH
FLORIDA INC, hereinafter the "Respondent". The Board having at said hearing heard
testimony under oath, received evidence, and heard arguments respective to all
appropriate matters, thereupon issues its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order
of the Board as follows:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. That Respondent is licensed as a STATE CERTIFIED GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Contractor and the qualifier of record for NOVA HOMES OF SOUTH FLORIDA INC.
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2. That the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, is the
complainant in this matter.
3. That the Board has jurisdiction over the Respondent, the Respondent was present
at the public hearing, and Respondent was represented by counsel Cary Goggin.
4. Service of the Complaint and all notices required by the Code of Laws and
Ordinances of Collier County, Florida, have been properly issued in accordance with
Section 22-201 of the Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County, Florida.
5. The evidence presented, testimony given, and on the admission of guilt stated by
the Respondent as to count I, established that the Respondent acted in a manner
that is in violation of the Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County, Florida,
as follows:
a. Count I -Collier County Code of law and ordinances Section 22-201.1 (2)
which dates in pertinent part, that witlfully violating the applicable building
codes or laws of the state, city or Collier County shall constihrta rnisconduct
and grounds for discipline
6. That the Contractors' Licensing Supervisor and County staff presented sworn
testimony, and the administrative complaint and exhibits thereto were admitted into
evidence. The Respondent was afforded an opportunity to present sworn
testimony, exhibits, and to cross examine the Contractors' Licensing Supervisor
and witnesses. The Board was afforded an opportunity to ask questions of the
witnesses.
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7. The allegations of fact as set forth in the Administrative Complaint are true and
therefore such facts are hereby found to be supported by competent, substantial evidence
presented at the hearing.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The facts as alleged and set forth in the Administrative Complaint as to Count I
were supported by competent and substantial evidence and this evidence provided clear
and convincing proof that the Respondent committed the one violation as set forth in the
Administrative Complaint.
2. The Respondent violated Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County, Florida,
Sec 22- 201 in the performance of Respondent's contracting business in Collier County
by acting in violation of the sections set out with particularity in the Administrative
Compliant.
3. Collier County has jurisdiction over this matter and the Respondent.
ORDER OF THE BOARD
Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and pursuant to
the authority granted in Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, and the Code of Laws and
Ordinances of Collier County, Florida, by a vote of 5 in favor and 1 opposed, a majority
vote of the Board members present and voting, the Board finds Respondent guilty of
misconduct by a holder of a Collier County Certificate of Competency as to Count I, in
violation of Collier County Code of law and ordinances Section 22-201.1 (2) which states
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in pertinent part, that
witlfully violating the applicable
building
codes or laws of the state.
city or Collier County
shall constitute misconduct and
grounds
for discipline.
Upon motion made and seconded and consideration of the following factors; 1. Gravity
of the violation, 2. Impact of the violation, 3. Any actions taken by the violator to correct
the violation, 4. Any previous violations committed by the violator, 5. Any other evidence
presented at the hearing by the parties relevant as to the sanction that is appropriate for
the case given the nature of the offense, by a vote of 6 in favor and 0 opposed, a
unanimous vote of the Board members present and voting, the Board hereby imposes
the following disciplinary sanction(s) upon the Respondent:
1. As to Count 1, the Respondent shall complete the project and obtain a certificate
of occupancy/completion for the property that is the subject of this violation within
60 days. If the project had not obtained a certificate of completion/occupancy within
60 days, the Respondent's permit pulling privileges will be revoked until the project
has achieved obtained a certificate of completion/occupancy. If project is delayed,
Respondent may petition the board for additional time.
The Respondent, any other party, the chairman of the Contractors' Licensing
Board, the Contractors' Licensing Board as a body, or the assistant county attorney who
tried the case may request a rehearing of any decision of the Contractors' Licensing
Board. A request for rehearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with staff and a copy
thereof should be delivered to all other parties within twenty (20) days from the date of
mailing or other method of delivery to the Respondent(s) of the Board's written decision.
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A request for rehearing must be based only on the grounds that the decision was
contrary to the evidence or that the hearing involved an error on a ruling of law that was
fundamental to the decision of the Board. The written request for rehearing must specify
the precise reasons therefore. The decision of the Board that is the subject of the
rehearing request will remain in effect throughout the rehearing procedure unless the
Board orders otherwise.
The Board will make a determination as to whether or not to rehear the matter and
its decision shall be made at a public meeting, which will be reduced to writing and mailed
to the interested parties within 21 days after the determination is made. If the Contractors'
Licensing Board determines it will grant a rehearing, it may:
a. Schedule a hearing where the parties will be given the opportunity of
presenting evidence or argument limited by the Board to the specific reasons for which
the rehearing was granted; or
b. Modify or reverse its prior decision, without receiving further evidence,
providing that the change is based on a finding that the prior decision of the Board resulted
from a ruling on a question of law that the Board had been informed by its counsel was
an erroneous ruling and which ruling could affect the substantive decision.
The parties are further notified that upon the timely filing of a Notice of Appeal
within thirty (30) days you may have the decision of the Board reviewed pursuant to the
procedure set out herein. The Respondent may appeal a decision of the Board to the
Collier County Circuit Court. Such an appeal shall not be a hearing de novo but shall be
limited to appellate review of the record created before the Board. Any appeal shall be
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filed with the Circuit Court and served on the parties within thirty (30) days of the mailing
of the decision of the Board under the Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County,
Florida, Section 22-202(g)(9). If there has been a re -hearing request granted, the appeal
shall be filed with the Circuit Court and served on the parties within thirty (30) days of the
mailing of the re -hearing decision under Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County,
Florida, Section 22-205.
In the event that the Respondent elects to appeal, a verbatim record and transcript
of the proceedings will be necessary. It shall be the sole responsibility of said party to
ensure that a record is made from which a transcript may be prepared which includes the
testimony upon which an appeal may be taken. Neither Collier County nor the Board has
any responsibility to provide a verbatim record transcript of the proceedings.
In accordance with Section 489.131(7) (c) and (d), Florida Statutes, the disciplined
contractor, the complainant, or the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
may challenge the Board's recommended penalty to the State Construction Industry
Licensing Board. Such challenge must be filed within sixty (60) days of the issuance of
the recommended penalty to the State Construction Industry Licensing Board in
Tallahassee, Florida. If challenged, there is a presumptive finding of probable cause and
the case may proceed before the State Board without the need for a probable cause
hearing.
Failure of the disciplined contractor, the complainant, or the Department of
Business and Professional Regulation to challenge the Board's recommended penalty
within the time period set forth herein will constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing
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before the State Construction Industry Licensing Board and be deemed as an admission
oI the violation such that the penalty recommended will become a final order according
to the procedures developed by State Board rule without further State Board action.
Pursuant to Section 120.59, Florida Statutes, the parties are hereby notified that
they may thereafter appeal the Final Order of the State Board by filing one copy of a
Notice of Appeal with the Clerk of the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation, Northwood Centre, 1940 Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792,
and by filing the filing fee and one copy of the Notice of Appeal with the appropriate District
Court of Appeal within thirty (30) days of the effective date of said State Board Order.
2024.
ORDERED by the Contractors' Licensing Board effective the 15th day of October,
Stephen M. Jaron, Chair
Contractors' Licensing Board
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of the Board has been furnished to the
Respondent; and Tim Crotts, Licensing Compliance Supervisor, 2800 North Horseshoe
Drive, Naples, FL 34103, on this day of , 2024.
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Secretary /Contractors' Licensing Board
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