Port Richey's city manager shuts down the building division for a day amid questions about the credentials of its new leader.
By ALEX LEARY
Published April 22, 2004
PORT RICHEY - City Manager Vince Lupo shut down Port Richey's building department Wednesday amid an investigation into newly appointed building official Bette Farmerie's credentials.
Lupo said he has requested copies of building permits Farmerie has signed off on since taking over for Bill Sanders, who resigned Oct. 31 to take another job.
"It may be nothing, absolutely nothing, but I can't take the chance," Lupo said. He said the department should reopen today. He could not say whether Farmerie would be at the helm.
Lupo said he was acting in response to questions raised by City Council members during a meeting last week - the same meeting in which he formally named Farmerie as Sanders' replacement. She had been acting building official.
The questions had to do with whether Farmerie had the proper credentials to fill the job. At least one resident has filed a complaint with the state against her.
Farmerie, 60, indicated last week that she would take the building official test in the summer and already had a provisional license allowing her to work.
But the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Web site on Wednesday listed Farmerie as an applicant for a provisional license.
"She has always maintained she had proper credentials," Lupo said, adding that he told the council he formally appointed her building official on the condition that her paperwork was in order. If Farmerie had, in fact, acted without proper authority, the scores of permits issued under her name could be called into question.
The building official also issues certificates of occupancy and oversees staff who conduct code enforcement and building inspections.
Mark Whitten, a top official with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, said he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether the state had taken action against Farmerie.
Speaking in general about investigations, Whitten said they remain confidential unless probable cause is found or the subject waives his or her confidentiality.
Farmerie said Wednesday that she could not comment on the matter.
- Alex Leary covers the city of Port Richey. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is leary@sptimes.com
