[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown 1-26-1977 by L.L. No. 2-1977 (Ch. 88 of the 1974 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction administration — See Ch. 109.
Signs — See Ch. 243.
Zoning — See Ch. 290.
This chapter shall be cited as the "Licensing of Sign Contractors Law in the Town of Clarkstown."
[Amended 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013]
Every person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of erecting, altering, repairing or restoring signs, for any of which signs a building permit is required by the applicable sections of the Code of the Town of Clarkstown, shall be required annually to register the name of such person, firm or corporation with the Building Inspector and obtain a license as provided herein.
A. 
Application for the registration and obtaining of a license by contractors shall be submitted to the Building Inspector on forms supplied by him and, in addition to any other pertinent information he may reasonably deem necessary, shall include:
(1) 
A statement giving the corporate name or firm name of the contractor.
(2) 
In the case of a firm, corporation or partnership, the name and address of the principal office of said firm or corporation and the names and addresses of all officers, directors, managerial employees and stockholders owning, of record or beneficially, 5% or more of the outstanding stock of any class of said corporation.
(3) 
In the case of a partnership, the names and addresses of all parties, whether general, special or limited.
B. 
Additional information.
(1) 
This application shall also contain the number of years such person, firm or corporation has been in the contracting business at the current location or any prior locations, including the addresses of any such prior locations, if any.
(2) 
The application shall indicate, for both the current and any prior periods of time or locations at which a contracting business has been conducted, all other trade names, if any, by which any such contracting business was conducted or of which any of the persons listed in answer to Subsection A(2) above were a part, for each such prior business.
C. 
The application shall be approved and the license issued, or disapproved, within 15 days after filing.
A. 
No person, firm or corporation shall be licensed under this chapter or be licensed after revocation of a license pursuant to § 244-6 of this chapter unless and until there has been a determination by the Building Inspector that the applicant is capable of compliance with the requirements hereof and has demonstrated sufficient capability and proficiency in his or its past business history to justify a reasonable belief that such compliance will occur and unless and until there is paid to the Building Inspector, to the order of the Town of Clarkstown, an annual fee as established from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.
[Amended 9-11-1991 by L.L. No. 6-1991; 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013]
B. 
Any person, firm or corporation whose license has been revoked three times shall be presumed not capable or proficient in his or its trade and shall not be permitted to be licensed under this chapter.
All work shall be done in accordance with the applicable codes of the Town of Clarkstown, and the workmanship shall conform to generally accepted good practice in the trade.
The Building Inspector of the Town of Clarkstown shall revoke the license of any contractor licensed hereunder who shall be guilty of any one or more of the following acts or omissions:
A. 
Fraud or misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact in the information given upon initial issuance of a license or upon licensing after revocation.
B. 
Violation of the applicable sections of the Code of the Town of Clarkstown or of any other ordinance or statute which governs the activities or nature of work performed by the contractor in the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs.
C. 
Erecting or installing a sign without first obtaining approval from the Architectural Historic Review Board and a sign permit from the Building Inspector.
[Added 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013; amended 6-28-2016 by L.L. No. 8-2016]
D. 
Erecting or installing a sign substantially different than that which was approved by the Architectural Historic Review Board.
[Added 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013; amended 6-28-2016 by L.L. No. 8-2016]
A. 
The Building Inspector, on his own initiative and on forms to be prescribed by him, may file a complaint against any licensed contractor by the filing of the same with the Building Department. Such complaint shall be in writing and signed by the person filing the same. The complaint shall contain a statement of facts setting forth the specific facts relating to the violation of this chapter of the Town of Clarkstown Code or any local law, ordinance or statute pertaining to the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs.
B. 
Upon a complaint being filed in the manner and form herein prescribed, the Building Inspector shall forthwith issue a notice, in writing, directing the contractor in question to file a written answer within 10 days after the service of notice, answering the charges of showing cause, if any, why his license should not be revoked. A copy of the complaint shall be served with said notice.
C. 
Failure of the contractor in question to file a written answer within said 10 days may be deemed an admission by him of the commission of the act or violations cited in the complaint, and his license thereupon may be revoked forthwith by the Building Inspector, without further evidence.
D. 
In the event that the contractor in question shall file a written answer within the time period prescribed in the notice, a hearing shall be scheduled, notice of which hearing shall be served no less than 10 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing. Said hearing shall be held by and before the Building Inspector of the Town of Clarkstown, who shall thereafter make all decisions as to fact and law concerning revocation of the license. At the hearing, the Building Inspector and licensee shall each have the right to appear personally or by counsel and cross-examine witnesses and produce witnesses and evidence in their behalf. Counsel is required if the licensee is a corporation. A certified court reporter shall be present at the contractor's expense, and a complete transcript shall be presented to the Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown at no cost if an appeal is taken.
Any person or corporation aggrieved by any action of the Building Inspector taken pursuant to this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the Town Board, within 10 days after notice of revocation or other action complained of, a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for appeal. The Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown shall thereafter set a time and place for hearing the appeal, upon at least 10 days' prior written notice to the appellant. The decision and order of the Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown on such appeal shall be final and conclusive and shall be based on the evidence presented at the hearing before the Building Inspector, with no further evidence to be permitted.
Whenever notice is required or permitted to be given by any section of this chapter, such notice may be effected by personal service upon the licensee, if an individual, or any general partner, if a partnership, or upon any corporate officer, if a corporation, or alternatively, to any of the foregoing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last address listed in the Building Inspector's office in conjunction with the registration information. It shall be the duty of each licensed contractor to keep the Building Inspector advised of any subsequent change of address. Upon failure of a contractor to comply with this requirement, any notice returned with notation, "Unknown," "Moved" or "Not Claimed" shall be deemed proper service of all notices required by this chapter.
[Amended 9-11-1991 by L.L. No. 6-1991; 4-9-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013; 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013]
Any person, firm or corporation or their respective agents, servants or employees found guilty of a violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of up to $2,500. Any person, firm or corporation or their respective agents, servants or employees found guilty of a second offense of any provision of this chapter within 18 months from the date of the first conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $2,500 and not more than $5,000. Any person, firm or corporation or their respective agents, servants or employees found guilty of a third offense of any provision of this chapter within 18 months from the date of the second conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $7,500 and not more than $10,000. Any person, firm or corporation or their respective agents, servants or employees found guilty of a fourth or subsequent offense of any provision of this chapter within 18 months from the date of the third conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $15,000. Every week that such person, firm or corporation or their respective agents, servants or employees shall fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate and additional offense against the provisions thereof.
Any person, firm or corporation whose license has been revoked under the provisions of § 244-7 of this chapter may apply to be relicensed and have his, her or its name reentered upon the registration list, upon filing the following:
A. 
Certification by the Building Inspector to the effect that all violations with reference to which the revocation was secured have been corrected.
B. 
Proof that all loss caused by the act or omission for which the license was revoked has been fully satisfied and that all conditions imposed by the decision of the revocation have been complied with.
C. 
Payment of a license fee as established by the Town Board.
[Amended 9-11-1991 by L.L. No. 6-1991; 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013]
[Added 3-14-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
A. 
Each applicant for a license shall agree, in writing, to indemnify and save harmless the Town of Clarkstown from any and all claims for bodily injury or for property damage arising out of the operation, ownership and maintenance of any equipment or vehicle used by the applicant in the Town and provide the Building Inspector evidence, in the form of a certificate of insurance, that a policy of liability insurance is in full force and effect, with the limits of not less than a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage, covering the applicant, all employees and agents and each and every vehicle engaged in the business of erecting, altering, repairing or restoring signs, for any of which signs a building permit is required by the applicable section of the Code of the Town of Clarkstown, which policy shall name the Town of Clarkstown as an additional insured.
[Amended 8-20-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013]
B. 
Each applicant shall also file with Building Inspector evidence, in the form of a certificate of insurance, that the statutory workers' compensation and disability insurance has been obtained by the licensee for all employees engaged in the business of erecting, altering, repairing or restoring signs, for any of which signs a building permit is required by the applicable section of the Code of the Town of Clarkstown.
C. 
The form of said certificate of insurance shall be approved by the Town Attorney.