Tempers flare Tuesday night as Rockland County re-writes contractor licensing rules
The discussion was brought to a halt after tensions escalated, and the head of the county legislature ordered one person removed from the meeting.
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A heated public meeting Tuesday night ended with Rockland County legislators voting to scale back home improvement contractor licensing rules.
The discussion was brought to a halt after tensions escalated, and the head of the county legislature ordered one person removed from the meeting. County legislators later decided the licensing rules should be scaled back.
The move removes the current Home Improvement Licensing Board and shifts licensing authority to the Rockland County Legislature.
Some residents spoke out against the changes during the meeting.
“This is radical, from what I can see. Extremely radical. The question is why, why are we doing this?” asked one Rockland resident.
Another resident criticized the existing system, saying it makes it difficult to do business.
“The entire way that consumer protection operates in Rockland County is to make doing business here hard, when all they should be doing is encouraging people to do business,” said Rockland County resident Yehuda Zorder.
Home improvement contractors in Rockland County have been required to be licensed since 1986. That process has included background checks, insurance requirements, and proof of experience.
