Probe brings change to Contractors Board

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:38 a.m.

A Nevada attorney general investigation of the state Contractors Board found no criminal wrongdoing but "administrative shortcomings" in the way consumer complaints were handled.

The attorney general's investigations division disclosed Wednesday that problems with the board stemmed from the rapid increase in construction coupled with an inadequate process of referring complaints to the board.

Richard Linstrom, a senior deputy attorney general in Las Vegas, said some of the recommendations made by his office were already being implemented by the board. But he said the investigation will be reopened if new information is gathered.

"We believe the board will become more effective," Linstrom said. "Any time you get a report from the attorney general you sit up and take notice."

Board chairman Kim Gregory said he had no comment because he hadn't yet seen the attorney general's report. But Margi Grein, the board's executive officer, said she was pleased with the findings.

"We've been addressing their observations and recommendations since the end of February," Grein said.

State Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, requested the investigation in May after concluding a series of public hearings. Numerous consumers alleged that the board, which oversees Nevada's 15,000 licensed contractors, was not responding adequately to complaints about shoddy construction.

Porter and Linstrom praised changes made by Grein, who took over this year after predecessor Kay Barber resigned in February. Among the changes is that the board began hiring investigators with law enforcement backgrounds.

But Porter said more changes may be necessary as a result of an ongoing internal audit of the board. Porter said the Senate Commerce Committee is also prepared to consider legislation next year if necessary to improve the board. He termed the attorney general's investigation a good first step.

"It sounds like they covered a lot of ground there," Porter said. "Our goal is to make sure the consumer is taken care of."

The attorney general's report recommended that the board establish a tracking system and data base for all incoming complaints, and handle complaints in a timely manner before statutes of limitation expire. It also was recommended that the board create procedural manuals, formal complaint forms, information packets for consumers, statistical reports and formal hiring practices.

Grein said all of those suggestions have been implemented.