Source: https://ecode360.com/8480393
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:51:56+00:00

Document:
§ 223-1 Authorization and scope.
§ 223-4 Purpose and duration of certification.
§ 223-5 Certification fee; separate certifications required.
§ 223-6 Registration required; contact information; proof of identity.
§ 223-8 Display and transfer of certification.
§ 223-10 Delinquent certification fees.
§ 223-12 Denial of certification; appeals.
§ 223-13 Suspension or revocation of certification.
§ 223-14 Appeals to Contractor's Certification Board.
§ 223-17 Establishment; features to be included.
§ 223-18 Access to site; fee for contractor participation.
§ 223-19 Voluntary participation by contractors.
§ 223-20 Information to be provided by participants.
§ 223-22 Changing or updating information included on Web site.
§ 223-23 No private right of action.
Real estate Web site — See Ch. 270.
Minority Business Enterprise Program — See Ch. 430.
Allegheny County hereby authorizes and approves the establishment of a Contractor Information Program for contractors operating within the County for the purpose of establishing a tracking system to allow the general public to identify and compare contractors within the County.
Any person, including a subcontractor or employee of another contractor, who performs an activity pursuant to a written or oral contract or agreement for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, renovation or repair of real estate or a real estate structure.
Any individual, firm, partnership, cooperative nonprofit membership, corporation, joint venture, association, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, holding company or other group or combination acting as a unit, in the singular or plural, and any agent or employee having charge or control of a business in the absence of the principals.
Every contractor engaged in or intending to operate, have offices in, or provide services within Allegheny County may participate in the Contractor Information Program, as established by this article. Contractors participating in the Contractor Information Program shall be required to pay an annual certification fee and obtain a contractor's certification as provided in this article.
The contractor's certification created by this article is for the purpose of providing information to members of the public and business community who from time to time may require the services of a contractor. Each certification shall be issued for one calendar year and shall expire on December 31, and the certification itself shall indicate the expiration date on its face. The provisions of this article and the rates herein shall remain in effect from year to year as amended by County Council.
The required certification fee shall be paid for each contractor subject hereto according to the applicable rate classification on or before January 1 of each year. A separate certification shall be required for each address within the County from which a contractor operates.
"[Applicant's name] certifies that the contracting business named herein is fully bonded, (if necessary) and insured under all applicable provisions of state statute and other regulatory authority, as well as under all applicable local law."
"[Applicant's name] certifies that the contracting business named herein both employs only individuals eligible to work in the United States at the time of the application, and that it will not knowingly employ any individual who is ineligible to work in the United States while licensed as a contractor in Allegheny County."
"[Applicant's name] certifies that the contracting business named herein complies with all applicable state laws pertaining to insurance and bond requirements for public works contractors, to the extent that such laws apply to the activities undertaken by this applicant."
"[Applicant's name] certifies that the contracting business named herein complies with all federal, state, and local tax law."
"[Applicant's name] certifies that he or she will notify all employers of the license status of all subcontractors he or she employs."
Contractor's certifications shall be issued to reflect the certifications made in the applications. Upon the fulfillment of the conditions provided for by this article, a certification shall be granted to contractor applicants. Such certification shall reflect the certifications made by the applicant under § 223-6A of this article, and shall contain a number that is unique to the contractor certified. Once a number has been issued to a contractor, he or she shall retain that same identifying number for certifications in perpetuity.
Specifically in regards to the registration and/or application, the Treasurer may request the full and legal name, birth date, gender, personal address and contact information for any person, officer, landlord, tenant, property owner, lessor, sublessor, or agent pertaining to the business, or any other person who has ownership or financial interest in the business, or any other person who has decisional or management input, consultation, oversight or control of any portion of the business. In the case of a corporation, the Treasurer may additionally request the true and complete name of the corporation, officers, the state or county of its incorporation and its principal place of business.
The applicant shall certify that the information given in the application is true and correct.
Each contractor, as a condition of issuance or renewal, must maintain full and accurate contact information for responsible persons on a form provided by the Treasurer.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the failure to comply with any provision of this section shall constitute grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of the certification.
Applicants shall have the right to appeal the denial of any application for certification to the Contractor's Certification Board, in accordance with the provisions of § 223-14 of this article.
In the event that any person subject to the provisions of this article makes a false application for a contractor's certification, or gives or files, or directs the giving or filing of, any false information with respect to the certification or fee required by this article, the certification which was granted pursuant to the falsified application shall immediately be revoked.
All participating contractors shall display the certification issued to them on the original form provided by the Treasurer in a conspicuous place in a publicly visible area of the business establishment at the address shown on the certification. A copy of the certification may be carried by the contractor or his or her agent when performing work within the scope of his or her employment outside of the business establishment. A transient or nonresident shall carry the certification upon his person or in a vehicle used in the business, and the certification should be readily visible. A change of address must be reported to the Treasurer within 10 days after removal of the business to a new location and the certification will be valid at the new address upon written notification of the Treasurer. Failure to obtain the approval of the Treasurer for a change of address shall invalidate the certification. A contractor's certification shall not be transferable and any change of ownership in a contractor's business shall be considered a termination of the old business and the establishment of a new business for which a new contractor's certification may be obtained, subject to the other requirements of this article.
For nonpayment of all or any part of the correct certification fee, the Treasurer shall levy and collect a late penalty of 5% of the unpaid fee for each month or portion thereof after the due date until paid; provided, however, that the late penalty to be collected for any one year's delinquent fee shall not exceed 30% of the fee due for that year. Individuals listed on the application shall be jointly and severally liable for all fees and penalties associated with the contractor's business that is granted a certification. No new certification application shall be considered by the Treasurer until all past due fees and penalties owed by any applicant listed on the new application are paid in full.
The Treasurer may, but shall not be required to, mail written notices that certification fees are due, but if notices are not mailed there shall be published a notice of the due date in a newspaper of general circulation within the County three times prior to the due date in each year.
When the applicant makes the application on behalf of a person, or uses or employs a person who has ownership or financial interest in the business, or has decisional or management input, consultation, oversight or control of any portion of the business, and that person is engaging or has engaged in conduct or business practices that would have provided grounds for suspension or denial.
A decision of the Treasurer shall be subject to appeal to the Contractor's Certification Board as herein provided in § 223-14. Denial shall be written with reasons stated.
When the Treasurer determines that: (a) a license has been mistakenly or improperly issued or issued contrary to law; or (b) a licensee has breached any condition upon which his license was issued or has failed to comply with the provisions of this article; or (c) a licensee has obtained a license through a fraud, misrepresentation, a false or misleading statement, evasion or suppression of a material fact in the license application; or (d) a licensee has been convicted of an offense classified as crimen falsi by a Pennsylvania court of competent jurisdiction; or (e) a licensee has been adjudicated as engaging in nuisance activities by a Pennsylvania court of competent jurisdiction; or a (f) licensee has been the subject of multiple citations or adjudications for violations relating to state employee protection laws; or (g) a licensee has knowingly or had reason to know that he or she has utilized the services of undocumented workers; or (h) a licensee has engaged in a pattern of unfair or incompetent practices; the Treasurer shall determine whether the conditions potentially justify the revocation of the certification. Upon a finding that revocation is to be pursued, the Treasurer shall give written notice to the contractor or the person in control of the business within the County by mail that the certification is suspended pending a hearing before the Contractor's Certification Board for the purpose of determining whether the certification should be revoked. The notice shall state the time and place at which the hearing is to be held, which shall be within 30 days from the date of mailing the notice. The notice shall contain a brief statement of the reasons for suspension and proposed revocation and a copy of the applicable provisions of this article.
A Contractor's Certification Board is hereby created to review decisions of the Treasurer pertaining to certification suspension or denial of an application. The Board shall be comprised of seven members. One Board member shall be a member of a labor union operating within Allegheny County which represents individuals performing work typically associated with contractors as defined in § 223-2 of this article, two Board members shall be persons operating contractor businesses within Allegheny County, and one Board member shall be a member of the Association for the Advancement of Retired People (AARP); these members shall be appointed by County Council. Two of the remaining Board members shall be persons operating contractor businesses within Allegheny County and shall be appointed by the Chief Executive. The final member shall be the Allegheny County District Attorney or his or her designee. All appointees shall serve two-year terms on the Board, and all appointments shall be subject to confirmation by County Council. All appointments must be made within 30 days of the effective date of this article. The Board must meet at least monthly, with a first meeting scheduled no later than 60 days from the effective date of this article.
Any person aggrieved by a final assessment or a denial of a certification by the Treasurer may appeal the decision to the Business Certification Board by written request stating the reasons therefor filed with the Treasurer within 10 days after the notice of denial is received.
An appeal of a denial of an application or a hearing on a certification suspension shall be held by the Contractor's Certification Board within 30 days after receipt of a request for appeal or service of notice of suspension at a regular or special meeting of which the applicant or contractor holding the suspended certification has been given written notice. At such hearing all parties shall have the right to be represented by counsel, to present testimony and evidence and to crossexamine witnesses. The proceedings may be recorded and transcribed at the expense of the party so requesting. The Pennsylvania rules of evidence and civil procedure shall govern the hearing. The Contractor Certification Board shall by majority vote of members present render a written decision based on findings of fact and the application of the standards herein, which shall be served upon all parties or their representatives and shall be final unless appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction within 10 days after service.
For the purposes of appeals and hearings held under this section based in whole or in part upon the eligibility of individuals for employment by a contractor, the Board shall accept as proof of employment eligibility one document from List A herein, or one document from List B herein together with one document from List C herein. The documents must be originals, not copies. The only exception is that one may use a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Except in accordance with proper judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any official or employee to divulge or make known in any manner any particulars set forth or disclosed in any application required under this article. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the publication of statistics so classified as to prevent the identification of particular businesses.
The annual fee for the business certification available under this article shall be $100.
Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted as Ch. 271 but was redesignated to fit into the organizational structure of the Code.
The Office of the Treasurer of Allegheny County shall, with the assistance of the Division of Computer Services, create and maintain an Allegheny County contractor Web site. This Web site shall, at a minimum, incorporate search capabilities, contractor contact information, and descriptions of contractors' business, to the extent that this information is forwarded to the Office of the Treasurer of Allegheny County by the County's various contractors.
Access to the Allegheny County contractor Web site shall be granted to all individuals at no cost to the user. Fees for participation by contractors may be established by the Office of the Treasurer of Allegheny County, but in no event shall such fees exceed $25 for listing or updating information.
Every business, however incorporated, or individual who wishes to present himself to the public as a contractor or subcontractor engaged in or intending to operate, have offices in, or provide services within Allegheny County shall be eligible to participate in the Allegheny County contractor Web site, as established by this article. No business or individual shall be compelled to participate in such Web site, nor shall any penalty be levied against any business or individual who elects not to participate.
A description of the type of work that the contractor performs that shall not exceed 10 words in length.
Submissions shall be provided by contractors in a form prescribed by the Office of the Treasurer of Allegheny County.
The Allegheny County contractor Web site shall have searching capabilities which shall include the ability to search for a contractor by name, address, ZIP code, or telephone exchange.
Any information contained on the Allegheny County contractor Web site shall be changed at the request of the owner or operator of the business or of the individual to whom it pertains, subject to the fee provisions contained within § 223-18.
The provisions of this article shall not grant any individual, group of individuals, organization, entity or any other person any right to bring any action in or before a court, administrative agency or board or any similar body premised upon participation or nonparticipation in the Allegheny County contractor Web site by a business or individual.

References: § 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223

§ 223
 § 223
 § 223
 § 223
 § 223
 § 223