By Cheryl Higley
Editor, Snow Business Magazine
Winter is fast approaching, so snow contractors should be in preseason prep mode. If you’re a contractor that operates within the city of Buffalo, NY, that means making sure your license is up to date.
Hammered by tremendous snowfalls last year, Buffalo officials were bombarded by citizen complaints regarding snow plow contractors who failed to abide by their contracts—especially after a December storm dumped 40 inches on parts of south Buffalo.
“Each year my office would receive complaints from residents about unscrupulous contractors that have been paid large up-front fees to provide services for the winter season, only to fail to complete the promised work and not be heard from again,” explains South Councilman Michael Kearns, who co-sponsored the licensing legislation with Majority Leader Richard Fontana.
While a licensing requirement was already on the books, city officials (and Buffalo contractors) admit it didn’t carry much weight and was difficult to enforce. The city says it will be taking a harder stance this winter.
According to Patrick Sole Jr., director of permit and inspection services for the city of Buffalo, to get licensed, companies must:
- Complete an application and pay a $50 fee
- Submit photo ID
- Submit proof of registration and insurance for all vehicles used in the business
- Submit worker’s compensation or a worker’s compensation exemption certificate
- Submit a criminal background record check.
Once approved, contractors must affix a windshield decal to all insured vehicles, which will help police and the license inspectors more easily identify licensed contractors. Contractors operating without a license are subject to a $75 fine and Housing Court action can be taken.
In addition to requiring companies to purchase licenses, the legislation required creation of a snow registry that citizens can check online to confirm whether the snow contractor they are considering hiring is licensed. The list will be forwarded to the city council to help residents who may call with questions.
“We are hopeful that this will help better educate the public to only hire licensed contractors,” Kearns says.
Jim Hornung Jr., CSP, president of Elbers Landscape in Buffalo, says all good intentions aside, he is skeptical that the tighter regulation will have much of an impact—simply because it’s targeting the wrong people.
“The people who are fleecing these customers were not licensed contractors. They were carpet baggers trying to capitalize on the storm,” Hornung says. “About 120 contractors have a snow permit—I’ve bid against 400. The people this is targeting are not going to get licensed.”
That said, if the city is going to enforce the law, Hornung is all for it: “I would welcome the enforcement. We bid against these people. I’m all for competition as long as it’s fair competition.”
What do you think? Will the new law have an impact? Does your city have a licensing/certification requirement?
