Punta Gorda Building Board suspended a roofing contractor’s license after hearing testimony from a resident who paid the firm nearly $130,000 for work that wasn’t completed.
Edward David Arasimowicz, who is the license holder of MTS Construction Inc., was found guilty Jan. 23 on three counts of failing to obtain permits, proceeding to conduct work without obtaining the applicable local building department inspections and committing mismanagement or misconduct, causing financial harm to a customer.
The board voted unanimously to suspend Arasimowicz’s license after hearing testimony and reviewing documents provided by the plaintiff, Punta Gorda Isles resident Norman Cardinale, who is a general contractor.
Arasimowicz, who was sent a certified letter informing him of the hearing, did not appear. The suspension will be in effect until he attends a board meeting to give his side of the story, the board decided.
Following the meeting, Cardinale said Arasimowicz “didn’t get punished.”
He said Arasimowicz holds numerous licenses, including several for general contracting, electrical, plumbing and roofing. If one license is suspended, Arasimowicz could do work under one of the other licenses, Cardinale said.
Cardinale outlined the many months of frustration in dealing with MTS Construction, beginning when he signed a contract Oct. 22, 2022, for a metal roof that would cost $181,200. Cardinale paid his deposit of $59,796 four days later.
Cardinale provided copies of the checks he wrote to the company, plus other paperwork, which the board entered into evidence.
He said in addition to ordering a metal roof, he also paid for plywood that would be replaced under the underlayment.
After seven months, an MTS Construction crew showed up on May 2, 2023, and the manager told Cardinale $69,696 was due to place orders.
Cardinale wrote another check for that amount and waited. He said the company told him there was a supply shortage.
Suspicious, Cardinale, whose own firm, Norman Alexander, does business with various suppliers, called two of them and was told there was plenty of metal roofing material and that once he paid, it could be delivered in about three weeks.
Cardinale said the firm which MTS allegedly paid for his roofing material, never received the money.
Confronting an MTS Construction principal, Cardinale said he was asked to “give him part of the third payment.”
Refusing, Cardinale said he would pay for the materials directly and for the company to return and finish the job. But they never did return, he said.
He also went to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Fort Myers where a representative was unable to communicate with MTS Construction.
Cardinale admitted he can afford the financial loss, but most people cannot.
He told the Building Board, “I need your help not only to protect the residents of Punta Gorda, but the contractors.”
A check with the Better Business website shows there were 19 complaints against MTS Construction closed in the last three years, and 19 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
Attempts to reach MTS Construction were unsuccessful. The MTS Construction website says it is closed and when called, a recording says the number is no longer in service.
