The State - News from Jan. 26, 1986

State licensing investigators accused former Monterey area contractor Dennis Frye of merely gluing sprinkler heads to the ceiling of a school chapel instead of connecting them to water pipes. Larry McNeely, supervising investigator for the state Contractors Licensing Board, said Frye was the area’s largest fire sprinkler contractor before he sold his business and moved to the Sacramento area in 1984. He had installed nearly 70% of all such systems in and around Monterey during the late 1970s and early ‘80s, McNeely said. The investigators said other Frye customers are being warned to check their systems to see that they are properly connected. Frye faces a hearing Tuesday that could result in loss of his license, and has been ordered to pay $450,000 to the City of Monterey.