Question: I have received an unhappy decision...

Question: I have received an unhappy decision from the Contractors State License Board regarding a problem I had with a contractor. I understand that the board holds public meetings every few months, and that it is possible for the public to speak before it. Can you give me any information about this?

Answer: The board meets about every 60 days at various locations in California. The next meeting will be in Long Beach, on the Queen Mary in the Brittania Room, on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. One of the first items on the agenda will be public comment, so if you wish to state your case, I suggest you be there at that time. The meeting will continue the following day at 9 a.m.

I suggest that you come prepared. Bring at least 10 copies, if not 15, of all the materials that you plan to submit, so that all the board members may have a chance to review the matter.

The meetings are usually lengthy and, frankly, quite boring, but there are many industry persons who attend, so the meetings cover items that do affect the industry.

For instance, the Enforcement Committee will discuss the underground economy, the proposed approval of a new brochure regarding the dangers of hiring an unlicensed contractor, a proposal to add a buyer disclosure statement to home- improvement contracts and a proposal to revise non-licensee citation civil penalty collection procedures.