STATE COMMISSION OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS AND HOME INSPECTORS
BUSINESS MEETING
MINUTES
DATE: April 14, 2009
TIME: 10:30 a.m.
PLACE: 500 N. Calvert Street
2nd Floor Conference Room
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
PRESENT: Commissioner Steven McAdams, Chairperson
Commissioner George Fair
Commissioner JD Grewell
Commissioner Trevor Lee
Commissioner David Brauning
Commissioner Mary Ann Rush
Commissioner J. Otis Smith
Commissioner Nathaniel Hauser
Commissioner John Jordan
Commissioner Rhonda Framm
ABSENT: Commissioner David Hanson, Vice Chair
Commissioner Patrick Murphy
Commissioner Thomas Murphy
OTHERS PRESENT: Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General
Steven Smitson, Assistant Commissioner
Patricia Schott, Administrator
Call To Order
Commissioner McAdams, Chair, called the regular meeting of the Commission of Real Estate Appraisers and Home Inspectors to order at 10:55 a.m.
Introduction of Newly Appointed Member
Commissioner McAdams introduced newly appointed member, Nathanial Hauser, to the Commission. Mr. Hauser introduced himself to the members and advised that he was a certified general appraiser. The Commission members identified themselves and welcomed Mr. Hauser to the Commission.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the business meeting held on February 10, 2009 were approved as distributed. The minutes of the executive session held on February 10, 2009 were approved as distributed. Motion (I) was made by Commissioner Brauning and seconded by Commissioner Framm that the minutes of the business meeting be approved as distributed. This motion passed by a unanimous decision. Motion (II) was made by Commissioner Grewell and seconded by Commissioner Brauning that the minutes of the executive session be approved as distributed. This motion passed by a unanimous decision.
Education/Application Real Estate Appraiser Committee Report
Commissioner McAdams reported that the Appraiser Education/Application Committee met on this date and reviewed 20 courses, approved 18 and denied 2 courses. Motion (III) was made by Commissioner Brauning, seconded by Commissioner Lee, and unanimously carried that the Commission accept the recommendations of the Real Estate Appraisers Education Committee.
Real Estate Appraiser Complaint Committee Report
Commissioner Brauning reported to the Commission that the Complaint Committee met prior to the public meeting and reviewed many items of business, which had been placed before the Committee. The disposition of which was as follows:
Complaints - 48 cases were reviewed:
6 cases were closed;
2 cases were referred to Precharge Review;
0 cases were scheduled for informal hearings
40 cases were tabled, referred for investigation, or are
currently being reviewed by investigators
The Complaint Committee met prior to the public meeting in Executive Session, pursuant to State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, § 10-508 (a)(7), to receive the advice of counsel regarding the above-mentioned matters. Motion (IV) was made by Commissioner Brauning and seconded by Commissioner Lee that the Commission accept the report and recommendations of the Complaint Committee. This motion passed by a unanimous decision.
Home Inspector Complaint Committee
Commissioner Grewell reported to the Commission that the home inspector Complaint Committee met prior to the public meeting and reviewed three complaints; two were dismissed and one was scheduled for an informal hearing. Motion (V) was made by Commissioner Brauning, seconded by Commissioner Rush that the Commission accept the recommendations rendered by the Home Inspector complaint committee. This motion passed by a unanimous decision.
The Complaint Committee met prior to the public meeting in Executive Session, pursuant to State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, §10-508(a)(7), to receive advice of counsel regarding the above mentioned matters.
Home Inspector Application Committee
Commissioner Grewell reported to the Commission that the home inspector Application Committee met prior to the public meeting and held an informal meeting. Motion (VI) was made by Commissioner Brauning, seconded by Commissioner Framm that the Commission accept the recommendations rendered by the Home Inspector application committee. This motion passed by a unanimous decision.
New Business
Online Continuing Education
Administrator Schott reported that she has observed cases in which appraisers are reporting having completed excessive numbers of hours of online continuing education in a single day or within a few days. She cited three specific cases in which appraisers reported having completed more than thirty (30) hours and up to thirty six (36) hours of continuing education in a single day. She reported that all three similar cases involved individuals who completed their online course work from the same educational provider. She reported that she called the provider but was unsuccessful in receiving an explanation from the course provider.
Administrator Schott advised the members that they can consider promulgating a regulation that restricts the number of online courses that an individual can acquire; require that the course providers apply some technology in their online course delivery system that quantifies the amount of time the student spends in a course; restrict the number of hours that an appraiser may acquire in a single day; and/or rescind the course approval from the subject course provider.
Motion (VII) was made by Commissioner Brauning, seconded by Commissioner Fair and unanimously carried that Administrator Schott contact the course provider and request an explanation as to how their students are able to acquire more than 24 hours of credit in one day, and what remedy they are willing to implement to correct the problem.
Board Manual
Administrator Schott reported that Deputy Commissioner, Harry Loleas, was not available to conduct the Board Manual training and that it would be re-scheduled for the Commission’s June 2009 meeting.
Legislative Update
Assistant Commissioner Steven Smitson advised the members to consider by the next meeting, any legislation that they might want to present to the Department for consideration in the 2010 General Assembly.
Executive Session
Motion (VIII) was made by Commissioner Brauning, seconded by Commissioner Lee and unanimously carried that the State Commission of Real Estate Appraisers and Home Inspectors go into executive session at 11:20 a.m., in the 2nd floor conference room, 500 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The purpose of the meeting was to receive advice of counsel. The meeting was permitted to be closed pursuant to State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, § 10-508(7).
The Commission reconvened its regular meeting at 11:50 a.m. Motion (IX) was made by Commissioner Grewell, seconded by Commissioner Brauning, and unanimously carried that the Commission accept the decisions rendered in Executive Session.
Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss Motion (X) was made by Commissioner Grewell, seconded by Commissioner Brauning and unanimously carried that the meeting adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
_____ Approved without corrections
_____ Approved with corrections
______
Steven McAdams, Chairperson Date
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMISSION WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009, AT 10:30 A.M. IN THE 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM AT 500 N. CALVERT STREET, BALTIMORE, MD 21202.
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