Do Not Trust The Guardians Of Public Trust – Part 1.
The City of Stuart Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation Program.
Project Manager and Director of Construction – Antonio Jenkins of Guardian Community Resource Management, Inc. (a company contracted by the City of Stuart)
Contractor: Patriot Response Group, LLC ( one of two bidders reviewed, brought in, and supervised by Guardian CRM, Inc.)
On December 19, 2023, we approved the bid by Patriot Response Group. Per our inquiry on the contractors, Guardian CRM, Inc. stated they have good records, working with Patriot Response Group on many CDBG HR projects.
The scope of work on the roof includes “The ridge vent system…” and “The entire NEW ROOF SYSTEM shall conform to building code…” The paperwork also states that the bid estimates must be based on the work write-up provided by the City.
Under the management and supervision of Guardian CRM, Inc, the contractor Patriot Response Group was also responsible for all applications, plans, drawings, product approval, etc.
On May 22, 2024, the contractor Patriot Response Group proceeded with the deck replacement, hurricane ties installation, and Polystick waterproofing underlayment installation. The City of Stuart Building Department passed “Dry-in” Inspection on May 23, 2024.
On June 12, 2024, the deck replacement and waterproofing underlayment installation failed, resulting in the roof’s multiple leaks. The underlayment wrinkled and the seams were lifted.
We don’t know if the roof sheathing inspection before dry-in inspection was performed by the City of Stuart Building Department, or was it included in the “dry-in” inspection recorded in the Required Inspection Notes on the building permit (Florida Building Code 110.3 Required inspections). The contractor Patriot Response Group submitted a dubious “Reroof Sheathing Affidavit. We, the homeowners, were taking photographs and videos on May 22, 2024, and we never met or saw James Foster, Executive Vice President of Patriot Response Group on our property, moreover, on the roof. The affidavit is notarized by Vance Olvey, the authorized representative of the contractor to sign the contracts, “changes orders,” and who is also the brother of the Patriot Response Group, LLC owner. Very convenient. So, it looks like the Stuart Building Department relied on that affidavit when they passed “dry-in” on May 22, 2024.
The contractor left the damaged deck boards and holes, and covered them with the Polystick roof underlayment.
According to Polyglass U.S.A., Inc., Polystick manufacturer, : “Unless the substrate surface is flat, voids may occur which will be hard to seal and may not render a permanent, waterproof roof. It is the installer’s responsibility to ensure that substrate conditions permit a wrinkle and void-free installation. Any voids occurring may have to be sealed with a heat gun or other suitable mastic. If full roof coverage application is desired, proper venting of the structure is recommended. Consult a design professional for proper venting requirements. Applications involving non ventilated attics or sheathing with radiant barriers, an anchor sheet is recommended to allow venting and prevent the creation of a double vapor barrier
condition.
Our roof ridge vent has been sealed with the Polystick underlayment since May 22, 2024. We suffered from the heat and smell due to the lack of roof ventilation. The roof underlayment was off-gassing, releasing the chemicals for several days. On June 12, 2024 (10:17AM), via group messages, we reported the roof leaks to the contractor and the Project Manager/Director of Construction Antonio Jenkins of Guardian, CRM, Inc.
On June 13, 2024, in late afternoon, the contractor stopped by and told us they knew nothing about the roof leaks, the building department passed a “dry-in” inspection, and the contractor was going to install metal over failed deck replacement and underlayment installation, and it would stop the leaks.
On June 14, 2024, we sent a message to Mr. Jenkins of Guardian CRM, Inc, expressing our concern with the contractor, and we shared a negative review on Patriot Response Group left by Lisa Bergeron, a disabled 60 y.o. woman from Fort Pierce on buildzoom.com. Mr. Jenkins responded he couldn’t comment on Fema projects, and again assured us he did a lot of projects with Patriot Response Group. On June 14, 2024, we also let Mr. Jenkins know that the Patriot Response Group installed hurricane ties incorrectly.
On June 20, 2024 (5:58PM), the contractor Patriot Response Group left a voice message that on June 21, 2024, in the morning, they were going to install the metal roof . At 5:59, we called the contractor back and mentioned the roof leaks we reported previously. The contractor again stated they didn’t know anything about the failed Polystick installation, and the Stuart Department already passed the Polystick installation that took place on May 22, 2024. On June 20, 2024 (6:11PM) , we messaged Mr. Jenkins that Patrick Jordan of Patriot Response Group wasn’t aware of any roof leaks and missing hurricane clips we reported, and was insisting on installing the metal over the leaking roof on June 21st. We also mentioned to Mr. Jenkins “we are scared of these people, they talk over us,”and we do not trust them.” Mr. Jenkins messaged back that he spoke to everyone and confirmed the re-installation of the failed Polystick.
Through the so-called “change order,” the contractor and Guardian CRM, Inc. charged our CDBG HR account additional $2,500 for the second time deck replacement and the Polystick installation as the first one failed. We don’t know if these additional charges are for extra boards or if they also have included payments for the extra Polystick rolls and the same job the contractor performed on May 22, 2024. All we know, Patriot Response Group and Guardian CRM, Inc, called it “Change order #1 (100% complete-additional roof work needed to ensure roof safety and compliance).
Meanwhile the contract states:
6.11 The Contractor shall correct any work that fails to conform to the Contract Documents where such failure to conform appears during the progress of the work, and shall remedy any defects at Contractor’s expense due to faulty materials, equipment, or workmanship
There were many new materials left unused: boards and rolls of waterproofing underlayment.
Photos below: The Polystick that was installed on May 22, 2024 removed, the decking boards shows black underlayment sticky residue.
The photos below are a comparison. One photo was taken on May 22, 2024, and another photo was taken on June 21, 2024, and a close-up of the boards.
On June 21, 2024, the admin of Guardian CRM, Inc, the Project Manager, was marking the roof boards for replacement. Some boards with the black residue from the May 22, 2024 Polystick installation that failed on June 12, 2024, were in satisfactory condition, laying on the ground broken during the removal.
No inspection of the second roof sheathing replacement and dry-in was recorded in the Building Permit required inspections. The roof leaked again on July 22, 2024 due to the punctures in the underlayment. The “stepped-on” roofing cap nails were removed and the punctures were fixed the same day.
This is what Patriot Response Group left after the second deck replacement. Our attic is full of sawdust, black tar, broken boards, etc.
We didn’t see the roof ridge vent system among the delivered metal roofing materials, of course we were concerned. We contacted Antonio Jenkins of Guardian CRM, Inc. and after the contractor called. We were assured that the roof ridge vent system would be installed. The metal installation took place on June 28, 2024. The roofing crew said they never did the “standing seam installation.” They also were concerned that the metal wouldn’t lay flat because some boards were swollen.
The roof passed the final inspection without the roof ridge vent system being installed as it should be according to the City of Stuart CDBG scope of work, and as we mentioned above the roof sheathing and dry-in inspections weren’t recorded.
Below are the photos of our roof with the functioning roof ridge vent before the roof replacement by Patriot Response Group, that took place from May 22, 2024 to June 28, 2024. Over a month!
The contractor sealed the roof ridge vent that existed prior, and covered it with a strip of vent mesh from underneath in the attic to give an appearance of a “functioning” roof ridge vent system. Does it look like the contractor “faked” the roof ridge system instead of installing it?
After a meeting with the City of Stuart Building Department and inspection of our roof permit file (the file’s documents were also provided to us electronically by the Building Department), we found out that Patriot Response Group never provided the Building Department with the City of Stuart CDBG HR scope of work. The building permit application on the roof even didn’t mention the CDBG HR program scope of work. Instead, Patriot Response Group uploaded a dubious “price list” with the charges for removal and installation of the items we never even had on our roof. But even that “price list” had “the roof ridge vent system replacement.”
Building permit applications submitted to the authority electronically must contain the following additional statement in lieu of the requirement in paragraph (a) that a signed, sworn, and notarized signature of the owner or agent and the contractor be part of the owner’s affidavit: OWNER’S ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION STATEMENT: Under penalty of perjury, I declare that all the information contained in this building permit application is true and correct. (The 2024 Florida Statutes, Title XL, Chapter 713.135, (7)(b)1). We couldn’t locate any such affidavit.
The contractor did not state on the building permit BP-24-684 that the Mortgage Lender is Stuart City Council c/o CDBG Program. (The 2024 Florida Statutes, Title XL, Chapter 713.135 (7)(a))
The City of Stuart Building Department passed the final inspection of incomplete roof with a valuation of $19,090 based on the misleading building permit application by Patriot Response Group.
The Stuart Building Department, CRA Administration, City Manager, and Antonio Jenkins of Guardian Community Resource Management, Inc. were notified about the roof ridge vent system not being installed. We have requested to reopen the roof permit and reevaluate $19,090.
After our email on August 4th, 2024, when we notified Mr. Jenkins of Guardian CRM, Inc. that the roof ridge vent system wasn’t installed and moreover it was “faked” by the contractor, Mr. Jenkins, instead of resolving the issue with the fake roof ridge vent system and offering a solution, sent us an email on August 15th, 2024, reminding us of liens (or better to say threatening us with liens) if we don’t release the federal funds to pay Patriot Response Group. On August 26th, at the City CRA meeting, Mr. Jenkins again mentioned that the Building Department passed the final inspection on the roof. On September 3rd, knowing that the roof wasn’t complete, Mr. Jenkins again mentioned the full payment on the roof (and of course liens) via email sent by Mr. Gandhi-Savdas, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Executive Director. The City Manager, Mr. Mortell, who is also a Florida Bar member, stating in his profile “Government attorney,” after being notified of the fraud that happened under the City’s watch responds with: ” Essentially, the City of Stuart does not serve as the contractor or supervisor of the program. As you know, the City does not set the criteria to qualify for the grants and more importantly, the City does not select the program administrators or the contractors… the City can not be used to force the contractor or project manager to take a different course of action because the City has already done the inspections.”
Really?
“The City is providing housing assistance to owner-occupied households through the CDBG program in order to complete a HUD national objective through the revitalization of conditions in low to moderate income areas.” as it is stated on the City’s website. The City is the “Lender” of the entrusted by the State of Florida CDBG federal funds. The City is issuing the building permits. The City has hired Guardian CRM, Inc., etc.
The Position Summary of the City Manager:
Under general direction of the City Commission incumbent directs and coordinates all phases of the general municipal government. Work involves the supervision of activities related to the City in accordance with the policies determined by the City Commission, City Charter and applicable laws and ordinances.
The Examples of Essential Functions of the City Manager includes:
2. Administers and supervises through subordinate department heads all functions, including but not limited to, law enforcement, fire rescue, public works, utilities, community redevelopment, financial operations and budgets, community and recreational activities, information technology, human resources, legislative affairs, community development, city clerk, and other related functions.
11. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, supervision, and evaluation of the departments and units under incumbent’s direction. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the City’s policies and applicable law.
What happened to the City’s Mission and Values?
When the contractor and the project managing and supervising company try to extort the release of federal funds for incomplete and even for what it looks like a fraudulent work, what does it look like? False claims?
“A cherry on top” – the hurricane ties installation by Patriot Response Group
Before signing the bid, per our discussion of the scope of work on the roof, the Project Manager and Construction Director Antonio Jenkins of Guardian CRM, Inc. assured us that the hurricane ties would be installed.
We found later that the contractor did not even submit any proper documentation on the hurricane ties installation to the City of Stuart Building Department, and On May 22, 2024, the contractor installed the wrong hurricane ties and installed them incorrectly, as the hurricane ties manufacturer per inquiry of a wind mitigation inspector confirmed it. The contractor also inflicted damages to the connections between the rafters, ceiling joists, and wall plates by the incorrect installation of hurricane ties and chiseling of the ceiling joists’ ends during the deck replacement. On June 14, 2024, and on June 19, 2024, we mentioned to Mr. Jenkins, who presented himself as a “Director of Construction certified in the latest building standards and codes,” and who supervised the contractor Patriot Response Group, that the contractor installed the hurricane ties wrong, but Mr. Jenkins ignored it.
Later, on August 26, 2024, he kinda threatened us that it would hurt us badly if we mentioned the hurricane ties installation because it was done by the contractor outside the scope of work. In the first place, why was it done if it was outside of the scope of work, and why did Mr. Jenkins deliberately ignored our mentioning of hurricane ties in the messages we sent on June 14, 2024, and on June 19, 2024? Below are a few pictures of hurricane ties installation by Patriot Response Group.
Here we are left with the City of Stuart CDBG HR program “fake” roof ridge vent, and all the mess not just in the attic. It looks like some messy “wrong ties” have been installed in the City of Stuart, speaking metaphorically.
Emma Michael Kitching arrived in 1894
How and when Potsdam was changed to Stuart, Florida
Stuart’s First Newspaper
History of The First United Methodist Church In Stuart, Florida
The City of Stuart CDBG HR Program – The Windows
The City of Stuart CDBG HR Program- Correspondence with the City of Stuart
The City of Stuart CDBG HR Program – The Roof
The First Black Law Enforcement Officers in Stuart, Martin County, Florida
A Cheap Way To Live. How a Florida Man Saves Money and Grows Rich – 1894
Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge, Stuart, Martin County, Florida
Mornings on Main Street
