Eco Life Home Improvements owner Dave Murray is headed to the city's hearing committee June 5 in an attempt to get his business license restored, but a staff report on his case strongly recommends against allowing him to operate again.
The city revoked his license in April following an investigation into numerous complaints about Eco Life's business practices. Many clients have complained they paid in advance for home renovations that were never completed, and some have won civil suits against him.
"A thorough investigation has found the company in contravention of the licensing agreement and so we have revoked their business license,” the city said at the time.
“Due to the nature of the many complaints received by the public, the case has been referred to the Greater Sudbury Police Service."
Murray told Sudbury.com that he's trying to finish contracts for clients, even as some of them take him to court. He said revoking his license and being investigated by police are preventing him from completing work on many contracts.
"It seems like they're trying to force me to close down," Murray said April 26. "I'm doing everything possible — there might be other avenues I can take by hiring other companies to finish the jobs for us, that's been brought to the table. I want to do right by my clients, but it feels like there's barriers they're putting up against me."
But a report (https://agendasonline.greatersudbury.ca/index.cfm?pg=feed&action=file&agenda=report&itemid=4&id=1382 ) headed to the hearing committee June 5 said city staff have had several problems with Murray dating back a few years, including repeated problems keeping his license renewed.
“It has been documented that the appellant has been difficult with staff during these interactions and issues with behaviour have been escalated to management,” the report said.
While management had been “able to correct issues with lateness and professionalism in order to ensure compliance with the licensing bylaw,” the report says the city received several complaints beginning in December 2018.
After an investigation raised serious question about his business practices, the city sent him a registered letter to tell him his license was being revoked. When the letter was unclaimed at the post office, a notice was hand-delivered to him.
Greater Sudbury Police charged Murray with fraud in April and he faces still more civil lawsuits. The report said there are another 11 complaints filed about Murray, the details of which are included in the report. And many of his former customers may be at the June 5 meeting.
“All of the complainants were invited to attend this meeting and can speak to their complaints,” the report said.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Tom Davies Square.
