DENVER—An engineer who worked on troubled school-construction sites across Colorado has had his license suspended pending a state review.
The state Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors took the action against former Neenan Co. employee Gary Howell Tuesday, according to The Denver Post ( ).
The state board cited public safety concerns. Neenan Co. and Howell have been linked to construction problems at schools including Meeker Elementary School, which closed a year after it opened because of construction flaws.
The newspaper also reported that the board planned to subpoena Howell and Neenan seeking documents related to the Meeker project.
Neenan fired Howell last month, on the same day a state agency launched an inquiry into the construction problems.
Howell’s suspension was believed to be only the second time in 17 years that the board has suspended an engineer’s license.
“It was appropriate for the board to take action on this sooner rather than later,” said chairman William “Bud” Starker of Starker Construction in Wheat Ridge.
Howell’s lawyer, Bryan Kuhn, said Howell wasn’t informed of the accusations or allowed to respond.
“How can that be due process?” Kuhn asked.
A representative for Fort Collins-based Neenan did not immediately respond to the paper’s request for comment.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
