PORTAGE | The City Council this week approved amendments to three ordinances that could affect the way contractors work in the city.

The changes are:

- New language that makes it unlawful for any person or entity to contract or subcontract work to any other person or entity that is not a licensed contractor or subcontractor in the city. It also makes a person, entity or contractor liable for any subcontractor's lack of license in the city. Contractors and subcontractors also are responsible for ensuring that all employees carry proper identifications.

- New language that expands the list of reasons why a contractor or subcontractor can have his license temporarily suspended or permanently revoked to include the failure to pay employees or subcontractors without legal justification.

- An increase in the amount of insurance a company must have when applying for a license to the city's building commissioner. The amount was increased from $250,000 to $1 million in bodily injury insurance.

Mayor Olga Velazquez said the first two amendments are direct results of work of the city's Board of Licensing. The board has been working to review city code pertaining to contractor licensing. She added that the language expanding the reasons for suspension or revocation of a license was also the result of a complaint filed by a resident against a local contractor earlier this year.