January SCECA General Meeting

1/16/25

S.C.E.C.A. General Membership Meeting Minutes

There were approximately 30 members in attendance.  Those Officers and Board of Directors present were:  Rob Tschoke, Tom Orlando, David Kennedy, Joe Mikulas, Mahesh Panchal, Mark Parris, John Ricciardi, Rob Szalay and Michael Towers.

Excused: Ralph Lambiase and Jack Morrell.

Called to Order:  7:10 p.m.

Rob Tschoke led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 11/21/24 was made by Tom Orlando and seconded by Michael Towers.  There was no meeting in December; we had the holiday party.

**President’s Report:

Rob T. asked if everyone received “The Light” and read his President’s Report.  He is working on SCECA East meeting.  There is one next week.  He is working on meeting with Consumer Affairs James Andrews for the protection of our license.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Treasurer’s Report:  Tom Orlando

Tom O. reported for November and December since we did not have a general meeting in December.  For the month ending November 2024, the income was $3,184.80 and the expenses were $15,190.15.  For the month ending December 2024, the income was $3,390.60 and the expenses were $6,626.48.  We are in good shape.  Everything is running nicely and smoothly.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Michael Towers and seconded by John Ricciardi.

 Secretary’s Report:  David Kennedy

Dave reported he will be reading the changes in the Constitution and By-Laws.  There is nothing else to report.  A motion to accept the Secretary’s Report was made by Mark Parris and seconded by Steve Danielson.

Legal Counsel:  Michael Ganz

Rob T. said part of our membership benefit is having Mike Ganz.  He is very helpful.  If you have any questions on contracts and collecting money, give Mike a call.  Mike Ganz said his law firm is in Woodbury.  He usually puts an article in the newsletter every other month on the construction industry and does a presentation once or twice a year.  He will make topics practical and talk about the difference between arbitration and litigation.  Today, he  has a case in Brooklyn dating back to 2018 regarding roofing.  He represents the defendant.  The plaintiff was seeking $375,000 and now $425,000.  The trial is at least a year away.  Lawsuits can take a long time.  He is also an arbitrator.  If you have a small case between $50,000 – $100,000 arbitration is a faster track – 45 days is better than waiting 3 to 5 years.  You may consider putting arbitration in your contracts; you can call him to talk about it.  His name and contact information are in “The Light.”  He usually gets back to you in a day when you call.

Insurance: Patti Muldoon from Borg & Borg,

Patti reported the market is the same and it does not look like it will get any better any time soon.  Keith Budka asked if other parts of the country will have to bail out the insurance companies from the L.A. fires.  Patti answered yes, it will affect everybody.

 PROGRAMS:

 Victor Zayas, Retirement Planning Specialist & Financial Educator and Monica Ziefek, Retirement Planning Specialist & Financial Educator from The Retirement Center announced they are running a 3-day free workshop in conjunction with the  Knights of Columbus in Lindenhurst on strategies to coordinate Social Security Benefits, minimize taxation and maximize Social Security Income.  They are having 3 classes:  1/29 at  11 am or 6:30 pm; 1/30 at 11 am or 6:30 pm and 2/8 at 11 am.  It is a 2-hour session.  Register by phone 1-800-955-0904 or online myrsvp.biz/?id=263417 to reserve a seat.  Also, if you are looking to sell your business and avoid capital gains taxes, come to our office at 125A S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst.

Doug Cahill from PSEG-LI on Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebates – Doug said there are no major changes to the program.  Variable hoods for restaurants are rebate able.  There is a big push on air source heat pumps.  They want to move to electric heating particularly on the residential side.  A lot less plumbing involved in it and more electric.  They want to be off carbon fuels.  Another big push is on multi-families and a big push NENY (New Efficiency New York) They feel that lighting has been saturated in the market.  Most should have converted to LEDs.  The rebates for lighting will be going away on 12/1/2025.  In 2026 any building below 7 stories, new construction has to be electric heat.  Any building under 100,000 square feet new construction has to be electric heat.  This is commercial.

Billy Thea from UL Supplies.  Rob T. commented that Billy paid for all the drinks at our Christmas party.  The party was packed and the food was amazing.  N&S paid for the food.  Billy introduced John Glass, salesman for Suffolk County for UI Supplies.  John is a lighting professional.  UI Supplies is an asset and partner to SCECA.  Billy urged everyone to come down and redeem the certificates he gave out at the party.

Michael Towers from Long Island Emergency Power left flyers on the tables on Generac transfer switch and load centers.  He brought attention to this product.  It incorporates transfer switches and load centers together so you install one product.  They offer a 100 amp with 24 space and 40 circuit or 200 amp  42 space that can tandem up to 60 circuits.  The only negative side is the top end does not have a lot of room for wiring to come down.  These are in stock and are good products.  It is similar to a Murry panel.  It is only compatible with Generac.  It saves you putting in two devices.  You can come in the side of the panel as well.  If you lay it out properly, it will work for you.  They do have products for battery storage.  He is not familiar with it but is doing a training on it and will have all that information next month.

 By-Laws & Nominating:  Ralph Lambiase

Ralph was not present.  Dave read the changes to the By-laws and Constitution.  Article 4 Section 3 – For an Active Member to be considered for the position of President, he/she must have served as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for at least Two (2) years and must have been an Active Member for Two (2) consecutive years prior to serving as an Officer or the Board of Directors.  Section 4 – – For an Active Member to be considered for the position of Treasurer, he/she must have served as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for at least Two (2) years and must have been an Active Member for Two (2) consecutive years prior to serving as an Officer or the Board of Directors.  Added Section 7 A. Member of the Board (to clarify) For an Active Contractor Member to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors, he/she must have been an Active Member for at least the last two (2) consecutive years prior to being nominated for the Board.  Added Section 8.  A. If the position of Secretary should become vacant for any reason, the Treasurer shall replace him/her for the duration of the term until a new slate of officers is voted in.  B. The same shall occur if the position of Treasurer should become vacant.  Also, we originally changed some dates but we are going back to the original dates.  Once approved we will reprint the Constitution and By-laws.  Mike Towers said these changes are in the newsletter.

Education/Seminars:  Rob Szalay, Mahesh Panchal, Ralph Lambiase

We have a 2/22 CEH class.  One sign up so far.

Electrical Safety:  Robert Tschoke, Ralph Lambiase

Ralph was not present.  Rob T. reported Seaman’s came out with a Twin Arc Fault and Plug on Neutral Breakers.  We have been waiting for that.  Siemens new Tandem AFCI circuit technology feeds two separate circuits from one breaker position. Twin AFCI circuit technology fits in new or existing construction and saves space in a load Centre. Available in Pig Tail or Plug on Neutral versions.  Tom O. heard it was $154.  Rob T. said remember you are getting two.  But his only concern is we do not know if we will have nuisance tripping yet.  We will see how it goes.

John Cangemi said regarding car chargers a question came up when someone uses Romex cable, the problem ends up being when he looks at the wire size and temperature rating on the ampacity chart, he uses the temperature rating of the conductors which has to be 90 degrees C.  That is what is says in Article 334.  You are limited as a cable even though the individual conductors are going to be rated 90 degrees C, you are limited as a cable to the 60 degree C ampacity.  So now you have to upsize the cable you are using because you are in the 60-degree C.  Some Tesla units go with 48 amps but you could not use them.  So that did not work.  Once you exceed the 50-amp rating of the charger you have to go to hard wire.  If you use Romex you have to remember you have to rate it at 60 degrees C.  Now with the hurricanes, he would get a lot of calls because he used to work for UL.  He was asked if you can use UF when rewiring the basement and he said yes you can.  Typically, you use 75 degree C ampacity table.  However, if you use UF as a substitute for Romex, it has to be sized according to 60 degrees C ampacity.  One other restriction, UF, can also come in single conductors.  Cannot use that as a substitute for Romex.  The 3 things you have to have with UF: 1) Multi-conductor cable, 2) 90-degrees C insulated conductors and 3) use 60-degrees C ampacity table.  Those are the 3 things you have to meet.  Mike Towers said the reason why we are required to use the 60-degree table is because Romex is usually in walls with insulation and there is a lot more heat.  John said that is part of it and also a lot of Romex is used in areas with a lot of overlapping.  Keith Budka thought we cannot use #6 Romex.  Mahesh said he was wrong using #6 Romex, it’s only good for 55 amps; he should use #4 wire for 60 amp.  A discussion ensued.  Jim Smith said if you are running cables in the wall, you will have restrictions.  Jim found in Article 320.80 ampacity – Thermal Insulation for Keith, – cables installed in thermal insulation will have conductors rated at 90 C, the ampacity of the cable shall not exceed the 60 C column.  Jim asked if anyone has heard of lighting trespass.  In the Town of Riverhead, they have something called lighting trespass.  He had a buddy that built a detached garage and he put lighting in the gable.  Code enforcement officials showed up and said his lighting cannot extend more than 14 feet.  So those lights have to be disconnected.   And they said his lighting is trespassing on his neighbor’s property.  Whatever the distance is from your building to the property line, take a third of that and add 3 feet.  So, if you are 21 feet from your property line divide that by 3.  Your lighting cannot extend more than 10 feet from your building.  There is a fine.  They are enforcing this in Riverhead.

Jim Smith said he and John give the CEH classes based on the 2017 code and what often comes up is there is a section in the code that talks about torquing.  UL Labs did testing on connections and they found the connections tested were 80% too tight and 60% were not tight enough.  If an arc fault trips, it may be for that reason.  Article 110.14D now says calibrated torque tools shall be used to achieve indicated torque value.  You have to keep your torque tool calibrated and with you on the job.  If you have a fire, they have forensic investigators that will test your torque and you will be libel for that fire if it was not done correctly.  This code has been in effect for 5 years.  Rob T. commented he had a fire at one of his properties 10/15 years ago.  He did all the electrical work to code.  Brookhaven Town fire Marshall came in and diagnosed where the fire started – it turned out the tenet had a bakers rack that sat on the cord of a CD player boom box.  That caused it but the fire.  The fire Marshall and the insurance agent both checked the outlet and gauge of the wire and confirmed it was on the proper amperage.  A discussion ensued.

Joe reported he heard a construction worker fell from a 20-foot ladder and was airlifted to a hospital.  He has no other details.  Just be careful.

 Entertainment:  Dave Kennedy, Scott Eastman, Mahesh Panchal

Dave reported Mahesh was looking for a place to have our installation dinner but has not found anything so Dave will look into the Irish Coffee Pub where we had Lucky Louie.  Costs have skyrocketed.  The cost should be less because we won’t have the gambling tables.  He will try to keep it simple.  Rob T. added that the NEL dinner/dance is amazing and they bring their wives.  It was about $120.  For SCECA he would like to do this also.  We should be able to buy tables for our employees.  Please consider it when it does come up – buy a bunch of seats.  Monica from The Retirement Center said 21 For Fun casino party rental brings in tables to anywhere you want and run the games for you and they are inexpensive.  She will give Mahesh their card.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe reported Michael Towers is a grandfather.  Rob T. reported that one of the inspectors is struggling – Larry Fiorella.  His mother passed away.

Inspection Agencies: 

 Certified Electrical Inspectors: #896-A   Rob Ceriello was present.

East End Inspection Agency:  #1193-A Ed Seltenreich was not present.

EII: NYBFU:  #1109-A Philip Goehring and Rich Jendzo were not present.

Suffolk Bureau of Electrical Insp.: #856-A Gene Surdi was not present.

Southampton Town:  Ron Linsalato was not present.

Alliance Electrical Inspect.  Ltd.: Michael Dumitru was not present.

Licensing: Michael Towers, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Mike T. had nothing to report.

 PSEG Representatives:  Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Doug Cahill said Rich Inserra and Tom DiBella could not make this meeting.  They will have something prepared for next month.  They are working on the Redbook.  Rob T. said if you see something that needs to be added to the Redbook, speak up.  Send us an email to forward to them.

 Membership/Plaques & Awards, Skills USA:  Robert Tschoke, Jack Morrell

Rob T. reported he is working on SCECA East meetings.  The next meeting is Wednesday, 1/22 at Revco in Southampton.  Revco is hosting it.  This is not a replacement for our meetings.  Food will be served.  It starts at 5:30 pm.  PSEG will be there.  They are having a training seminar on Floor Heat & Ice Melt.  Martin Bolger from Danfoss will be presenting.  It will be a good training.  Ed Seltenreich of East End Inspection Agency will discuss floor heat and ice melt code compliance.  Ed will also give an update on NYS 2020/2023 code adoption. Rob T. plans on attending all our CEH classes to increase membership.  Membership is up with SCECA.

2 new members:  #1269-A Thomas Mastrianni of Extreme AV in Smithtown and #1270-A Shawn Fitzgerald of Sound Harbor Insurance and 1 former member:  #980-C Paul Caron of All Pro Electric Corp. in Bay Shore were not in attendance.

 Nassau Electric League:  Mahesh Panchal, Ralph Lambiase, Tom Orlando

 Tom Walsh reported nothing much is new.  Maybe we can get started on the Expo.  Dan Sherry added that the Townships in Nassau County are going after unlicensed guys.

IAEI: (Independent Alliance for the Electrical Industry) Mahesh Panchal, Ralph Lambiase, Tom Orlando

Rob C. said the IAEI is over 100 years old.  They had 2 chapters, one was the Peconic division run by Jim Smith up until 2018.  Jim moved on so we closed that division.  We have the Long Island Chapter, which was in Hicksville, then moved to Melville at PSEG.  During Covid a lot of emails and membership logs were lost so we had to restart.  We went from 137 members to 37.  Most of our members are in their 70s or 80s.  We are doing a membership drive by coming to these meetings and posting applications at the supply houses.  John Cangemi and Jim Smith contribute.  We need younger people to join.  We have 7 meetings a year and you can meet with inspectors.  You do not have to make every meeting.  Membership is the blood of the organization and costs $120 a year.  It will be going up in March to $150 a year.  The membership gives you the IAEI magazine, 20% discount on code books and courses.  They try to have programs at the meetings.  The meetings are on the 1^st Wednesday of the month at Allen Park community building on 45 Motor Ave. in Farmingdale.  He will leave applications with Mahesh.  They will have Neil Slattery talk about service for pools next and are trying to get a Tesla program in April.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)

Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Nothing to report.

Newsletter: Joe thanked those that have contributed to the newsletter, most recently – Michael Ganz and Jim Smith.

 Energy Expo:  Rob Szalay, Jack Morrell, Dave Kennedy

 Rob S. reported we will start planning it.

Legislative Review:  Jack Morrell

Jack was not present.  Nothing to report.

Old Business: 

Nothing to report.

 New Business:

Nothing to report.

 Raffles:            

2 – $94 cash prizes were won by Mark Parris who donated it to the TPSF and Brian Kosin.

1 – $100 cash prize was won by Tom Walsh who donated it to the TPSF.

$100 attendance award was drawn for John Dahlem (#1043) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Michael Towers.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:   

                                                                                                2/5/2025

Barbara George                                                                      Dave Kennedy

Recording Secretary                                                             Secretary