March SCECA General Meeting

3/20/25

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, Mahesh Panchal, Tom Orlando, David Kennedy, Jack Morrell, John Ricciardi, Rob Szalay and Michael Towers.

Excused: Ralph Lambiase, Joe Mikulas and Mark Parris.

 Called to Order: 7:10 p.m.

Rob Tschoke led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 2/20/25 was made by Jason Goetz and seconded by John Ricciardi.

**President’s Report:

Rob T. reported you can read his President’s report in the “Light.”

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Treasurer’s Report: Tom Orlando

Tom O. reported for the month ending February 2025, the income was $1,47.00 and the expenses were $4,42228.  Billing for dues is going out July 1^st.  One-year Contractor dues $225, Two-year dues $400, Associate member dues $195.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Jack Morrell and seconded by Rob Szalay.

 Secretary’s Report: David Kennedy

Dave reported the Revco trade show is next Wednesday, 3/26 from 12 pm to 8 pm at the Atlantis Aquarium in Riverhead.  Register online at Revco.  A motion to accept the Secretary’s Report was made by John Ricciardi and seconded by Tom Thomas.

Legal Counsel: Michael Ganz

Mike was not present.

 Insurance: Patti Muldoon from Borg & Borg,

Patti had nothing to report.

 Rob S. reported Turtle + is having a grand opening event in their Commack location at 59 Mall Drive: from 12:00 to 6 pm.  There will be raffles, sandwiches, ice cream, food truck and beer and wine.  Rob T. encouraged members to go there and support them.  There will be 40 vendors there with new products.  RSVP to Turtle.  Also, attend Revco trade show and show your support.

PROGRAM(S): Martin Bolger of Danfoss presenting Electric Radiant Cables.  He went over 1) Electric floor heating – features on using mats or cables (never cut the red wire), thermostats and modules.  2) Ice and snow melting. 3) Roof gutter deicing. 4) Pipe freeze protection.  The parts have a 20-year warranty.   Use continuity tester for radiant flooring so you know the cable is intact.  Their lead time is 1 to 2 days for in-stock items and 1 to 2 weeks for out-of-stock items.  They do quotes for you and walk you through it.    A question-and-answer session followed.

 By-Laws & Nominating: Ralph Lambiase

Jack reported we will propose some new by-laws and changes.  The floor is still open for nominations.  They will be open until April.  The slate right now looks like:  Rob Szalay – President, Mahesh Panchal – Vice President, Tom Orlando – Treasurer, David Kennedy – Secretary, Joe Mikulas and Jack Morrell for Board positions.  We will then close nominations at the meeting in April and have the election.  Rob T. announced he is not running for a second year as President because his wife has taken ill; she is doing well, and he needs to be there for her.

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

Mahesh reported that the 3/29 CEH Class is full.  We still have room in the 4/12 class.  Rob T. said to make sure you renew your license before it expires.  You can take the class anytime within the 2-year period.  Do not wait until the last minute.

Electrical Safety: Robert Tschoke, Ralph Lambiase

Rob T. reported that Ralph has been submitting articles, and he will help with the articles also since Rob S. is taking over as President next year.  If anyone hears of any recalls or sees any crazy stuff, let us know.  Rob Ceriello said he sees a lot of crazy stuff like in kitchens where they put wires in cabinets and use the power strips.  That is not acceptable.

Entertainment: Dave Kennedy, Mahesh Panchal

Dave reported we will not have the May meeting here.  We were going to have it at On the Border, but they closed.  He called several places, but they do not have a separate area for us.  So, we will probably end up at Smoky Bones.  He will check with them.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe was not present.  Rob T. reported to keep board member Mark Parris and his wife in prayer; his wife had a stroke, and he is not feeling well.  Also keep Rob T.’s wife in prayer.

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

Jack reported there is a lot of talk about the State going to the 2023 code.  He’s heard maybe June through the fall.  We have our Board meeting in two weeks, and he is trying to get a hold of the State for a timeline.  Right now, we have continuing education on 2017 to 2020.  When they make the announcement, it will be 90 days before it goes into effect. A couple of weeks ago we had the Town Licensing Boards of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay come to our Board meeting.  The purpose was to find out how they do things and how we do things, and we found out the two Counties are completely opposite as far as who controls the licenses, who does the inspections, and who does the investigations.  We want to start communicating and want to get the same education and maybe do something in the future.  As far as the regular Licensing board meetings, we are starting to bring in more and more new applicants or anyone unshelving a license.  We are now able to tell them what is expected of them.  Many did not know they were not allowed to have a license and a full-time job.  And we are telling them the rules and regulations.  As far as continuing education, some new providers have started classes.  All providers are on the website.  As far as renewals, the new process is you will get a 90, 60, 30-month warning by email.  Hopefully by the end of the year you will get a text message instead of an email.  They are also looking into doing the testing through a testing company.  They have some locations in Melville.  Looking to put the written part of the test on the computer and may do it with an outside resource.  Rob Ceriello asked what happened with giving out stickers to the newly licensed.  Jack said they found out that everyone is making fake stickers and putting them on their trucks.  That is why they are not supplying the stickers anymore.  Rob Ceriello reported there was a meeting the other night in Oyster Bay with the Commissioner and deputy Commissioner and it appears they want an ID card for licensed electricians.  They want everyone to come in for renewal in person.  They are issuing stickers for the trucks.  The are not in favor of going to an outside agency for the test.  Jack said there is not just one thing that will get rid of unlicensed work.  So, we (SCECA, Licensing Board) are going to chip away at it.  Most of the Towns in Nassau for a town to give out a building permit you have to have a plumbing and electrical license on it.  In Suffolk it is only Smithtown, Southampton and Riverhead.  So SCECA and James Andrews of Consumer Affairs is going to go to all the Town meetings, and we will propose we want the building departments to add the license numbers to the building permits.  It won’t stop everything, but it is chipping away at unlicensed work.  We want to make sure that the person whose license number is on it is the one doing the work.  Now the County would be able to go after them.  Rob C. said it also allows a third party to know who is on the permit.  A discussion ensued.  Mike T. said the Town has no idea who is doing the electrical work either so if we can get them to require the signature now, they know who is doing the work.  This is a start.

 PSEG Representatives: Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Rich Inserra introduced new team member Dean Wissmann.  He started a few months ago.  He’s an engineer in Rich’s division.  They have new and current transformers now.  They are not behind on any jobs.  The new Redbook is being worked on right now.  Jack asked will they be having any input on it.  Rich answered no.  He is getting the final prices for the riser fees. They went into effect March 1^st.  The riser fees have not gone up in 40 years.  The updated fees will be email blasted to the members.  The price increase will be phased in over 3 years.  Also, all their customers service offices are closed.  You have to pay online or by the machine.

Rich brought service connectors.

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

Rob T. reported we have a SCECA east meeting on 6/3 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Lobster Roll in Southampton.

Member Jim Owens was present and sworn in by Dave Kennedy.  Mahesh took a picture for the newsletter.

Member John Karalis of Triboro Electrical Contracting was not present.  He will be mailed his packet.

Rob S. reported every year there is an electrical competition from a number of BOCES schools.  He and Jack have been judges in the past.  Jack could not make it this year.  There were 17 students competing this year on 3/18 at Suffolk County Community College.  The projects were good.  The top 3 winners were all from Suffolk County: Two from Dix Hills and one from Brookhaven.  We will present the winners with an award.

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

 Mahesh reported they had PSEG there and talked about load letters.

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

Rob Ceriello reported they had a guy from NFPA come in for the program.  They do certifications.  They are getting into electronic certification.  They just started out.  This is a separate branch for them.  Next month on 4/2 they will have EV load management for a program.  They had three new members from SCECA join.  They had a couple of inspectors at the meeting.  The meetings are open to contractors and engineers, not just inspectors.  The dues will go up to $130 a year at the end of the month.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)

Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Nothing to report.

Joe was not present.

 Energy Expo: Rob Szalay, Jack Morrell, Dave Kennedy

 Nothing to report.

Legislative Review: Jack Morrell

Nothing to report.

Old Business: 

Nothing to report.

 New Business:

Nothing to report.

Raffles:            

3- $95 cash prizes were won by Rob Tschoke, Patti Muldoon and Tom Thomas.

$100 attendance award was drawn for Glen Homeyer (#1256-C) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m. was made by Jack Morrell and seconded by Rob Szalay.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:   

                                                                                                3/28/25

Barbara George                                                                      Dave Kennedy

Recording Secretary                                                             Secretary