April SCECA General Meeting

4/17/25

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

There were approximately 40 members in attendance.  Those Officers and Board of Directors present were:  Rob Tschoke, Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay and Michael Towers.

Excused: Mahesh Panchal, Tom Orlando, David Kennedy, Ralph Lambiase, John Ricciardi, and Mark Parris.

 Called to Order: 7:18 p.m.

Rob Tschoke led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 3/20/25 was made by Joe Mikulas and seconded by Michael Towers.

**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. was not present.  Rob T. read his report.  For the month ending March 2025, the income was $3,825.61 and the expenses were $4,420.54.  Dues notices going out the first week of July.  One-year Contractor dues $225, Two-year dues $400, that’s a $50 savings and Associate member dues $195.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Rob Szalay and seconded by Michael Towers.

 Secretary’s Report: David Kennedy

Dave was not present.  No report.

Legal Counsel: Michael Ganz

Rob T. recommends Mike for any questions.  He has helped Rob T. a lot.  Mike reported he is a construction attorney.  He mostly represents contractors and subcontractors.  Sometimes homeowners.  He represents projects from tens of thousands to ten million.   He tries to put in an article once a month in the “Light.”  If you need advice or have any questions, give him a call or email him.  He usually gets back to you in a day or two.    He is a good resource.  He can look at your contracts because laws change.  NY State changed holding money back from a job from 10% to 5%.

 Vendor:  Billy Thea from Ui Supplies announced they are having an event just for SCECA and NEL members.  It is on April 30^th at Ui Supplies on 35 Fairchild Ave. in Plainview.  They are one block off the Expressway.  It is a 90-minute entry level Wi-Fi Networking for Electricians training event.  Dinner will also be served (Iavarone Italian Kitchen).  This is a great way to expand your business opportunities and solidify your position in the construction market.  They have 50 seats – 35 are taken already.  Use the QR code to register or call Billy to register.

 Insurance: Patti Muldoon from Borg & Borg,

Patti was not present.

PROGRAM(S) Michael Towers of Long Island Emergency Power gave a presentation on generator sizing.  He handed out a Generac generator sizing guide.  He has been a member of SCECA since 1994.  He started out as an electrical contractor and evolved into a generator company more than 20 years ago.  Every town and village on long island requires a permit to install a generator.  Go to the Building department for the permit.  There are zoning rules.  Most will not allow you to put one in the front yard.  You will need plumbing, gas and building department inspections, and electrical inspections and close out your permits.  He went over NFPA 37 rules for where an engine can go on a particular property and a generator is an engine and alternator.  He went over minimum clearance of generator from windows, doors, vents, openings, removable fence, overhead clearance and maintenance and servicing.  It should be 5 ft. away.  Mike feels generator should be 10 ft. from an air conditioner because it pulls air in.  He went over load calculations, load management, fuel system sizing, electrical formulas, transfer switches and medical facility generator requirements.  A lengthy question and answer session followed.

 Jack reported one thing that is changing is that more and more Towns are starting to require home improvement licenses for electricians also.  (Not the County) If you are screwing, cutting, adding concrete pads, etc., you have to have a home improvement license.  They are starting to ask for it when you go for Town permits.

 By-Laws & Nominating: Ralph Lambiase

Jack reported nominations are closed.  Since Dave is not here he will cast one vote for the slate as read:  Rob Szalay – President, Mahesh Panchal – Vice President, Tom Orlando – Treasurer, David Kennedy – Secretary, Joe Mikulas and Jack Morrell for Board positions.  Swearing in will take place next month.

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

We have a CEH class May 3.  Six have signed up so far.

Electrical Safety: Robert Tschoke, Ralph Lambiase

Nothing to report.

Entertainment: Dave Kennedy, Mahesh Panchal

Dave and Mahesh were not present.  Our May general meeting will be at Smokey Bones on May 15^th for the installation of Officers and two Board members.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe reported Marianne, Rob Tschoke’s wife is recovering from surgery, Mark Parr4i’s wife suffered a stroke and is recovering and most recently board member John Ricciardi’s wife was hospitalized.

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 was not present.  Rich Jendzo was present.  He reported that since we are moving into pool season, preferential bonding should be 6 inches down and no more; just below the grade.  Jim Smith said if you want to calculate load for a generator in Chapter 9 in the back of the code book are load calculations.  Also, the feeders coming off the generator, you cannot use the reduction in conductor size; that is only for services.

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 they are starting to bring in every applicant that is applying for a license for a personal interview.  They explain the process to the applicants.  That is one change they are making.  He went to John and Jim’s CEH class the other day.  The Chairman brought in all the Nassau County Towns to our meeting a month and a half ago.  A lot of people knock Suffolk County for things they do and don’t do.  Two things about Suffolk that we found out about that Nassau doesn’t do – in Nassau County has no right to penalize a licensed or unlicensed electricians.  Even if a complaint comes in.  The Licensing Board has no control.  Suffolk County can do a lot.  They have a much better program.  We have people from all over the country take our test.  The most friendly and easy process in the entire country and the motto is they would rather license every person so they can go into business legally and successfully.  And if there is an issue, Suffolk has control over that.  That last couple of years every month we are trying to achieve something better and new.  The renewal notices will now come at 90/60/30 and day of when the license expires.  They are emailing that now but want to eventually send everyone a text.  Make sure the County has your most accurate cell number.  They are also starting to chip away at unlicensed work.  We want to minimize it.  If anyone has ideas on how to do it, let us know.  Riverhead and Smithtown are the only towns that require an electrical license on the building permit.  We are going to go to all the Towns and request that all the towns require an electrical license on the building permit.  Then the County can go after someone for covering somebody’s license.  Suffolk also licenses all the inspection agencies.  We will able to go after the inspection agencies.  That is some of the changes we are working on.  We have no authority on code enforcement of the Towns, but we are starting a dialog with them.  Jim Smith said the issue is that some of the Towns are using people that are not qualified to be an inspector.  He knows a certain Town that has an inspector that knows nothing about electrical work.  Jack said if anyone runs into that problem now, we will go to the Town and let them know their exposure and liability if they do not correct it.

 PSEG Representatives: Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Rich Inserra reported they are updating the Redbook.  He sent the draft copy to Rob.  He will send it out to us also.  If you have any comments or need clarifications, give it to your leadership.  They want to get it revised by the middle of May before they make copies.  And they will be available online.  They will be doing a training.  Rob Ceriello reported if you are in Rockville Center, Greenport or Freeport the PSEG utility requirements are completely different.  You have to have a site meeting with their building departments.  Do not go by what is in the PSEG book or inspector because it could be wrong.

In regard to safety, Rich reported a landscaper in Amagansett leaned up a 24-foot aluminum ladder next to one of our poles to remove branches and came in contact with #6 bare primary.  He was blown off the ladder.  His shoe was blown off his foot.  Don’t know what kind of shape he is in.  If you see someone working that you think is unsafe, tell them to come down or call our emergency number.  It is dangerous to work near the lines.  Also, riser fees went up again because of the Suffolk County sales tax that went up to 8.75%.

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

Rob T. was at the Revco Trade Show.  He reached out to nonmembers.  He handed out 75 of the membership flyers.  It has our QR code on there.  He got a lot of feedback.  The members are trickling in.

Rob T. reported our next SCECA east meeting on 6/3 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Lobster Roll in Southampton.  We will do a second swearing in out there.  We are working on an email blast.

Jack thanked Rob S. for being there to judge the Skills USA contest.  He could not be there this year.  The programs are excellent.  Anyone looking for helpers, they are a great pool to hire from.  He has hired many from BOCES program.

The winners of Skills USA are:  1^st Place Anthony Nasta, 2^nd Place Dean DeFelice, 3^rd Place Rory Mojo.  They were presented their certificate and award.  Michael Towers took pictures of them with their families and with Rob T., Rob S. and Jack also.  Joe will have them in the “Light” next month.

Two new members – Robert Fink of Bob Fink Electric in Long Beach and Kevin Ryndfleisz of Bob’s Electrical Contracting Corp. were not present.  They will be mailed their packets.

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

 Nothing to report.

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

Rob Ceriello reported their next meeting is 5/7.  We are going to try to do something with the Redbook.  Did get it from Rich Inserra.  There a lot of interesting changes that have to do with GFI protection.  We are having a special meeting on 6/10 with people from the NYC and LI chapter at Leviton on 2020 code changes.  It will be hosted by Sal Ferrara of the E.T.C.   He is looking for 25 people on 5/7.  It will be 2 hours.  You will learn something when you come to our meeting.  You will learn something.  Our June 4^th meeting we will have an end of year event.  Our meetings are in Farmingdale at Allen Park Town Hall building at 6:30 pm.

 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)

Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Nothing to report.

Joe welcomed the Skills USA winners and congratulated them.  Their pictures will be in our newsletter next month.  He will also enlarge the page so it can be read more easily.  It is a new program called Canva he is learning.  We have folks here that represent PSEG and inspection agencies, our attorney and programs here tonight typically by suppliers.  We have two different generator companies here tonight.  The food helps because sometimes guys are coming here right from their jobs to hear what is going on and for their own education and camaraderie; given you choose to stay with us.

For the newsletter, if you see something unusual or interesting you can email it to us or directly to Joe. We have interesting and unusual things in the newsletter whether it is in regard to safety or errors we see out in the field.  The PSEG folks can tell us that if you make a mistake putting up a service, you have to redo it.  That is money out of your pocket.  And if you are working for someone, your boss won’t be happy.

 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:

Member Kevin MacLeod reported that the new rules of the benefit operational reports required with Homeland Security by 3/27 is completely gone now. Only if you are a foreign registered company will you have to do it.

Raffles:            

• $100 cash prize was won by Kevin McLeod.
• $80 cash prize was won by Rich Jendzo.
• $73 cash prize was won by Robert Tschoke.

$100 attendance award was drawn for Paul Sanchez (#1211-C) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. was made by Rob Szalay and seconded by Jim Owens.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:   

                                                                                                4/30/25

Barbara George                                                                      Dave Kennedy

Recording Secretary                                                             Secretary