February SCECA General Meeting

2/20/25

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, Tom Orlando, David Kennedy, Ralph Lambiase, Mahesh Panchal, and Rob Szalay

Excused: Joe Mikulas, Mark Parris, John Ricciardi, Jack Morrell, and Michael Towers.

 Called to Order:  7:01 p.m.

Rob Tschoke led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 1/16/25 was made by Rob Szalay and seconded by Mahesh Panchal.

**President’s Report:

Rob T. asked if everyone received “The Light.”  You can read his President’s report in the “Light.”   He is planning another SCECA East meeting.  He met with Consumer Affairs James Andrews for the protection of our license.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Treasurer’s Report:  Tom Orlando

Tom O. reported for the month ending January 2025, the income was $3,44.31 and the expenses were $6,463.04.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Ralph Lambiase.

 Secretary’s Report:  David Kennedy

Dave reported we have very little correspondence.  A motion to accept the Secretary’s Report was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Tom Thomas.

Legal Counsel:  Michael Ganz

Mike was not present.

 Insurance: Patti Muldoon from Borg & Borg,

Patti was not present.  Rob T. said we are looking into getting group health insurance to see if we can get a discount.  We are exploring our options.  We will be getting a proposal and will review it at our Board meeting.

 PROGRAMS:  Brian McAuliffe of Bri-Tech wants to be a service provider and technology partner to SCECA members.  His designer, Will, is in the back with a display.  Lighting has gotten a lot more complicated.  There have been complaints about the brightness of the LED lights.  It is glaring.  There is a lot of bad lighting design going on.  Upscale your work and your customers will be happier.  He went over color temperatures, and dimming lights.  When it gets down to 15%  it flickers or goes off.  It never gets quite dim.  The solution is to have a separate control circuit zero to ten to control voltage.  Precision diming is 1% control.  It enhances accuracy, increased versatility and reduced energy consumption.  Most inexpensive fixtures will turn off at 15%.  Color temperature is the idea of circadian rhythm and human centric lighting.  The higher end houses will run on circadian rhythm.  The color temperature in the house and the sun coming up is the same.  The color temperatures will change with the day.  You program it that way.  Lutron owns the market on this.  He went over control protocols, Bluetooth mesh technology, DMX.  All these things need power.  Bri-Tech will help you with all of this.  They can do lighting design, lighting controls and lighting fixtures.  A question-and-answer session followed.

 By-Laws & Nominating:  Ralph Lambiase

Ralph reported we are changing the fiscal year back to June 30 for the purpose of taxes.  It was originally changed to May 31.  We are also adding replacements for President, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President if those positions become vacant.  He is waiting to get together with Jack.  Then it will be read at another two times at the general meeting before we vote and it becomes official.  It will be put in the “Light.”

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

We have a 3/8 CEH class.  Four signed up so far.  Rob S. mentioned you can attend the class for education also.  Tom O. added the class fills up fast.  You can take the class with in the 2-year period to renew your license.  It is on One and Two Family.  The course will change in April.

Electrical Safety:  Robert Tschoke, Ralph Lambiase

Ralph put in the “Light” recalls on products.

Entertainment:  Dave Kennedy, Mahesh Panchal

Dave reported the Board has been tossing around doing the end of the year dinner.  It is not feasible at this time.  Will do the same thing as last year at On the Border.  We will swear in the officers and Board.  There will be two free drinks and dinner.  Rob T. said NEL does their dinner so well.  He would like to have a great event like NEL does and take your wife out and have a band.  Hopefully some day we can do that.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe was not present.  Rob T. announced member George Alevas passed away.  He was Vice President for many years.  He had no family or children.  He will be missed.

Inspection Agencies: 

 Certified Electrical Inspectors: #896-A   Rob Ceriello was present.  He commented that if you have exterior wiring it has to be wet rated.  He is finds exterior BBQs with Romex.  Islands require an outlet.  The definition of a kitchen is: sink, permanent provision for cooking and an area for food (countertop).  Two circuits and a receptable every 4 feet.  If you do not put a sink outside it is not a kitchen by code definition.  Tom O. asked did a survey for a customer that is trying to sell her house.  They violated the THWN wires coming out of the weather head.  He had to replace the cables.  What is the rule?  The service is 20 years old.  It was pipe with THWN.  Jim said it was wrong back then.  All service conductors have to be dash 2 by PSEG which is 90 C rated.  John said if it is service entrance cable, as part of its listing it will be suitable for sunlight resistance and wet rating.  If it is not and you are using individual conductors and it is THWN-2 Sunlight rated, you still need a marking that says it is sunlight resistant because THWN can come either way.  Jim commented there are 10 inspection agencies in Suffolk.  There is only one here.  Make your guys come.  They work for you.  Make them support you.  They are never here.  Rob T. agreed we should hold them accountable.  He will say something.  The inside of a conduit will be looked at as the same environment as the outside of that conduit.  So even if the conductors are not exposed, it will still be in a wet location.

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

Michael and Jack were not present.  Rob T. reported he met with James Andrews.  He is working on drafting a letter to send to the Towns.  He is also trying to get Consumer Affairs to bring back the stickers.

 PSEG Representatives:  Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Tom DiBella reported he is noticing a few things lately; and it is because the prices have gone up in copper cable.  1) A lot of folk are using 750 aluminum in the ground to tie into a Trans S cabinet and try to make it fit.  It will not fit, 500 is the only one that will tie into a Trans S cabinet.    2) When you are running to a transformer you can run it to a pad mount transformer and CT cabinet but not a trans  s or 800 or because the lugs won’t take it.  3) 750 in submersible transformers.  You have to convert it to a 500.  Matt G. said with 500 you have to use copper but people are going to aluminum because of the copper prices. They are also having problems with guys working on scaffolding.  They are too close to electrical wires.  A lengthy discussion ensued.

They now have transformers in stock.  Some were not to their standards.  Our regular manufacturers are starting to trickle in.  We also had a problem with getting CTs.  We have enough for 4 months now.  Member Glen Ayasse asked if PSEG can come up with a meter with a disconnect since it will be required in the future code so it will not be as expensive as a meter main.  This will be a future problem.  Tom D. said we can make a recommendation.  We have a list on the website and it is in the Redbook.  Rob T. said ABB was here at a meeting and had a discussion about that.  They are working on it.

They should be having a Redbook class this year.  The Redbook is going out to print.  There are things members point out that are vague and there are gray areas.  So, they tightened up those gray areas.

The updated riser fees will be published 3/1.  They will send us the fees to put in the “Light.”

Tom D. did not have any service connectors in stock today.

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

We have two new members:

#1271-A Christine Giangreco of Lamond Electric Corp. in Massapequa Park.

#1272-C Michael Taravella of TEI Electric in Massapequa Park

Mike Taravella was present and sworn in by Dave Kennedy.  Tom O.  took a picture for the newsletter.

Rob T. reported we are moving forward with the membership drive.  We drafted an application with a QR code.  This will happen in the next month or two.

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

Matt Gaudio, President of NEL said it is great to be a part of an organization that advocates for safety like the NEL and 5 Boros.  We all have one common goal – we work towards the problem of unlicensed contractors.  Last year the Town of Oyster Bay sent out a letter, a week ago Town of Hempstead sent out a letter and Town of North Hempstead will be sending out a letter holding the licensee accountable.  We have to keep working towards that to make our industry safe.  Two houses away from him a father and son were electrocuted in their pool because of the way the pool lighting was wired.  Out east there was an outdoor kitchen in an Airbnb.  The family used the outdoor kitchen but it wasn’t working properly so they went to finish inside.  The wiring from the outdoor kitchen came from a circuit on the inside.  It caused arcing and two girls died in the fire.  Suffolk Conty Consumer Affairs have two investigators out east.  If you see something make a phone call to them and to the Towns in Nassau.  Ralph said Consumer Affairs works for the consumer so they have to make the call on unlicensed contractors.  A discussion ensued.  Rob Ceriello said the new Oyster Bay commissioner has said that if you see something you call their number and they will get a building inspector out to stop the job.  You have to call right away.  Matt added that the villages have their own inspectors and code enforcement.  It is harder to get away with unlicensed work in the Villages.  Dave reported he had three customers that had fires due to electric scooters.  One had two children die and the parents were burned.  Another one had the house burn down.  The scooter was leaning on the house.  There was also a fire this Monday due to a brand-new electric motorcycle.  The garage was gutted.  Do not charge electric scooters or motorcycles in your house and do not walk away when they are being charged.

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

Member Sal Grimaldi announced the IAEI is the Independent Alliance for the Electrical Industry.  Their meetings are educational.  They are usually 1 to 2 hours.  Meeting dates are 3/5, 4/2, 5/7 and 9/3, 10/1 and 11/5.  The meetings are held at 45 Motor Avenue in South Farmingdale at the Allen Park Community Park building.  They are having the NFPA there in March.  Electrical vehicle load managing company will be coning in April.   Rob C. is trying to get the membership up.  It is about electrical safety.  He is trying to get more inspectors to attend.  Last month with the help of NEL and SCECA we had 27 people.  The cost is $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.  Rob C. said they can run a CEH class but it has to be 15 to 20 people.  Rob T. said think about joining and send your employees.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)

Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Joe was not present.  Nothing to report.

 Energy Expo:  Rob Szalay, Jack Morrell, Dave Kennedy

 Nothing to report.

Legislative Review:  Jack Morrell

Jack was not present.  Nothing to report.

Old Business: 

Nothing to report.

 New Business:

Member Tom Pfersching announced he is running an electrical safety seminar on May 28 where he works – County of Suffolk Division of Sanitation.  The seminar will go over PPE, recognizing electrical hazards, OSHA standards, high voltage power lines, arc flash, how to release stored energy and use lock-out/tag-out procedures.  It is for educational purposes only.  It will be at the Bergen Point WWTP on 600 Bergen Ave. in West Babylon.  It is a four-hour seminar from 8 am to 12 pm.  You must sign up.  The application will be in the “Light.”

 Dave Kennedy gave Brian McAuliff an electronic switch for his Memorabilia.  Brian said it is an X-10.  It is a PLC technology.  It got obliterated when we went to a switching ballast.  The sine wave waits for the voltage it wants and turns on for that moment and pulls that voltage out and puts it into a rectifier and capacitor that creates another harmonic and that is what killed it being used anymore.

 Raffles:            

2 – $90 cash prizes were won by Tom Pfersching and Sal Grimaldi.

1 – $88 cash prize was won by Ralph Lambiase.

$100 attendance award was drawn for Matthew Clark (#866-A) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Tom Orlando.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:   

                                                                                                2/25/2025

Barbara George                                                                      Dave Kennedy

Recording Secretary                                                             Secretary