November SCECA General Meeting

Meeting Minutes

11/21/24

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, Ralph Lambiase, Jack Morrell, Mahesh Panchal, Mark Parris, Rob Szalay and Mike Towers.

Excused: Dave Kennedy, Joe Mikulas, and John Ricciardi.

Called to Order:  7:10 p.m.

Rob Tschoke led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 10/17/24 was made by Tom Orlando and seconded by Ralph Lambiase.

**President’s Report:

Rob T. reported his President’s Report is in the newsletter.  If you are not receiving an email for “The Light,” please see Barbara.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Treasurer’s Report:  Tom Orlando

Tom O. reported for the month ending October 2024 the income was $15,548.64.  The expenses were $6,371.42.  We closed out all paperwork for the Energy Expo and we made a couple of bucks and so did NEL.  We paid them their half.  We did fairly well.  Dues are now overdue at this point.  If you do not pay, you will be dropped from membership in December.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Michael Towers.

 Secretary’s Report:  David Kennedy

Dave was not present.  Tom O. reported he had emergency surgery for his gall bladder.  There is nothing to report.  A motion to accept the Secretary’s Report was made by Jason Goetz and seconded by Steve Danielson.

Legal Counsel:  Michael Ganz

Mike Ganz was not present.  Member Phil brought up that he found out you have to file ownership with FinCen.gov in order to avoid a $500 a day fine.  This has to be done by 12/31/24.  You have to report beneficial ownership of the company.  The process is you go online – Benefit Ownership Information – and apply and you will get the form.  Member Kevin MacLeod said most of the time your accountant does it.  If you’re a corporation you have to do it.  You don’t have to do it every year; only if you change ownership.  You need to scan your driver’s license.  Tom O. suggested maybe we can email that information to our members.  Rob T. said we can send out the info on an email blast and you should ask your accountant if it applies to you.

Insurance: Patti Muldoon from Borg & Borg,

Tom O. advised everyone to get Workman’s Compensation.  After he fell off a ladder and got badly hurt, he got a bill for $158,000 for first 9 days in the hospital.  Then he spent 9 days at St. Charles.  Make sure as an owner you and your employees have Workman’s Comp.  Patti added if you are included in the comp. the cost is $5/$6 per $100.  If you are an executive officer and are not doing work, it is pennies on the dollar.  A lot of owners exclude themselves.  She just had a client and he excluded himself and got hurt on the job so he is not covered.

Member Steve Danielson said his insurance agent did an audit and they asked if he used a safety strap for ladders.   Tom O. has a lift and his insurance did not want to cover him.  The lift inside a cage on a platform is safer than a ladder.  It was discussed and they then agreed to insure him.  Jack’s said his insurance company makes them sign paperwork regarding using a ladder – the ladder has to be the last resort.  The first means of lifting off the ground has to be a lift.  They us a mechanical lift.  Going back to healthcare, you need short- and long-term disability and accidental disability.  It cost pennies on the dollar.  Mark Parris knew someone that did not want to use their own ladder and used the homeowners ladder.  He fell off and insurance would not cover him because it was not his ladder.  Mahesh said he could sue the homeowner.  Rob T. added beware when you lend your equipment out because you can be liable.  Kevin MacLeod added if you do not exempt yourself the Workman’s Comp has a minimum payroll they assign to you as an officer of the corporation.  If you only assign $15,000 a year payroll to yourself, they will hit you with a $40,000 minimal payroll and your premium will be $6,000 so make sure you find out what it is.

PROGRAMS:  Joe Christiano, Small Projects Sales Manager, of ABB gave a presentation on the new ABB /General Electric line of Load Centers and Panelboards, along with how you can get what you need quicker through their special ordering programs.  They are divided into four segments: Electrification (largest business area), Process Automation, Motion and Robotics/Discrete Automation.  He went over load centers, specialty panels, metering, circuit breakers AC disconnects.  They acquired GE, Thomas & Betts and Baldor.  They are a sponsor for Formula 8.  They also forged a partnership with NASCAR to make them more energy efficient – improving their vehicles and  their facilities.  They are in a good spot on factory service.  They are 100% on time delivery for switch boards.  They are 8 weeks on power panels.  A question-and-answer session followed.  At the Energy Expo they raffled off three load centers.  The winners are:  Tom Thomas, Dan Sherry and Jason Goetz.

 Billy Thea, owner of UI Supplies said they are a privately owned wholesale distributor.  They are an ABB distributor.  They are located in Plainview exit 46.  They deliver every day from Montauk to NYC.  They deliver on time and have great prices.  They are a walk-in supply house.  Dan Sherry added they also sell low voltage, electrical and home theater stuff.  Tom O. said he was quoted for Sonos speakers $14,000.  He spoke to Billy and it cost him $7,700.  Billy gave out $100 gift certificates for in-store use and UI Supplies t-shirts.

Tom Mastrianni, President of Extreme AVS gave a presentation on his company.  They design smart lighting controls.  You can control your home from anywhere.  They offer complete home automation.  Surround sound systems, music, smart lighting controls, built-in Wi-Fi and internet solutions and large out door theater screens.

 By-Laws & Nominating:  Ralph Lambiase

Ralph had nothing to report.  Jack said we had changed some by-laws because we got rid of the June general meeting which changed the dates for the elections.

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

There will be no CEH class in December.  The next one will be in January.

Electrical Safety:  Robert Tschoke, Ralph Lambiase

Ralph reported he has articles in “The Light” for next month.

Entertainment:  Dave Kennedy, Scott Eastman, Mahesh Panchal

Rob T. reported our general meeting will be a Holiday party on December 5^th at 7 pm at Smokey Bones.  Two drinks will be included with dinner.  Please come out.  There will not be a general meeting on the 3^rd Thursday.  Jack said we are trying to get more people that are involved.  You can bring a guest.  It would be great to see other electricians there.  Rob S. announced we are also collecting toys for Toys for Tots.  Mark Parris said we will have the Toys for Tots box at the party.  Bring an unwrapped toy to donate; boy or girl.  There are a lot of kids out there that have nothing.  Joe Christiano mentioned his cousin is the Deputy Director and runs Toys for Tots.  He commends the effort.  Billy Thea from UI added they have the Toys for Tots box at his store also.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe was not present.  Rob T. reported keeping Dave Kennedy in prayer.  He had emergency surgery for his gall bladder.  Jack had cataract surgery.  They changed the technology in the last two years.  Insurance covers the basic surgery.  They now offer a new procedure where a specialist changes the shape of your lens and can give you almost perfect vision.  It is fairly new; not all doctors do it.  Jack’s first adjustment on his eyes with the new procedure will be on December 12th.  He is now 20/20 without the procedure.  You must do eye drops every day and wear special glasses for 6 to 8 weeks.  It is a legal requirement for eye doctors to report to DMV if you have cataracts and then the DMV can pull your license immediately.  The basic surgery is covered by insurance.  The cost for the added surgery procedure after the basic one is done is: laser $1,800 per eye and $3,400 per eye for the lens. Whether you get the lens or not he would suggest the laser.  There is no inflammation and zero discomfort.

Inspection Agencies: 

 Certified Electrical Inspectors: #896-A   Rob Ceriello was not 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.

Tom O. advised when you file for a survey, get a price in advance.  He thought the price was $300 but it was $760.  Closed wall surveys are very expensive.  He used NYBFU.

Licensing: Michael Towers, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Mike T. reported there is a Consumer Affairs office in Riverhead now next to the County Center.  Rob T. and his son were at Consumer Affairs today to renew their license.  They had a computer crash on Friday so he went back today.  You cannot renew your license online; you have to go in.  Tom O. asked if they are not mailing out the renewals.  Jack said they will email reminders 90, 60 and 30 days from your expiration date.  They will start texting reminders next year.  Rob T. said you still have to go into the office to get the renewal application.  Jack thought you were supposed to do it online.  He will check on this.  Mike T. does not think they want all these people to renew their license at the office.  You can mail the information in but he will also look into it.  Jack said if you mail it, make sure to make copies.  John Cangemi asked if they accept copies.  Rob T. answered no.  They want to see the original.  Kevin MacLeod does not think that is true because they did not do that with his certificate he received from Mike Holt.  A discussion ensued.  Mike and Jack will get to the bottom of this.

 PSEG Representatives:  Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Rich Inserra reminded everyone that riser fees are going up as of 1/1/25 so file before 1/1.  These fees are for secondary risers:  Residential $743.13.  Fees have not been updated for 30 years.  Commercial secondaries are $787.53.  This is for Suffolk County.  Without service upgrade residential is $2,409.61 for overhead to underground or replacement underground.  For commercial it is $2,714.37.  Rich will send us the price sheet.  They are starting to get current transformers in.

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

Rob T. said membership is going great and he will call the members that have not paid. He then called up the 5 new members: #1264-C Eric Homeyer of G&E Electric in Kings Park, #1265-C Cesar Cabrara of C&C East End Electric Corp. in Riverhead, #1266-A James Henderson of Henderson Plumbing & Heating in Lindenhurst, #1267-C Jim Owens of Universe Home Services in Farmingdale and #1268-C Nicholas D’Amico of Shore Power Electrical Contracting in Center Moriches.

Nick D’Amico was present.  Mike Towers swore him in and Jack took his picture for the newsletter.

The rest will be mailed their packets.

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

 Mahesh reported they had Southwire presentation last week.  Next month they will have their Christmas party.  They are doing it with the NEL.  It will be on the 2nd Wednesday in December at NEL.

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

Mahesh reported yesterday they had a program by AFL who manufactures fiber optic cable, components, and conductor accessories.  They explained how the fiber works.  There is a new fiber coming out that is a flat wire.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)

Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Joe was not present.

 Energy Expo:  Rob Szalay, Jack Morrell, Dave Kennedy

 Tom O. reported it was a great success thanks to Rob Szalay.

Legislative Review:  Jack Morrell

Jack had nothing to report.

Old Business: 

Nothing to report.

 New Business:

Kevin MacLeod said when he went to renew his membership for 2 years, he could not do it on the website.  Tom O. said there is a spot to sign up for 2 years.

 Raffles:            

3 – $85 cash prizes were won Kevin McLeod, Tom Orlando and Rob Tschoke.

$100 attendance award was drawn for Viateur Pilon (#130-25YC) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. was made by Mahesh Panchal and seconded by Tom Orlando.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:   

                                                                                                    12/02/24

Barbara George                                                                      Dave Kennedy

Recording Secretary                                                             Secretary