November SCECA General Meeting

11/20/25

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

There were approximately 36 members in attendance. Those Officers and Board of Directors present were: Rob Szalay, Mahesh Panchal, Dave Kennedy, Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, John Ricciardi and Michael Towers.

Excused: Tom Orlando and Robert Tschoke.

Called to Order: 7:27 p.m.

Rob Szalay led the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion to accept the General Meeting Minutes of 10/16/25 was made by John Ricciardi and seconded by Michael Towers.

**President’s Report:

Rob S. welcomed everyone and deferred his report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Treasurer’s Report: Tom Orlando

Tom O. was not present. Will report next month.

Secretary’s Report: David Kennedy

Dave reported he had some correspondence with questions. He called a couple of fellows back. One wanted to know if he could install an electric heater over a bathtub with an 8-foot ceiling. The only info Dave could find is: if it says on the unit it is rated for that then you can do it, but he has not found a unit that is rated for that. John Sica of Turtle+ said you can put a number of heaters in the ceiling, but you have to consult the code. This is a residence so it will have to be GFCI protected and fan force heating. They will be rated damp location. Jim Smith agrees the GFCI protection would be required by the manufacturer and it is a damp location. Rob S. said he will tell Dave a couple of ways to do it so he can get back to that fellow. A motion to accept the Secretary’s Report was made by Jack Morrell and seconded by Gene Surdi.

Legal Counsel: Michael Ganz

Mike was not present. Rob S. said Mike is our lawyer on staff. If you have any questions and concerns he has his email in the newsletter and more than happy to answer your questions.

Insurance: Patti Jost from Borg & Borg,

Patti was present if anyone has any questions for her.

PROGRAM(S) Steve Kelson from Keystone Technologies, along with John Sica of Turtle + and John Glass of EZS discussed LED fixtures and what you need to know to diagnose and repair them. They manufacture LED tubes – Type A, T5 & T8 – ballast compatible, Type B – T5 & T8 (emergency backup and dimmable), Sign Tube and accessories, Type A&B – Dual mode T8 and Type C – external driver T5&T8 Dimmable. LEDs typically use a Constant Current or Constant Voltage
– Understand the different powering technologies that LED fixtures use like Constant Voltage or Constant Current drivers. With Constant Voltage driver it may be 12 or 24 volts for tape or sign lighting. Say you have a 60-watt 12-volt driver and you want to use tape light, and the tape light is 3 watts per foot, you can run about 20 feet on that driver. If you’re running less than 20 feet, you can still use that driver. On the other hand, with Constant Current, it is made specifically for the LED fixtures and the milliamps they put out. If you had a fixture running at 1,000 milliamps, and you have two driver choices – one is 1,050 milliamps and the other is 950 milliamps you would have to use the 950-milliamp driver because if you use the higher one you would overdrive the LEDs it would not last as long. Keystone came up with their own Constant Drivers that are programable. If you have a fixture and you want to match the milliamps you can just take a picture of the driver and send it to Turtle+ or email Keystone and we will cross it with one of our drivers. Every driver comes with its own USB-C cable. It is programmable. They have an app called Smart Current and it is compatible with Android devices (not Apple). It is dimmable with 0-10V dimmer. It has short circuit overload and open load protection. Most of their products have color selectability and power selectability and optic swap (standard and aisle lens). They have interior fixtures and exterior fixtures. Exterior – they have poles – 15, 20, 25, 30-foot, Area lights, Flood lights, etc. Everything that is Keystone has Keystone drivers. They have emergency backup tubes, and emergency backup drivers for most fixtures. He showed their emergency panel. It lasts 90 minutes. They have light bars – 5 and 12 watts if you want to add emergency backup to your old fixture and comes with a test button. They do not have marine products yet. They have fire-rated downlights. They give out samples –It could be a lamp or a high bay. That is part of their marketing program. They also do free lighting layouts. A lengthy question and answer session followed.
Eric Bartolotto of National Grid reported the upcoming Clean Energy Trade Ally Network will replace the NY Professional Network (Pro-Net) to offer more benefits for trade allies. Participation in the Clean Energy Trade Ally Network will be required for all contractors and trade allies working within National Grid energy savings programs. The Clean Energy Trade All Network will have a centralized database of network members, a web-based platform for trade allies, new and improved benefits and community building tools. The online portal offers a single login to manage projects, access trainings and conduct work. There will be a find a contractor map so a customer can look you up if you register for the map. There will be industry-specific monthly trainings. There will be events, networking and professional development opportunities. There will be several tiers of membership. You can qualify for higher membership by achieving participation metrics. This is Statewide. A question-and-answer session followed.

Rob S. announced that since we are going on the 2023 code now every month we have been taking a small topic and discussing it.
John Cangemi and Jim Smith on code change topic:
Jim Smith reported on NEC 680.26 TIA 23-9 concerns swimming pools, and this is not in the code book. They made a major change to swimming pool bonding. (Tentative Interim Amendments are changes to the already adopted National Electrical Code (NEC) that cannot wait until the next code cycle. A TIA is tentative because it has not been processed through the entire standards-making procedures, and it is interim because it is effective only between editions of the standard. TIA’s are important because depending on the printed 2023 NEC edition that you may have, these new or revised code requirements may not be included in your code book.) A single #8 AWG copper conductor for perimeter bonding is no longer permitted in areas where swimmers could have contact with it. The change now is if there is paving around the pool (concrete or pavers) you can no longer use that method. You have to either extend the rebar out 3 feet or the reenforcing steel in the concrete or if you use pavers, use reenforced steel below the pavers or the 12” X 12” copper mesh grid. No deeper than 6 inches. The new perimeter bond must extend at least 3 feet horizontally from the interior walls of the pool. You still have to connect to the rebar from the grid or reinforced steel. Still have to bring #8 back to the circulating system. It does not matter if the pool is in the ground or above. If there is paving around it, you have to use the new method. You can only use single #8 if it is unpaved.
John Cangemi reported that usually there are a couple of errors in the code book. By the time you get to the 3rd addition most of it has been worked out but something that is missed or corrected are TIAs. GFCIs and AFCIs have been around awhile now and there are some changes. One change is #210.8 branch circuits and GFCIs and equipment and 210.12 AFCIs had some changes. #210.8 got broken up into a list format A-F. GFCI protection starts at the breaker. Once section tells you they want GFCI at the receptacle another at the whole branch circuit. If they say the outlet you have to do the whole circuit. If they say receptacle then it is at that receptacle and any receptacle that is subsequently connected to the load side of the wiring device.
Another change is with the receptable under the sink. It had to pass through the side of a cabinet, but code said you cannot pass a cord through a wall. They made a correction for that in the next cycle – the side of a cabinet is not a wall. Another situation was “how do I measure the distance from the sink to a receptacle”? It is 6 feet, but you would measure the way a cord would be routed. If it is less than 6 feet you have to have GFCI protection. But you cannot run a cord through a doorway, so they changed it to cabinet door. They removed the references from doors and windows. Now it is strictly the cord length. A lot of new information in 210.8.
Receptacles that require GFCIs: the bathrooms, garages and accessory buildings, outdoors, basements and crawl spaces at or below ground level. Less than 6 feet high is considered a crawl space. You need GFCI in basements whether finished or not. All sump pumps need GFCI. In a Hi-ranch the lower floor is partially below grade. The definition of a basement if below grade or partially below grade 6 ft or higher. Appliances #420.2 specifically lists appliances that have to be GFCI protected. Expanded GFCIs in kitchens – not just food prep/cook/wash. Now beverage prep like at Starbucks. Another change: In kitchens – Up to 250V on all receptacles will require GFCI. Single phase 50 amps or less and 3 phase 100 amps or less. If you are within 6 feet of a sink you need GFCI protection. All boathouses must be GFCI protected. Shower stalls and bathtubs, laundry areas – anything within 6 ft. has to be GFCI protected. Receptacles for security systems and in ceiling fans are exempt. A question-and-answer session followed.

By-Laws & Nominating: Jack Morrell

Jack reported he will put a ballot together starting in February with elections in May. We have open positions that we will discuss in January.

Education/Seminars: Rob Szalay, Mahesh Panchal

Rob S. reported our November 22nd class is closed. Our next class will be in January. We do not have a date yet.

Electrical Safety: Robert Tschoke

Rob T. was not present. John Ricciardi commented that a lot of 100-amp meter pans should be upgraded to 200. Gene Surdi agreed he has seen a lot of that recently and said if we are there for a service reconnect then it is a violation. All we can do is report it to the Town. Our hands are tied. Rich Jendzo said on a service inspection for solar he sees the cover for the meter pan that they made it out of tin and zip screws on the side to hold the cover on.

Entertainment: Dave Kennedy, Mahesh Panchal

Dave reported that we are having our holiday party on Thursday, December 4th at 7 pm at Smokey Bones. Rob S. added that we are Not having the general meeting on the 3rd Thursday.

Good & Welfare: Joe Mikulas

Joe reported Wally Boorum of Sunrise Benefits Solutions who came to our meetings regularly passed away from pancreatic cancer recently. We sent his family condolences. We also sent get well wishes to Russ Calemmo, long time member and served many positions as well as president and member John Lees has had some nerve damage in his legs.

Inspection Agencies:

Certified Electrical Inspectors: #896-A Rob Ceriello was present was not present.
EII: NYBFU: #1109-A Philip Goehring was not present. Rich Jendzo reported under Electrical Safety.
Suffolk Bureau of Electrical Insp.: #856-A Gene Surdi was present. He ran across this today in his office. It was brought to his attention on the NY Stare energy code that there are some new items in the residential code that we haven’t seen before. This is the Residential Code ICC. R403.6.5 Intermittent exhaust control for bathrooms and toilet rooms – On all bathroom fans they want to have some sort of timing mechanism on them. One or more of timer control, occupant sensor control, humidity control and/or contaminant control.
R403.10.1 – pools and spas – They want an on/off control in addition to the breaker – mounted directly to the heater from the factory or an external switch. R404.2 Interior Lighting Controls – All permanently installed luminaires in habitable spaces and garages, unfinished basements, laundry rooms and utility rooms shall be controlled with a manual dimmer or an automatic shutoff control within 20 minutes after occupants have left. It seems they do not want toggle switches.
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 at last meeting we talked about how we can get the electrical inspectors hooked up with the town code enforcement. Inspectors have no authority to do anything else besides what they are inspecting. If the inspectors can get in touch with the town code enforcement, the code enforcement can do summons and send letters to put pressure on the homeowners. Does not know how long this will take to do. We’ve been trying to do this for 5/6 years. We want to see if we can merge town code enforcement and inspectors together so the inspectors can pass along information they see that they do not have authority over. Gene Surdi said he saw some situations where it was a health and safety issue, he did call the Chief Inspector of one municipality. We also want the code enforcers to check the inspectors also. We are hoping it goes both ways. James Andrews is involved.
We are still bringing in everyone that is applying for a license to sit in front of the Licensing Board, and we explain to them what is expected of them and what they can and cannot do and the consequences with their license. Also, no one is getting their licenses unshelved until they come before the Licensing Board.

PSEG Representatives: Joe Mikulas, Jack Morrell, Rob Szalay

Tom DiBella brought 3 boxes of connectors for the members. They will have classes on the Redbook starting next year. Rob S. added once it goes into publication, there will be a link to it and also to PSEG website from the SCECA website. The website for PSEG is now PSEGLINY.com. For any PSEG email address add LINY to PSEG.

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

Rob T. not present. Rob S. summarized his report. “Regarding SCECA East, we are having a quarterly meeting. It is out east for nonmembers to see what SCECA is about. Mention to anyone you know out east that we are having a meeting out there. There will be one in January. Inspection agencies, PSEG will be there, and we will have a program. Regarding membership dues: Annual dues are now overdue. Unpaid members will be terminated by December BOD meeting.”
Rob S. announced one new member – Bob Kohlmeyer of CRK Contracting in Kings Park. He was not present, and his packet will be mailed to him.

Nassau Electric League: Mahesh Panchal, Tom Orlando
Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at Knights of Columbus Hall in Hicksville

Mahesh reported they had a program on the code changes by Ray Lopez. They are having their Christmas party in December.

IAEI: (Independent Alliance for the Electrical Industry) Mahesh Panchal, John Ricciardi, Tom Orlando
Meetings are 1st Wednesday of the month in Farmingdale at Allen Park Town Hall building at 6:30 pm.

Mahesh reported that Jim Smith gave a small presentation on the code changes. Rob Ceriello is the president. There will be a meeting in January-

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: (Rob Szalay and Jack Morrell)
Joe Mikulas, Editor – “Light,”

Nothing to report.

Joe reported he was trying to get the newsletter out before Veterans Day. If you did not receive it in your email and your dues are current, see Barbara. Apologies to Patti of Borg & Borg for not including their ad in the newsletter. If you have anything to contribute it is always welcomed – like a photo and if Tom DiBella wants to give out the correct emails.

Energy Expo: Rob Szalay, Jack Morrell, Dave Kennedy

Rob reported it was very successful this year and we will have it again next year.

Legislative Review: Jack Morrell

Jack reported he is keeping an eye on the prevailing wage issues.

Old Business:

Nothing to report.

New Business:

Nothing to report.

Raffles:

3 – $58 cash prizes were won by Jack Morrell, Michael Towers and Jim Smith.

$100 attendance award was drawn for Laurence Bisso (#1037-C) who was not present to win.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 p.m. was made by Joe Mikulas and seconded by Mahesh Panchal.

Respectfully submitted,

APPROVED BY:
12/4/2025
Barbara George                 Dave Kennedy
Recording Secretary          Secretary