Secretary's Report June 20, 2001

The meeting was called to order by President Dave Cake at 1:05 p.m. at McDonald Electrical Distributors in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday June 20, 2001. Present were President Dave Cake, First Vice President Tarry Baker, Second Vice President Bill Bender, Secretary/Treasurer Ted Licitra; Directors: Joe McCann, Steve Mitchell: Associate John Sims and Gary Simon. Excused were Third Vice President Lee Wansor, Directors; Jim Sennello, Tom Bray, Jack Fisher, John Simmons, A.J. Weldon, Associates Dave Appler, Ken Kotrady, Jim Joseph And John Somers.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Treasurers report included a report on the ADA seminar given in February.

Reports of committees:

Education: Tarry Baker reported that courses sent in March to the State for approval did not arrive until May. Tarry is planning to have a class in August on the 1999 NEC with books supplied by the Board Of Rules And Appeals. The education portion of our September meeting will be on the new Florida Building Code. Chapter 27 which is the electrical section of the code references the 1999 NEC. However the 1996 NEC is also referenced throughout the book. The Board of Rules And Appeals will be including a administration section in the FBC. Presently the code allows the Building Official to terminate power instead of the Chief Electrical Inspector. Tarry is asking members to submit code questions for the Southern Section Meeting in October. When notified by the State of approved courses we will get a updated class schedule out to everyone. The Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals and the Miami Dade Code Compliance office are working on errata's for the new Florida Building Code.

Scholarship Committee: Steve Mitchell reported on the status of the scholarship fund. The first scholarship should be issued this fall. The scholarship is open to IAEI members and their families who will pursue a education at Broward Community College in the fields of Construction Management Technology or Engineering. We have enough money right now for one scholarship and when we forward the proceeds from the grounding seminar we will have sufficient funds for a second scholarship. The proceeds from the grounding seminar will be forwarded to BCC when the matching State funds become available. Last year the State matched our money at 100 %, this year due to budget cuts it will be matched at only 40%.

Code Clearing: Joe McCann went over problems we have been having when a medical facility opens in a retail area especially with redundant grounding and emergency lighting and power requirements. Joe indicated that except for psychiatric offices all medical facilities shall comply with NEC Art 517.

Florida Building Safety Coalition: Steve Mitchell reported on the progress of the FSBC. The FSBC is made up of 5 members each of IAEI, BOIF (Building Officials Association of Florida) and FAPGMI(Florida Assciation of Plumbers, Gas and Mechanical Inspectors). The goal of this organization was to consolidate our efforts on issues we have in common. Each have been pursuing the same issues separately, now together we have a larger voice. FSBC now speaks for 4500 to 5000 members. Because of this we find our messsage getting through. There has been two meetings so far. One of the issues we have is journeyman licensing. Next summer journeyman will be required on all jobs that are 50,000 square feet. We would like to see more qualified journeyman on the jobs, but this is a good first step. If anyone knows or works with anyone connected to any of our State Congressmen please contact us as could use the help.

The meeting was adjourned to the education portion where John Garcia from UL gave a presentation on fire resistive walls and ceilings. The meeting was attended by 99 people.


Respectfully Submitted

Ted Licitra
Secretary/Treasurer