The Building Owners & Managers Association of New York recently elected its new officers for 2008 and unveiled a new agenda.

“We’re going to sharpen our focus on the things we do best, to maximize results,” said new President Angelo Grima, portfolio manager at Grubb & Ellis Management Services. “That will mean concentrating our advocacy efforts on New York City and key local issues, where we can have the greatest effect for our industry and our members. Specifically, we are currently working pro-actively with the FDNY on clarifying EAP provisions, and with the city on implementing PlaNYC2030. We’re also collaborating with OEM, REBNY and the NYPD on refining the CEAS emergency access program to make it more useful to our members.”

Serving with Grima in the new administration are Vice President Edward Fallon, vice president of Operations in the New York Region at Brookfield Properties; Treasurer Louis Mantia, managing director of Client Solutions at Cushman & Wakefield; and Secretary Thomas Hill, senior vice president at Boston Properties.

The new officers have been elected for a one-year term.

RICS Americas the New York division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in conjunction with the NYC Department of Design and Construction recently introduced a new standardized, construction-bidding initiative.

The new system requires project owners to provide measured material quantities to bidders. Exact quantity information, RICS claims, will ensure all bidding contractors have an equal chance to win the contract.

“RICS’s quantity surveying system is widely used in other parts of the world because it provides consistency, completeness and fairness. It also promotes sound practices in achieving high-quality buildings,” said Simon Taylor, spokesperson for RICS Americas. “This is a win/win for contractors and the City of New York.”

The standards were recently unveiled to top construction professionals in New York City.

“We hope to improve the relationship between the City and contractors by implementing RICS’s new project information standards that better serve both parties, promote a fair, transactional relationship, and create a level playing field among bidders,” said David Resnick, NYCDDC deputy commissioner. “We are pleased to say we are already piloting the system on the Pike Street Yards and Remsen Avenue projects for the Department of Environmental Protection.”

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164 recently donated electrical skills and materials to the Bloomfield Little League Field House in Bloomfield, NJ.

“We were contacted by town officials, who wanted to know if it was possible [for us to help out with the project],” said Marty Schwartz, business representative for Local 164. “We always try and do community work and little league is a great place to give back.”

Jim Blasi of Florham Park, Joe Wint of Bloomfield, Ken Donofrio of Nutley, Mike Melkonian of Bloomfield, Tim McMahon of North Plainfield and Bob Cupoli of Bloomfield were the Local 164 volunteers who installed lighting and new electrical outlet receptacles in the field house project. Local skilled union plumbers, carpenters and painters also donated their time and effort.

“Not only do the children get use out of it, but the parents also get to see the children use it, so it’s a win-win project,” said Schwartz.

The American Subcontractors Association of New Jersey recently held its annual dinner meeting at L’Affaire Catering in Mountainside, New Jersey.

This year, the meeting was held in conjunction with The Construction Financial Management Association New Jersey Chapter and the New Jersey Chapter of Professional Women in Construction.

The group invited Patricia Diesel to speak on organizational skills to educate the attendees during the dinner. The association also offered a GC Profile at the meeting. Jeff Allison spoke to the crowd about his company, Gilbane Building Company, and on what projects they are working, explained Doreen Siegel, executive director of ASA NJ.

Over 200 people were in attendance.