Acec New York Names Cabinet

Officers for 2008/2009 have been appointed. Also, Sheet Metal Industry of NY convenes to review regulations.

New Leaders at ACEC/NY

The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York recently inducted its new officers and board members for 2008/2009.

Del Dausman, senior vice president of C&S Companies in Syracuse, and president of C&S Energy Solutions, will become president of ACEC/NY. Gregory Kelly, senior vice president and northeast general manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff in New York City will serve as the national director of ACEC New York, and liaison between the local organization and headquarters in Washington, D.C. Robert Radley, of FRA Engineering, P.C. in Henrietta, is now president elect. The treasurer is Neil Lucey, of HDR in New York City and secretary is Joseph Dopico, of Maser Consulting P.A in West Nyack.

ACEC/NY will have three vice presidents: Husam Ahmad of HAKS Engineers and Land Surveyors, P.C. in New York City; Michael Leydecker, of Wendel Duchscherer Architects & Engineers, P.C. in Amherst and John Waltz of Sidney B. Bowne & Son, LLP in Mineola.

The new officers were recently announced during the annual conference at the Marriott East Side in New York City.

Scholarship Distributed for Construction Industry

The New York Building Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York Building Congress, recently awarded $70,000 to local organizations, including the construction industry.

Five grants and three scholarships were distributed, and a large portion was awarded to programs designed to recruit, educate, mentor and inspire the next generation of design, construction and real estate professionals, according to NYBF.

“Since its inception a decade ago, the Building Foundation has worked to promote the long-term growth and well being of the industry and New York City through a series of research, educational and philanthropic activities,” said New York Building Foundation Chairman Richard Tomasetti. “This round of financial support, I believe, illustrates the organization’s desire to give back to the community while introducing tomorrow’s leaders to the exciting opportunities available to them in the building industry.”
In regard to the construction industry, a $5,000 scholarship was given to Alfred E. Smith High School in the Bronx to distribute to a graduating student perusing college and training for employment in pre-engineering, building trades and other vocations.

A $5,000 scholarship was also given to the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction in Manhattan for two graduating high school seniors.

The ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York was awarded $10,000 for scholarships to two of the high school graduates in its program.

A $10,000 fellowship to investigate a construction site improvement program was developed by the Building Foundation’s Hennessy Fund.

Nontraditional Employment for Women was awarded $10,000 to continue its New York Building Foundation Career Advancement Fund.

A $10,000 grant was awarded to the Salvadori Center to support the Center’s Annual Charrette for design.

The remaining $20,000 was awarded to The Picture House Regional Film Center in Pelham the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.

Sheet Metal Industry Reviews Contractor Regulations

The Sheet Metal Industry of New York—which is comprised of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors Association of New York City, Inc., the Sheet Metal Contractors National Association of Long Island, Inc. and Sheet Metal Local Union No. 28.—recently gathered union sheet metal contractors and officials to introduce new, and review existing, industry plans.

At the annual conference, the plans were developed to assist the Sheet Metal Industry of New York in maintaining and regaining market share as part of an ongoing outreach program.

Approximately 90 people attended the event where detailed programs were discussed to help union contractors remain cost-competitive. “We can now offer many opportunities for our contractors to change the way they do business,” said Thomas Doherty, Administrator of the Labor Management Committee at The Sheet Metal Industry of New York.

During the event, the association released its print brochure, High Standards, as well as unveiled its website, www.sheetmetalny.com. “Our labor-management campaign demonstrates the unity of our progressive Industry as well as the quality and skill provided by union sheet metal workers,” said Michael Belluzzi, president of Local Union No. 28.

STA Wins Revision for Contract Services

The Subcontractors Association in New York has been working with the New York City Mayor’s Office for the last 16 months to revise Article 26 of the Standard City Contract—Methods of Payment for Extra Work.

Article 26 governs the pricing of change orders, and as part of the Standard Construction Contract created by New York City in October 2000, states that all job-related insurance costs, including liability insurance, surety bond premiums and workers compensation premiums were dropped as a compensable direct expenses, according to STA. The costs were considered to be overhead which would be compensated at the very same 10% rate as was provided when all insurance premium costs were paid as a direct expense, said STA.

The omission is an “injustice,” said STA, who has worked with Marla Simpson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to spearhead this major step in workers rights of New York City. As a result, Articles 26 now allows the insurance costs associated with Workers’ Compensation, Payment Bonds and Performance Bonds, to be tallied as direct costs on all change orders.

The revision applies to all new contracts as well as all change orders on existing contracts approved after April 2008.