STATE BOARD OF PLUMBING

BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

DATE: April 16, 2010

TIME: 11:00 a.m.

PLACE: 500 North Calvert Street

Room 302

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

PRESENT: Charles J. Morgan, Jr., Chair

Russell Wiebking, Board Member

Charles Lenderking, Board Member

Michael Kastner, Board Member

Joseph Radtka, Board Member

Jon Garner, Board Member

ABSENT: Nicole J.C. Daniels, Board Member

Keith Horton, Board Member

OTHERS PRESENT: Stanley Botts, Commissioner

Harry Loleas, Deputy Commissioner

Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General

Steven Smitson, Assistant Commissioner

Brenda Clark, Administrative Officer

Diane Kastner, MD PHCC

Jim Berndt, MD PHCC

James Mazulls, Master Plumbers Assoc.

Herbert Fishpaw, Local 486

Dale Troll, MD PHCC

CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Morgan called the Business Meeting of the State Board of Plumbing to Order at 11:00 a.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Upon Mr. Radtka’s Motion, and Mr. Lenderking’s Second, the Board unanimously voted to enter into Executive Session at 10:35 a.m. in the 3rd Floor Conference Room, 500 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, in order to consult with the Board’s Counsel regarding license applications. Upon completion of this session, the Board convened to the public meeting at 11:00 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The Members reviewed the minutes of the Business Meeting and Executive Session held on March 18, 2010. Upon Mr. Garner’s Motion, and Mr. Horton’s second, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Minutes of the Business Meeting and the Executive Session as presented.

COMPLAINT COMMITTEE REPORT:

INVESTIGATION

07-69 07-48 07-41 07-68 09-58 09-65

CLOSED

05-89 05-100 06-60 06-70 06-83 06-92 06-93 07-52 07-66 09-56 09-57 09-59 09-61 09-62

09-57

PRE-CHARGE

06-99 07-64 09-60

MORE INFORMATION

09-54 09-55 10-56

Upon Mr. Kastner’s Motion, and Mr. Lenderking’s second, the Board unanimously voted to approve the complaint committee report.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. UPDATE ON REGULATION PROPOSED FOR BACKFLOW PROVIDERS

Mr. Kastner updated the Board on the proposed regulation 09.20.04 for Cross Connection/Backflow Prevention Certification Training Program; he explained that after reviewing the public comments regarding the proposed regulation, some modifications were made. Upon Mr. Radtka’s Motion, and Mr. Kastner’s Second, the Board unanimously voted to withdraw the old proposed backflow certification regulation and submit the new modified proposed backflow certification regulation

B. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Mr. Loleas reviewed with the Board a Legislative update on eleven Bills that were proposed for plumbing. Mr. Loleas explained to the Board that HB 1184, which would permit an apprentice licensee to renew the license a maximum of 3 times, unless certain conditions are met was unfavorable; however the Board could consider amending the language to HB 1184 to resubmit the next legislative session. Upon Mr. Radtka’s Motion, and Mr. Kastner’s second, the Board agreed to consider amendments to HB 1184 and resubmit the Bill for the next legislative session.

C. UPDATE ON THE WATER REUSE COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIORMENT.

Mr. Radtka updated the Board on the meeting he attended with the Maryland Department of the Environment, (MDE) regarding grey water- reclaimed water.

REVIEW OF THE PSI EXAMINATION STATISTICAL SUMMARY INFORMATION FOR MARCH 2010

Plumber Candidates Tested Passed Failed Pass %

Journey Natural Gas Fitter 2 2 0 100%

Journey Plumber/Gas Fitter 63 21 42 33%

Master Natural Gas Fitter 0 0 0 0%

Master Plumber/Gas Fitter 1 1 0 100%

NEW BUSINESS:

A. WEBSITE UPDATE

Mr. Smitson informed the Board that our website has been updated with new information from the Environmental Protection Agency to inform the public on important lead hazard information for families, child care providers and schools.

B. MARYLAND PLUMBING ASSOCIATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Mr. Radtka discussed with the Board the approval of the Maryland Plumbing Association Training Program. Upon Mr. Radtka’s Motion, and Mr. Garner’s second, the Board unanimously voted to approve their continuing education program.

CORRESPONDENCE:

A.  CORRESPONDENCE REQUESTING EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT EXEMPTION

The Board reviewed correspondence from a licensed Journey plumber gas/fitter, informing the Board that he has taken a review course to take the master plumber gas/fitter examination but has not held his journey plumber gas/fitter license for the two year period as required and only has 3,676.5 hours opposed to the required 3,750 working hours; he is requesting that the Board allow him to sit for the examination prior to completing the standard requirements. Upon the Board’s review, it was determined that the Board could not grant the individual his request.

B.  CORRESPONDENCE FROM MR. NELSON KELLY REGARDING HB 224-GREY WATER REUSE

The Board reviewed correspondence from Mr. Nelson Kelly regarding HB 224- grey water. Mr. Kelly expressed his opinion and concerns that this legislation, if fast tracked, could jeopardize the safety of the building sanitary plumbing system and that contamination of the potable water system is of prime concern. Mr. Radtka informed the Board that he will contact Mr. Kelly informing him that HB 224-grey water only states that a County can not prohibit the use of grey water.

C._CORRESPONDENCE FROM MR. ALANA SHEFFIELD

The Board reviewed correspondence from Mr. Alana Sheffield which includes 15 job descriptions requesting what type of license would be required for each job description. Upon Board review, the Board will assist Mr. Smitson with a reply.

D. CORRESPONDENCE FROM MR. QUINTEN HERBERT

The Board reviewed correspondence from Mr. Quentin Herbert informing the Board that he has an opportunity to go to a plumbing trade school in Britain; he wanted to know if the trade school would be recognized in the State of Maryland. Upon the Board’s review, it was determined the Board could not grant the request.

E. CORRESPONDENCE FROM MS. SANDRA BECK

The Board reviewed correspondence from Ms. Sandra Beck, Corporate Executive Assistant for L H. Cranston and Sons, Inc. She informed the Board that a new employee for that Company holds a certificate from the University of Florida, TREEO Center’s Backflow Prevention Technician Instructors Training Course and inquired as to if this certificate is applicable in the State of Maryland. Upon the Board’s review, it was determined that with the proposed Regulation for Backflow Certification in process, the Board could not respond at the present time.

CHAIR’S REPORT

None

COUNSEL’S REPORT

None

APPROVAL OF FINDINGS MADE DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Upon Mr. Lenderking’s Motion, and Mr. Kastner’s second, the Board unanimously voted to approve the findings made during Executive Session.

ADJOURNMENT:

A Motion was made by Mr. Wiebking, Seconded by Mr. Lenderking and unanimously carried by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 12:30 p.m.

______

Charles J. Morgan, Jr., Chairman

______Without Corrections

______With Corrections

4