September 19, 2003

The Electricians’ Board met at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, September 19, 2003. Present were George Maihos, Chairman; Joan DeLorie, Vice Chairman, Peter Chierichetti, Thomas Malley and Henry Szumiesz, Board members; Mark Hilbert, Senior Inspector; William Benard, Henri Dionne and Dean Sotirakopoulos, Inspectors; and Pamela Olin, Administrative Assistant.

The Board met for a Public Hearing for rule changes which would change the annual renewal for master and journeyman electricians to a 3 years renewal with approximately a third of the licensees renewing each year. Representatives from the ECBA and the IBEW indicated approval of the proposed changes. The staff noted some changes that needed to be made in section Elec 401.01 specifying years instead of renewal periods to keep the meaning of that section the same as it currently was. A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the changes as proposed.

The Public Hearing was closed and the meeting continued with the items tabled from the September 16, 2003 meeting.

Probation reports were reviewed. Inspector Benard reported that he and Marie Morgan had met twice to review credit for school placement. He also read a letter from Marie Morgan regarding the pilot program in Littleton and Conway where the students took the TENET program and had a class with teacher available for one night per week as a partial correspondence program. The classroom part was optional last year but she was going to recommend that it be required this year. A motion was made by George Maihos that the program, continue with the 3 hour per week of classroom time being mandated. The motion was seconded by Henry Szumiesz and passed. Marie Morgan is also setting up a certification for the teachers of this program. The Education Committee met and reviewed two 30 hour programs for apprentices who require additional schooling starting with the 5th renewal. The first program was an internet course with Jade Electric which includes their 15 hour update and 4 additional modules. They will also still have the interactive course available. A motion was made by George Maihos to approve the course. The motion was seconded by Peter Chierichetti and passed. The second course that the Education Committee reviewed was from Wil Dockham and it would include his 16 hour exam prep course and a choice of his 15 hour update course or two 8 hour courses one on grounding and one reviewing Articles 220, 430 and 450.

The Board Chairman George Maihos requested the Board’s support to be the nominee of the Board to the Building Code Review Board. The other Board members agreed with this nomination.

Inspector Benard reported making inspections in several towns with local inspectors and several school inspections as well. He investigated a fire with Bill Clark from the Fire Marshal’s Office where they found a cable that had been chewed by rodents. He also presented several code compliance issues regarding generator and transfer switch installation due to engineering flaws. Chairman Maihos raised a concern regarding the number of National Electrical Code deficiencies found by the Board’s inspectors with emergency system designs and installations. The Board recommended that Inspector Hilbert offer a program on emergency system electrical installations to the designers, installers and inspectors through their respective associations. Inspector Benard discovered an apprentice, Edward Kalisiak, with a lapsed card after he attempted to avoid being discovered by hiding. A motion was made by George Maihos to request that Mr. Kalisiak meet with the Board at their October 14, 2003 meeting regarding how this could effect his application for journeyman in the future. The motion was seconded by Thomas Malley and passed.

Inspector Dionne reported on the Murphy and Cotton-Hadel investigations, assisting the Hanover inspector, and inspections at Boyd Hall Plymouth State College and the Carroll County Jail and Courthouse.

Inspector Sotirakopoulos reported assisting 8 local inspectors as well as the Rockingham County Complex. He informed the Board about finding that ECS Electric, Curtis Burnham, employed 2 unlicensed individuals to perform an electrical installation. A motion was made by George Maihos to bring Mr Burnham in for a hearing at the October meeting of the Board. The motion was seconded by Thomas Malley and passed. Inspector Sotirakopoulos also informed the Board about Joseph Hemenway, Jr who had allegedly performed electrical installations at 5 different locations that were not in compliance with the 2002 NEC. A motion was made by George Maihos to bring Mr. Hemenway in for a hearing at the October meeting of the Board. The motion was seconded by Thomas Malley and passed. Inspector Sotirakopoulos then told the Board that he and Hudson Inspector Joe Bourque found a Scott Ludwig working without a license. His application had been received by the Board after the August meeting and would have been acted on at this meeting. A motion was made by Thomas Malley that Mr Ludwig appear before the Board to review whether his application should be approved. The motion was seconded by Joan DeLorie and passed.

Inspector Hilbert reported on the IAEI Diamond Jubilee which he attended. He requested the Board approve his appointment to represent the International Association of Electrical Inspectors as a principal member of the NFPA 79 Committee. This committee is responsible for the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery. This appointment is pending the NFPA Standards Council Approval. He also requested approval for 2 out-of-state travel requests one for a presentation to the Green Mountain Chapter of the IAEI and the other to attend the NFPA 79 Committee meeting in Quincy, MA. A motion was made by George Maihos to approve the appointment of Inspector Hilbert to the NFPA 79 Committee and the 2 out of state travel requests. The motion was seconded by Henry Szumiesz and passed.

At 11:50 am, the Board voted to go into non-public session to discuss the September 16, 2003, hearings. At 12:30 pm, the Board voted to go into public session. A motion was made by George Maihos that Mr. Faris’s license be suspended for 2 years with the second year deferred pending proof of completing of 72 hours of instruction on the 2002 National Electrical Code with a school or provider approved by the Board, by the end of the first year. The motion was seconded by Peter Chierichetti and passed. A motion was made by George Maihos that Mr Michaud’s license be suspended for one year deferred with a one year limitation and pending proof of completing of 72 hours of instruction on the 2002 National Electrical Code with a school or provider approved by the Board to be completed by September 30, 2004. The motion was seconded by Joan DeLorie and passed.

The next meeting of the Board will be October 14, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. at the Richard M. Flynn Fire Academy, Route 106, Concord. The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.