Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc. * 104-09 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 * (718) 793-6300

A NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION OF THE MASTER PLUMBERS COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, INC.

VoiceThe

o f t h e L i c e n s e d M a s t e r P l u m b e r

Vol. 13, Issue 4Summer 2013

In this Edition:AWR Stipulation Reached

Lead Free PipingPaid Sick Leave

Gas Pipe in Corridors?

American Water Resources (“AWR”) reached a stipulation with the NYC Comptroller

regarding their lawsuit on July 17, 2013.

The stipulation states in part that the Comptroller will not issue any subpoenas and or otherwise seek to enforce Section 220 of the Labor Law against AWR or any of its subcontrac-tors with respect to work performed under the program until the Article

78 proceeding is decided by the Su-preme Court.

For its part AWR agreed to have all of its subcontractors maintain daily records of all employees working under the program. The subcontractors will be responsible to maintain payroll records required by law.

This stipulation should provide some clarity for contractors who may

want to participate in this program. We recommend that contractors choosing to do so obtain proper indemnification. Please note this agreement may not protect the contractor from any willful omissions of the requirements of the stipulation. We will cover more on this topic in a future issue.

The complete stipulation can be found on our website as follows: www.nycmpc.org/awrstipulation

AWR REACHES A STIPULATION WITH THE COMPTROLLER

On April 29, 2013, Assistant Commissioner for Technical Affairs and Development

James Colgate issued Building Bulletin 2013-006 (“Bulletin”). This Bulletin established requirements and procedures for work involving fuel gas piping in existing buildings undergoing alterations, replacements and repairs.

When the Bulletin was published there were many questions left unanswered. During the June 2013 Plumbing Sub Operations meeting it was stated that there would be exemptions for certain situations. An example of one exception would be that the installation of gas distribution piping in public corridors at the lowest level of the

building would be exempt.

As this issue is going to print we have had a report of a plan examiner refusing to approve a gas installation project that met the exemption criteria unless all of the requirements of the Bulletin were followed. If this is true it will create even more confusion among the engineers and licensed master plumbers who are charged with designing and installing these systems.

Compliance with this Bulletin will add cost to simple replacement projects and do little, if anything, to public safety. The DOB Technical Affairs Division is looking into this matter and we will provide a full report in a future issue.

Date: Wednesday, September 4th

Location: NEW LOCATION Central Lounge 20-30 Steinway Street, Astoria

Time: 6:00 Social

MEMbERShIPMEEtInG

GAS PIPE In PubLIC CoRRIdoRS?

6:30 dinner Meeting

Featured Speakers: Representatives from FdnY

Topic: nFPA 25. Standard for Inspection, testing and Maintenance of Water based Fire Protection Systems

Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc. The Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber 2

Master Plumbers Council of theCity of New York, Inc.

104-09 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375Phone: 718-793-6300 * Fax: 718-793-6190

www.nycmpc.org

The Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber,a membership publication of the NYCMPC.

All text for articles is due by the 1st day of themonth prior to publication.

We welcome your suggestions and contributions.

NYCMPC Board PresidentMichael Loise

Executive DirectorAngela Cappiello, CMP CAE

angelac@nycmpc.org

EditorGeorge BassolinoAngela Cappiello

GraphicsJanene Meyerowitz

JM Image Management, LLCinfo@jmimagemgmt.com

GENErAL DIsCLAIMEr stAtEMENt:the information provided in this newsletter is to be used only to

educate businesses and the general public on plumbing and related construction issues that may affect their daily business or personal

lives. All opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors only and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the NYCMPC, its officers, Board of Directors, the NYCMPC newsletter or its editors. the NYCMPC does not guarantee the accuracy or

the correctness of advertising, articles or references to information sources herein, nor does the NYCMPC intend to endorse, rate, or

otherwise officially comment on products available. therefore, the readers are cautioned to rely on information contained herein at their own risk. All information that is available to you through this newsletter is provided “as is” without warranty or condition of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. the information contained in the newsletter is believed

to be correct and accurate. However, the NYCMPC cannot and will not assume responsibility for the consequences of errors contained

in the articles or misapplication of any information provided. NYCMPC expressly disclaims any liability for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, including without limitation, lost revenues,

or lost profits, resulting from the use or misuse.

nYCMPC MEMbER nEWSNEW MEMbERSHIP CATEgORy:

At the June 2013 nYCMPC Annual Meeting, the membership voted to add the following category to our membership levels:

PROFESSIONAL MEMbERSHIP

All new York State licensed engineers or architects, lawfully engaged in providing services to the plumbing industry. Professional Members may not vote or hold office, but may be Chapter Chairmen. the board of directors shall determine any other criteria for Professional Membership by Rule.

Membership for this level is $1400 per 12-month period, but if you join the Master Plumbers Council before october 10, 2013, you can get 15 months for the price of 12. For more information about the benefits of membership, contact Angela Cappiello, MPC Executive director, via email at angelac@nycmpc.org.

On June 26, 2013, the City Council overrode a veto by Mayor Bloomberg, which enacted a law that amends the City Charter and Administrative

Code to require many employers to provide paid sick time to employees.

The new law, the Earned Sick Time Act, will require some employees to provide each employee with up to five paid sick days per year. Eligibility for employees may require as little as 80 hours worked in a calendar year. The effective date of the law is uncertain because the Council tied implementation of the law to the performance of the NYC economy. The earliest the law can go into effect would be April 01, 2014.

There are some industries and worker classifications that are exempt from the law. Those plumbers who are signatory to union agreements may not be among them. We will cover this new law in detail in the next several issues of the Voice. Most of the information will be provided in time for the November elections.

nYC to REquIRE MoStEMPLoYERS to PRovIdE PAId

SICk LEAvE

Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc. The Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber 3

Casella & Casella, llP1200 South Avenue, Suite 201Staten Island, New York 10314

www.CasellaAndCasellaLaw.comRalph P. Casella, Esq. has been representing plumbers since 1971 in the following:

Applications for Licensing, Buildings Department and OATH Investigations, Disciplinary Matters, Challenging License Application Denials in Court, Appeals, and Appearances before Licensing Board.

Ralph P. Casella is the former attorney for the Richmond County Plumbing Contractor’s Association, Plumbers Union Local 371; Plumbers Union Local 1, Brooklyn and Queens; Plumbers Union Local 1

for the City of New York.

Contact Ralph Casella at (718) 979-1137“Ralph Casella is the most knowledgeable attorney I’ve met regarding the plumbing industry, licensing, disciplinary matters and general plumbing business practices”

Emmanuel A. Troise, Jr.

GEt thE LEAd out

January 4th, 2014, marks the date a new federal law will go into effect that will change the plumbing industry.

This new law will reduce the permissible level of lead in the welded surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures to a weighted average not more than .025 percent. Products that meet these standards are certified as “Lead Free”.

It will be illegal to sell or install non-compliant products that are not lead free after the effective date of the law.

We will cover this new law in detail in the next several issues of the Voice.

What should you do in the interim?

• Start planning to implement the law NOW!

• Understand how the law will affect your business.

• Know what products comply with these standards.

• Know what systems are exempt.

• Confirm with the supplier that you are buying compliant products.

• Don’t be left with non-salable inventory on January 4th, 2014.

• Obtain knowledge and expertise to train your employees.

Anyone who was in the business back in 1986 will tell you this has the potential to be a game changer.

We are waiting to hear from the DOB on how they will enforce this new law. More information will be forthcoming as soon as we have some answers.

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Master Plumbers Councilof the City of New York, Inc.104-09 Metropolitan AvenueForest Hills, NY 11375(718) 793-6300

Gregory T. ChillinoAttorney at Law

Former Director of Prosecutions and Investigative Attorneyfor NYC Department of Buildings

administrative Hearings, licensing Matters and DisciplinaryProceedings, article 78’s, eCB Violations, Civil litigation.

315 Madison AvenueSuite 901New York, NY 10017

(646) 395-0500GC@GClicensinglaw.com

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