Call to Order: 6:14 PM by Larry Ames, president
Roll Call Introductions
Members present: 14 full members (New Member, Rich Maricle – Welcome!)
Determine Quorum: quorum was met. 2 members left the organization. Dale Lozier retired; Bruce Kellog resigned from the organization.
Requests from Members for Modifications to this Meeting Agenda? none
Approval of January 2021 Meeting Minutes as posted on STAHI website: Motion to approve: Tom Sherman, seconded by Russ Fontaine, all in favor
Secretary’s Report (Frank Macak)
Emails were created for the leadership positions and education Dept. Members should be using those to contact appropriate positions.
Larry added that we did a trial run to get set up with the STAHIYOURCE school, trying to work out the bugs with it. Frank M recommended recording the meeting. Tom S was concerned about proper storage of the info so that the CE classes do not get stolen and distributed somewhere online. Dave J. reports that we need to keep the files for 5 years, the recording files are small. Whoever runs the meeting should record a meeting.
Tom Sherman explained the process of how the emails are sent out after registration for the class.
Treasurer’s (Nathan Mann) Report and Approval – reported by Larry [ Nate is sick]
Monthly Treasurer’s Report: the treasurer’s report was posted on the website.
Motion to approve as posted: Steve Dawes, seconded by Tom Ott, all in favor
8 members are still behind with the dues – please catch up with that. Dues are due by the time of the last meeting.
Vice President’s (Russ Fontaine) ordinary mid-term audit of STAHI account – needs to get together with Nate after Nate gets better to do the audit.
Officers seek support for their decision to refund $50 non-member CE payment to Steve Dawes who just joined – all agreed
Larry purchased Zoom at a discount of $104 rather than $150 for a Zoom Pro subscription. Larry also paid $588 for NetInspect and is awaiting reimbursement from Nate for both.
Nate is expediting payment of collected dues to NYSAHI. Larry asks to encourage other inspectors to join NYSAHI
Provisions for electronic dues payment – Jamie says that it is set up, Nate can accept electronic payments.
Education Coordinator Report (Charlie Reiman, Education Coordinator, + Dennis Cole and Dick Alton)
Dennis reports on Projected CE Training:
Did confirm with Strong-Tie – good to go for May, hopefully at the Spot
Tom has some classes in the coming months – Tom has 4 more classes set up.
Larry asks for a schedule projected as far as possible to know how to plan
Tom talked about having an Inspect-out which he has approved for 3 CEs. Larry suggested we do it on the lake house that Charlie has access to in Cooperstown. Could be done other than on the meeting day. Tom and Charlie will coordinate.
Larry says we had 16 CEs last year and we should be able to get hopefully 20 CEs this year, which would be great.
Tonight’s Education Events:
During Meeting: (“Heads Up – Water Softening Backwash” – by Larry Ames
At end of business meeting: “The Progression of Building Techniques Through the Ages”- NYS L2792-02, by NetInspect/Dick Alton
NYSAHI Report (Tom Ott & Larry Ames 2021-22 STAHI Representatives)
Tom is complaining about the NYSAHI website, not generating traffic.
Larry explains that they are working on getting all inspector emails
Producing authorized production of an article for website: Liability Insurance Regulation by NYSDOS. Others to follow (suggestions welcomed)
Larry talked about one issue, which is the collection of sales tax, liability insurance issues, and other similar topics that NYSAHI would be very good for that.
John V. talked about collecting sales tax, and enforcement by the state. Also spoke about charging sales tax for the inspections done for sellers and that the buyers’ reports cannot be used by anyone else. Some members added, that for real estate transactions you do not need to collect sales tax.
Old Business
Corona Virus Conditions – we are still in it, seems to be milder cases, Larry suggests waiting a little longer before we meet in person. We should shoot for May in-person meetings – members agreed
Continuing call for new CE Opportunities from Members
- Mini Subjects
- Allied Trades & Professions
- Show N Tell Submissions
No alternate proposals were made for use of scholarship funds $500 – proposed for Boces as before. Motion to accept the proposal and to approve was made by Tom Sherman., seconded by Tom Ott, all attending members were in favor. Motion carried. Dennis will reach out to Boces.
Larry Inquired with the NYS Division of Codes & Standards – Fire Fighter Drywall Tape – waiting for a response.
Tech Follow-Up – information posted in the forum by Larry Ames: Interior Use of Fernco Couplings – can be used on the interior other than in enclosed spaces, cannot be installed under the ground. Installation of “Cheater Vents” in Walls – not allowed without service access. Lead in Damaged Porcelain Bathtubs – Health Threat Dependent on Acid Water? – more than acid in water issue
New Business
A recent article on unvented gas appliances – Larry Ames (CNN Article 1/27/22 “Gas stoves are a threat to health and have larger climate impact than previously known, study shows “ …scientists at Stanford University, found the emissions from gas stoves in US homes have the same climate-warming impact as that of half a million gasoline-powered cars — far more than scientists have previously estimated…. most of the stoves that we measured had at least a slow bleed of methane while they were off…nitrogen oxides, or NOx, … pose an especially harmful risk to children and the elderly, … emissions are directly proportional to how much gas is burned. (My takeaway: make sure that houses have good kitchen ventilation, recommend turning the vent on when cooking; check for leaks; issue for gas dryers also!) https://apple.news/A1Nd-C8ExR6KtOHErLzLOdw
State Workforce Program is sending people out to train as home inspectors. It is also a part of the unemployment requirement that they need to look for work.
Jamie Arnold’s Wordfence email protection/firewall protection suggestion (free version now, pay version is $100/yr.) Jamie explains that with the Pro version you can geo-block the rest of the world where most of the attacks come from.
Presentation on “Heads Up – Water Softening Backwash” – by Larry Ames
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Jamie Arnold, seconded by Dave Jones, all in favor. Motion carried.
Next meeting March 15th, 2022
Education Segment(2 credits NYS CE)
“The Progression of Building Techniques Through the Ages”– NYS L2792-02, by NetInspect/Dick Alton
Meeting minutes were recorded by Frank Macak – STAHI Secretary 2017–2022
If you have any additions/corrections – please contact me at frank@prime-inspect.com
Frank Macak, Secretary