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Association of Contracting Plumbers Raises $116,000 for SFA CH. XXVIII
After having to cancel the 2020 Charity Golf Outing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York, Inc. was ecstatic to hold its annual “Plumbing Industry Day” Charity Golf Outing on May 24, 2021. The charity chosen this year was the United States Special Forces Association (SFA) Montana XXVIII Chapter, also known as the “Devil’s Brigade Chapter.” The Devil Brigade’s Chapter, re-chartered in 2002, is a 501(c)(19) Non-Profit Veteran Service Organization and is one of 86 chapters around the world. It has 165 members.
The Devil’s Brigade (also called The Black Devils and The Black Devils’ Brigade and Freddie’s Freighters, officially the 1st Special Service Force), was an elite, joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in the United States. The brigade fought in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, and southern France before being disbanded in December 1944. The modern American and Canadian special operations forces trace their heritage to this unit. The Devil’s Brigade was known for their stealth and skill with the V-42 dagger which is central to the Special Forces Regimental Crest “Flash” worn on the Green Beret by Special Forces Soldiers.
The Montana XXVIII Chapter hosts several retreats and events for veterans and has a scholarship program. The ACP is pleased to report that $116,000 was donated to this Chapter. Thank you to everyone who made the day a success!
L to Right: Tom Maniuszko, Chair of Charity Golf Outing Committee; John Nolan, US Army Special Forces Association Chapter 28; Rob Greenberg, ACP President; Terence O’Brien, ACP Executive Vice President & Senior Director of the Plumbing Foundation
Winners of the 2020-21 Leonard X. Farbman Memorial Scholarship
The 2021 winners of the Leonard X. Farbman Memorial Scholarship Program have been determined. Further information on the scholarship program can be found on the Association of Contracting Plumbers’ website (acpcny.org). Each recipient receives $5,000 a year towards a collegiate education. As a reminder, all scholarship applications are reviewed by an independent panel of educators and selections are based upon academic achievement, community service, and extracurricular activities.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot come together at our annual Scholarship Award Reception to acknowledge and celebrate noteworthy academic achievements of these five young students. The Trustees of the Promotion Fund and the ACP Executive Board are happy to announce the following 2021 winners:
- Alyssa Apuzzo
- Olivia M. Dul
- William T. Kender
- Thomas S. Little
- Marisa A. Lyons
Congratulations to all the winners, we wish you luck on your future endeavors!
The Plumbing Foundation Honors George Bassolino III
When one thinks of the New York City Plumbing Industry, no doubt George Bassolino III comes to mind. Having served on the Board of Directors of the Plumbing Foundation for nearly two decades, he has contributed to countless improvements in the plumbing industry.
George Bassolino III is a third generation New York City Licensed Master Plumber. He is the President of G. Bassolino Plumbing Ltd since 2006. In 1933, at the age of twenty two, his grandfather, George Bassolino, Sr, started the original company. With George Bassolino IV in the process of obtaining his master plumbers license, the company has been blessed to expand into a fourth generation. George’s family has always been active in the industry’s plumbing trade associations. He has followed in their footsteps and volunteers his time to help promote the plumbing industry. George says it is a privilege to serve on several NYC Department of Buildings committees and subcommittees.
The Plumbing Foundation is honored to bestow on George as an outgoing member of the Board of Directors the Lifetime Achievement Award for all of his hard work and dedication to the NYC plumbing industry, which no doubt will continue!
The Plumbing Foundation is also enthusiastic about newly appointed director Anthony D. Altimari. Anthony currently serves as President and CEO of Marine Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc. As the Plumbing Foundation’s newest member of the Board of Directors, he joins with a track record for building businesses from the ground up and ensuring their economical growth and stellar reputations among industry contacts. Mr. Altimari gained scores of experience in this regard starting his own contracting business Altimari Construction Corp in 1995. He holds his master plumber’s license in both NYC and Westchester County, and is able to contribute to the Plumbing Foundation real world plumbing field intelligence. Having worked for Pace, WDF Inc., and Paramount Plumbing Company Inc. in business development, bidding management, and estimating respectively, Mr. Altimari is a seasoned asset to the Plumbing Foundation.
NOTICE: DEP Borough Records Offices Reopening
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued the following notice:
To ensure the safety of our visitors during the COVID-19 public health emergency, our water and sewer records offices in all five boroughs will reopen one day per week BY APPOINTMENT ONLY beginning on May 24, 2021. To schedule an appointment, please call your local records office on Mondays or Tuesdays, as appointments are limited:
- Manhattan (open Mondays): (212) 602-7550
- Queens (open Tuesdays): (718) 520-2020/ 2022/ 2023
- Brooklyn (open Wednesdays): (718) 923-2671/2675
- Bronx (open Thursdays): (718) 466-3881
- Staten Island (open Fridays): (718) 876-6820
Appointments will be scheduled for the following week on the day your local office is open. You must have an appointment to enter our records offices and you must wear a mask or face covering, as required by New York City rules. DEP has worked to minimize risks to both our visitors and our staff by installing protective plexiglass at all our counters and by discontinuing walk- in service to facilitate appropriate social distancing.
For more information, please visit:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/news/200820/special-instructions-water-sewer-applications-permits
What’s The Difference?
LL152 Training And Operator Qualification
The Plumbing Foundation’s Gas Operator Qualification program, which was originally created for compliance with state regulations for inspections and maintenance of US DOT jurisdictional gas piping and in anticipation of similar requirements for LL152, is acceptable for purposes of LL152 inspections through GTI/ Northeast Gas Association, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) approved course provider # 6T73.
However, GOQ members need to be aware that the DOB also requires qualified gas piping system inspectors to have 5 years’ experience to conduct LL152 inspections. According to DOB, it is the obligation of the employing inspection entity and LMP to ensure that individuals performing these inspections possess the qualifications per the law and rule. DOB has stated that the employing LMP should request whatever documentation is necessary to verify experience.
We are tracking the experience requirement through Attachment F of the GOQ membership application:
UPDATED LL152 FAQs
Since LL152 periodic building gas system inspections began in early 2020, members of the industry have reached out to us with several questions. We have continued to update our FAQS (link below) to reflect the NYC Department of Buildings’ (DOB) response to these questions. Most recently, we have been asked: while performing the Local Law 152 inspection in an existing building, if the gas risers have drip tees at the base of the riser, do the tees need to be removed? DOB’s response is: The drip tees at the base of the riser can remain as they were required to be installed on older gas systems.
For more information, please see our updated FAQs here:
www.plumbingfoundation.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FAQs-on-LL152-of-2016-revised-05.06.2021.pdf
DOB Card Replacement Policy
As the industry may be aware, the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has a policy regarding the replacement of DOB-issued cards (e.g. DOB gas card) requiring an individual to file a Lost/Stolen Property report to the NYPD to replace a card. The Plumbing Foundation has concerns over this requirement and has issued a formal letter to the DOB Commissioner Melanie La Rocca. For example, a driver license provides a great analogy to this issue: it costs $17.50 through a quick online process to replace a lost or stolen driver license according to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. However, DOB feels it is necessary to go above and beyond that precedent by not only requiring payment of $50 but requiring the individual to submit a police report to an NYPD precinct. It should be sufficient to require payment and a signed affidavit to have a DOB-issued card replaced. If the DMV does not feel it is necessary to have a police report on file to “cover its bases” and protect itself, it seems completely excessive for the DOB to require such a report. Not to mention that it could require an individual to perjure himself/herself on such a report if the card, for example, was destroyed in an accident and was not actually “lost” or “stolen.”
THE PIPECASTER is published by the Plumbing Foundation City of New York, Inc.
Lawrence J. Levine, Chairman; Louis J. Buttermark, Vice Chairman; Barr Rickman, Treasurer; April McIver, Executive Director; Terence O’Brien, Editor. Board of Directors: George Bassolino, Paul Belli, Marc Breslaw, Louis J. Buttermark, Harris Clark, Alex Greenberg, Nicholas Katragis, Angelo Lemodetis, Lawrence J. Levine, Scott Lyons, Barr Rickman, Richard Turchiano
The Plumbing Foundation Launches New Website!
The Plumbing Foundation is pleased to announce it has updated its website – please take a look here!
The Plumbing Foundation Remembers Peter Krokondelas
The Plumbing Foundation is sad to report that its longtime lobbyist and friend Peter Krokondelas passed away on Saturday, May 29th at 52 years old. He was an accomplished government relations professional, advocating for our industry for a decade and a half, and was an incredible person and family man.
We are going to miss Pete and offer our sincere condolences to his family (especially to his wife, Stephanie, and his two young sons Jack and Jojo), all of his friends, and the entire Kasirer team, for this irreplaceable loss.
Please see Pete’s obituary here:
www.flinchandbruns.com/obituary/Peter-Krokondelas
THE PLUMBING FOUNDATION’S ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Since its establishment in 1986, the Plumbing Foundation has worked diligently to ensure the plumbing industry has as little a “carbon footprint” on New York City as possible. The plumbing industry has historically utilized environmentally friendly materials such as recycled cast-iron and copper piping/fittings. The Foundation will continue in its role of protecting New York City as well as being an advocate for the environment by strengthening its water/sanitary regulations and thereby reducing wasteful water consumption in the City.