APRIL 12^TH NJSPLS MEETING REPORT TO SAWJ

TO :	SAWJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FROM :	ADAM DIGIUSEPPE
SUBJECT :	APRIL 12TH NJSPLS MEETING REPORT TO SAWJ
DATE :	04/14/2022

Several officers and committees had nothing to report, they are not listed.

Treasurer’s Report

• The society is solvent.
• Budget is attached.

NSPS Director

• Several Items listed in attached report made by Joe Dolan.
  • NSPS wants NJSPLS to participate in young surveyors week.
  • There is a contest to see which state can get the most boy scouts mentored for their Land Surveying merit badge.
    • New Ad-Hoc Committee created to investigate and prepare for the next BSA Jamboree
• The society is looking to re-remove the portion Taft-Hardy law that classified all individuals working in the field on crews as a laborers for prevailing wage purposes.
• NSPS Government Affairs Update prepared by Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, LLC, attached.

Conference Committee Report

• No positive Covid test as convention – No reports of positive tests after convention.
• They are exploring the possibility of signing a longer term contract with Harrah’s at the 2021 prices.
• Public relations:
  • Plaque dedication for center of population went well. Several local dignitaries and Dave Doyle were in attendance.
  • NJSPLS golf outing is coming up in September
  • League of municipalities is coming up in November – they are discussing getting a booth.

GIS/LIS Committee Report

·         There is a new Utility Task force with the goal of standardizing the utility symbology within municipal GIS systems in the state.

Education Committee Report

·         CST had 30 applicants at the convention this year, 3 for level 3, the rest split just about evenly between levels 1 & 2 and field and office.

·         About half of individuals passed outright, 6 are were close and are still in manual review.

·         Rowan at GCC has 19 students, there are 5 students at Rowan campus proper. Only 3 new students for the fall semester so far

o   Not enough students to offer the boundary law class this fall; they need a minimum of 6 new students to run that class.

Legislative Committee Report

• There is an effort in the works to try and get surveyors on the list of entities for 811, no longer calls for “excavating”

Apprentice Committee Report

• They are still concerned at the lack of adherence to the documentation and filing requirements.
• Only 5-6 company out of 25 companies listed in the program have apprentices
• Only 1 company is adhering to the documentation and filing requirements.
• If there were to be an audit, this could be an issue.

Scholarship Foundation

• Three 2000 dollar scholarships were awarded:
  • Megan Suter of NJIT
  • Jeff Vaccarella of University of Maine
  • David Madden of Rowan
• There will be a ceremony at the next in person meeting in Toms River on June

Treasurer Richard Sapio called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

SPEAKER

Presenting at the meeting were Joseph T. Campoli, Esq. and Frederick T. Mahar P.E., Esq. of Thompson Becker, LLC., presenting “Protect Your Practice: Identifying, Understanding, and Guarding Against Risk”. Thompson Becker LLC is located at Ten Melrose Avenue, Suite 400, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 and are Legal Counsel for Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, LSRPs & Construction Related Professionals.

Mr. Campoli, Esq. outlined the need for Surveyors to purchase and maintain Professional Policy Insurance, considerations when purchasing, such as “choice of council”, differentiated between Claims Made Policies and Occurrence Based Policies, as well as the importance of securing legal council, specifically knowledgeable in representing professionals when malpractice claim is brought. Mr. Campoli further explained the intricacies involved in the Affidavit of Merit Statute, Standard of Care, the Statutes of Repose/Statute of Limitations, and pre-claims while answering questions from membership.

Mr. Mahar P.E., Esq. focused the discussion on the importance of contracts within the context of the work of surveyors, reviewed the contracts that were submitted by membership, and highlighted insurance considerations needing to be consistent with the contract and the guidance that can be provided by an insurance broker in these matters. Mr. Mahar furthered spoke on the importance of establishing contracts with clients in discussing the parameters:  Scope of Services, relationship with the client, Standard of Care, and the Rights and Responsibilities of the parties involved in a contract, along with providing examples of indemnity language to avoid in contracts and the limitation of liability provisions while answering questions from membership.

Treasurer Richard Sapio held a business meeting after the presentation.

BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

A motion was made to accept the minutes from the January meeting as presented to the membership via SAWJ.org.  The motion was seconded.  The motion past by unanimous voice vote.

TREASURER REPORT

Treasurer, Richard Sapio presented the following financial report, dated February 10, 2022.

           TOTAL         XXXXX

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

           STATE BOARD

Representative Adam DiGuiseppe reported: over 350 registrants for the upcoming SurvCON; Rowan University is looking for a qualified Survey Instructor to teach computer aided drafting; the fee for public works apprenticeship will be increasing; plans for the monumentation of the “Population Center of New Jersey” is being considered for two locations in East Brunswick.

            EXECUTIVE

            No report.

            NJSPLS CONFERENCE

            No report.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

No report.

GIS/LIS COMMITTEE

No report.

EDUCATION

No report.

LEGISLATIVE

No report.

NEW BUSINESS

No report.

SCHOLARSHIPS

OLD BUSINESS

No old business.

NEW BUSINESS

Lou Marchuk has presenters lined up for the upcoming months.

SAWJ Presentations   Jan to June 2022

SAWJ has the following presentations scheduled:

March 10,22     SUE, Subsurface Utility Eng.           Brian Holder, PLS, CPA

April 14, 22       Understanding Deeds                      Bruce Blair, PLS. BRB Forensics

May 12, 22       GIS Applications in Surveying         Kevin Zelinsky, GIS/CADD Manager &

                                                                                   Charles ‘Chip’ Adamson, OLS, RVE

June 9, 22        RTK Process and Procedures           Fred Czepiga, PLS

Topics shown are general. Presenters will fine tune the topic.

CLOSING

At 9:15 pm it was moved to adjourn the business meeting; seconded, and approved by voice-vote. 

Douglas Bennet, Recording Secretary