UPCOMING UTCA EVENTS
- September 26-29, 2019 54th Anniversary Convention
Tropicana Atlantic City
- September 26, 2019 Convention Golf Outing
Atlantic City Country Club
- October 29, 2019 Fall Sporting Clay Shoot
Lehigh Valley, PA
|
|
UTCA Legislation Advances
Despite the frenzied budget season, (more on that in the magazine), UTCA was able to make progress on a few key issues important to our industry.
I-BANK ACCESS TO FEDERAL FUNDS
Every year a small package of bills to reauthorize the I-Bank’s powers is passed by the legislature. Thanks to I-Bank Chairman and UTCA CEO, Bob Briant Jr., this year’s slate included an exciting new provision that enables the Bank to apply for federal transportation funding from programs such as TIFIA and RRIF, expanding the financial resources available to local governments by about $80-$100 million. The bills were signed into law by Governor Murphy in mid-July.
Local Aid
As previously mentioned; UTCA has been working on legislation that would tighten up the way the New Jersey Department of Transportation allocates local aid funding to local governments. Sponsored by Senator Paul Sarlo and Assemblyman Dan Benson,
S2863/A5380
was signed into law following last minute negotiations with NJDOT.
GATEWAY
Legislation formally establishing the Gateway Development Commission has been passed and signed into law in both New York and New Jersey, bringing the region one step closer to the nation’s most critical transit project. UTCA was able to participate in the bi-state negotiations behind-the-scenes, ultimately securing protective language in the bill that will ensure any work done in New Jersey will be subject to existing New Jersey labor law. Another key element of the new law is that New York and New Jersey will be required to pay equally for the local share of construction of the Gateway tunnels
and
the Portal Bridge program.
As we enter into the final half of an election year and get ready for the frenzy of the new legislative session, UTCA has several important priorities in the pipeline including design-build legislation, increased state investment in water infrastructure, and other initiatives to help clean up contracting and procurement processes for projects procured under Local Projects Contract Law.
|
|
SUMMER POLITICAL EVENTS
Ju
st because it’s summer doesn’t mean the legislature takes a break. Since June, UTCA has been actively supporting events held by legislative leadership, including Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo, Assembly Transportation Chair Dan Benson, Senator Joe Cryan, and others. These events provide great opportunities to reaffirm our relationships with state decision-makers, and keep the door open for ongoing conversations about our industry’s values and needs in this tumultuous political climate. In advance of the Assembly election upcoming in November and the hectic lame duck legislative session that will follow, it is critical that UTCA be present and accounted for in order to stay on top of any major policy initiatives that could affect the business of building.
|
|
UTCA Staying on Top of DEP Regulatory Reforms
UTCA stays on top of important regulatory reforms that are likely to impact our member companies. For environmental and utility-based work, the reforms proposed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) represent a bulk of our attention. Although the DEP proposes rules though a formal process and takes public comments before it finalizes any rule, UTCA strives to get involved early to better influence rule proposals prior to formal publication. New Jersey has environmental laws that are as strong or stronger than the federal government and most other states. These laws provide DEP with broad authority to regulate activities on land, air and on the water.
Engaging before rules are published is a long-standing practice of the UTCA. The following is a rundown of the (not exhaustive) DEP rule proposals that UTCA has recently engaged with:
- Drinking Water and Ground Water Quality Standards for PFOA and PFOS
- Surface Water Quality Standards (Upgrading to C1 Status)
- NJPDES Stormwater (limited scope) Rules
- Global Warming Solutions Fund Rules
In the coming months, UTCA anticipates that the DEP will stakeholder and publish rule proposals related to the following program areas:
- NJ Water Bank Program Rules / 7:22
- Water Quality Accountability Act Regulations
- Public Access Rules (as required by PL 2019 c. 81)
- Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) Regulations (pending Governor’s signature on reform legislation)
- Stormwater – Comprehensive Reforms
UTCA members should know that staff is paying attention to the rule-making process in the Murphy administration. There is clearly going to be a focus on expanding environmental regulations and in some sense, that will benefit UTCA members and the general public. This fits with the classic “the devil is in the detail” caveat. We are engaged with the business community as a whole and are regularly communicating with others in construction to stay engaged at every level.
Look for more details in the forthcoming UTCA magazine. Please reach out to me at
kennedy@utcanj.org
if you are interested in learning more about these efforts.
|
|
DAVE SMITH OF THE MOUNT GROUP
ELECTED NEW UTCA PRESIDENT
Dave Smith, President and CEO of The Mount Group of Companies will be sworn in as President of UTCA for 2019-2020 at our Annual Convention. Dave has spent the past 27 years growing the Mount Group of Companies, beginning with his flagship, Mount Construction Company, Inc. Dave has served on the UTCA Board of Directors since
2003 and was President from 2010-2011. He will be inducted as President on September 28, 2019 during the Saturday Night event at the Convention.
|
|
ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
The UTCA Awards Committee recently announced it has selected Tim Watters of Hoffman Equipment to receive the 2019 Larry Gardner Memorial Award and Tom Hardell of George Harms Construction to receive the Robert A. Briant, Sr. Memorial Award. Both awards will be presented on September 27th at the Luncheon Program during the Annual Convention. The honorees will be featured in the October issue of the magazine.
|
|
 |
OCTOBER MAGAZINE
The October Issue of the
Utility & Transportation Contractor
magazine will feature
2019 Convention Honorees
Tom Hardell
Robert A. Briant, Sr. Memorial Award
Tim Watters
Larry Gardner Memorial Award
&
Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman
Celebrating 30 Years in Business
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEND US YOUR JOB STORY
UTCA staff is working on content for future issues of the
Utility & Transportation Contractor
. We are looking for job stories to include in each issue. Big, small or in between, we'd like our readers to know about your project. For more information please contact Helene Nasdeo by email:
Helene@utcanj.org
or phone (732) 292-4300.
|
|
|
|
KEEPING WORKERS SAFE FROM HEAT HAZARDS
OSHA is urging employers to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and hazards. As we enter the summer season, warmer and more humid weather can increase the risk to workers both outdoors and in indoor workplaces with hot conditions. Learn how to keep workers safe by
clicking
here
.
|
|
TRAFFIC CONTROL COORDINATOR TRAINING
Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) has scheduled the following class:
September 10-13, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
|
|
J. FLETCHER CREAMER SR.
NAMED TO NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME
Each year the State of New Jersey selects a small group of people to become members of the prestigious New Jersey Hall of Fame. These are people, past and present, who have contributed through the arts and culture, science and medicine, business and law and to athletic achievement and public service. They have influenced and inspired many through their actions and deeds.
J. Fletcher Creamer, Sr. is one of those special people who have made countless contributions through his entrepreneurial spirit, his tenure and profound influences as a member of numerous public associations, construction industry associations and philanthropic commitments. Mr. Creamer, who passed in 2012, was a giant personality who demanded respect and in turn respected his business partners, employees, friends and those with political aspirations. "Fletch", as he was known, gave his time to many worthwhile events, organizations and business endeavors without hesitation.
The induction ceremony will be held on October 27th at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
|
|
LOUIS CAPPELLI, JR. NAMED
ONE OF THE POWER 50
IN SOUTH JERSEY
BY SOUTH JERSEY BIZ MAGAZINE
Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Cappelli, LLC Partner Louis Cappelli, Jr. has been named by South Jersey Biz Magazine as one of the “Power 50” in South Jersey. The Power 50 is a list of the 50 most influential leaders in South Jersey compiled annually by South Jersey Biz Magazine.
|
|
RICHARD KENNY AND
JOSEPH BERKOWITZ
JOIN ASPEN LANDSCAPING
Aspen Landscaping Contracting, Inc located in Union NJ recently announced that Richard Kenny, CPA/MBA has joined the commercial landscaping leader as Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operating Officer.
A construction industry veteran, Richard has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of financial operations. A graduate of Rutgers University Graduate School of Management where he achieved his MBA in finance and Livingston College/ Rutgers School of Business where he received his BS in accounting, Richard formerly held executive level positions at Fluence Corporation and The Conti Group.
Joseph Berkowitz has joined the commercial landscaping leader as Vice President of Operations.
With over 25 years of experience in managing heavy, highway and industrial construction projects, Joseph has a proven track record of on-time, on-budget projects with excellent safety records. A graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and having completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, Joseph has worked on projects for every major State Agency in New Jersey, several in New York and numerous private entities.
Founded in 1996, Aspen is a leader in full-solution public landscaping and operates across the Tri-State area. A certified women-owned and minority-owned business, Aspen has one of the most state-of-the-art landscape equipment lines used to tackle any project regardless of the conditions, size or complexity providing clients with the best and most cost-effective solution for their project. Aspen Landscaping Contracting is a union signatory that bids both public and private work.
|
|
RICHARD P. HIGGINS, CPA, IS NAMED MANAGING PRINCIPAL OF
McCARTHY & COMPANY’S NEW JERSEY OFFICE
McCarthy & Company, PC, is pleased to announce that Richard P. Higgins, CPA, has been named managing principal of its New Jersey office. Located in Beachwood, NJ, this office serves clients throughout the Garden State, as well as New York. The firm’s headquarters are in Lafayette Hill, PA.
Rich has extensive experience working with clients in the construction and real estate industries. Besides providing traditional accounting, audit, and tax services, he works with clients to expand their bonding capacity or obtain the financing needed to grow their business. Surety companies and bonding agents respect Higgins for the high quality of the financial statements he produces, as well as his extensive knowledge of the construction industry.
Higgins graduated from Stockton University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He is licensed to practice in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) and AICPA. Higgins is an active member of the Utility & Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) and National Association of Surety Bond Professionals (NASBP). He is frequently published in leading construction trade publications including Construction Executive (CE) This Week, Utility & Transportation Contractor, and MCC Construction Zone. Higgins can be contacted at 732.341.3893 or
Richard.Higgins@MCC-CPAs.com
.
McCarthy & Company's
Construction Profitability & Performance Survey
Construction industry experts forecast limited growth in 2019 and a possible downturn in 2020. We are interested in learning about how your business is doing. Your insight is valuable to us and other contractors throughout the Tri-State region.
Please take five minutes to complete our survey. In return, we will share the survey findings with you.
About McCarthy & Company, PC
McCarthy & Company, PC, is an accounting and advisory firm that prides itself on providing clients with a high-level of personalized service. Since 1967, the firm’s priority has been to ensure that clients continually strengthen their financial position. McCarthy & Company specializes in construction accounting.
McCarthy & Company is well-recognized for its expertise serving clients ranging in size from small family-owned businesses to midsize companies and global multimillion-dollar corporations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The firm is a trusted advisor to businesses in the construction, real estate, professional services, waste management, logistics, and service industries, as well as municipalities. In addition to traditional assurance, accounting, tax and business advisory services, McCarthy & Company specializes in sales and use tax, long-term financial planning, employee benefit plan audits, nexus studies, and tax credit analysis.
More information is available at
www.MCC-CPAs.
com
or by calling 610.828.1900.
|
|
UTCA Partnership Programs
UTCA partners with carefully selected companies to bring
our
members exclusive discounts. Please read about two of them below. The savings that your UTCA Membership includes can be found by logging into on our
website
.
|
|
Life is Better In Focus
Get access to the best in eye care and eye-wear with UTCA's Group Vision Plan by VSP ® Vision Care.
CLICK HERE
for more information about VSP Vision Care for your Firm.
|
|
Drug Testing & Silica Medical Testing
Ambassador Medical Services
(AMSI) has been a UTCA Partner for many years providing reliable Drug Testing and have added Silica Medical services.
AMSI specializes in all phases of employee drug testing programs, with considerable experience with contractors and utility owners. This firm has the capability to conduct on-site employee drug testing which provides considerable savings.
|
|
CLICK HERE
for more information about the Ambassador/UTCA Partnership.
|
|
PO Box 728 Allenwood, NJ 08720 Phone: (732) 292-4300 Fax: (732) 292-4310
Copyright © 2016 Utility and Transportation Contractors Association
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
