August 26, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Fred Knapp introduced Dave Nichols, ICC Liaison; SNMBOA officers and board members; Frank Torres, nominated for the board position vacated by Kevin Wilson; Carmine Raia, President of the New Mexico Conference of Building Officials; and Lisa Martinez, Director of Construction Industries Division.

Fred also announced that SNMBOA received one of four ICC Chapter Merit Awards offered world wide. Fred and members of the board will be attending the ICC Conference in Detroit where the chapter will be ceremonially recognized for the award.

Bill Heineken notified everyone at the meeting that a “predatory” unlicensed contractor named Robert H. Hays is being sought by CID and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. He is known to have connections to the south Albuquerque area but has been active elsewhere.

Dave Nichols ICC publications with articles about the Spring Training Seminar to the attention of members. He said Frank Hodges, ICC President, said the conference was a model of cooperation and hoped other training efforts throughout the US would follow our lead.

Special Guest, Lisa Martinez, Director of CID:

Director Martinez focused her talk on the issue of current legislation promoting contract inspectors and alternative options, such as encouraging State, county, and municipal inspectors to obtain multiple certifications for a variety of inspection fields. State ordinance allows multiple certifications and CID is researching how it could be adopted by other New Mexico jurisdictions.

CID opposes the current legislation, HB 674, and encourages taking more time to review the situation and come up with alternatives. They also dispute claims that it saves jurisdictions time and money. Director Martinez cited specific examples shared by jurisdictions in other states regarding their experiences with contract inspectors. Issues being studied include conflict of interest, loss of local revenue due to fees entering the general fund, and liability.

CID hopes to assemble a summary of issues to present to the Governor. The brief is likely to include a discussion of inspectors’ salaries, a proposal for a multiple certification policy, and a current pilot program for Clovis and Rio Rancho.

Discussion and questions ensued related to the Director’s topic. Some issues brought up in the discussion were how inspectors can obtain experience in the field as currently required for multiple certifications, using enterprise funds for flexibility in inspection departments during times of need, having more training for contractors, reinspections dominating the time of inspectors particularly from homeowner/builders, reasonable scheduling of inspections, and potential political pressures as applied by lobbyists and “friends” of politicians acting as contract inspectors.

Following the break, Fred Knapp made a motion to vote Frank Torres onto the SNMBOA Board of Directors to replace Kevin Wilson. Pete Wilt seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the vote was taken and Frank Torres was elected without opposition.

Fred Knapp entertained suggestions for the 2006 Spring Training Seminar. The discussion included asking the Lincoln County Home Builders Association to partner on the project by being in charge of obtaining vendor exhibitors who might also provide training classes for the contractors, having shorter classes that might be repeated at other times to offer more flexibility in the schedule, and asking the New Mexico Conference of Building Officials to join us as partner. Both the LCHBA and NMCBO will consider it and contact Fred with a decision.

Pat Vandergriff presented some comments on a proposal by the New Mexico Home Builders Association to roll back changes to the national energy code. He suggested the effort should have the support of building officials, but changes to the code needs a 2/3 vote to roll back the changes made earlier because they are already part of the code.

Carmine Raia announced that the NMCBO will be offering an ICC training course in November.

Fred announced that at our October 21st meeting we will host Dan Hagan who will speak on the New Mexico Model Energy Code.