New York Chapter and New York Upstate Chapter-American Society of Landscape Architects
235 Lark Street Albany, NY 12210 (518) 465-5176
SUMMER MEETING
Date: June 21, 2003
Location: NYSCLA Offices-235 Lark Street, Albany
Members
Present: D. Conklin-Upstate Officer (President)
B. Rodriguez- (NYSCLA Executive Director)
D. Annese- Downstate
N. Bateman- Upstate (Interim Secretary)
J. Imbiano-Downstate
D. Fasser- Upstate
K. Mathews- Downstate
N. Pouder-Downstate
D. Young-Upstate
Members
Absent: D. Brackett- Upstate
R. Hawks- Honorary
P. Lester- Downstate Officer (Secretary)
B. Martin-Honorary (Exec. Secretary NYS Board for LA)
D. McCord-Upstate
E. Olinger-Upstate Officer (Treasurer)
B. Restaino- Downstate
1. Executive Summary- presented by B. Rodriguez
Legislative session wrap up: The good news is that the Illegal Practice of Licensed Professions legislation passed and now awaits the Governor’s signature; no movement/progress was seen this session on Tort Reform (this will take a major effort in NY state); no outcome on Wicks Repeal legislation but considerable progress was made with conversations in both the Senate and House with the Unions; as cited by D. Young, several smaller school systems desire exempt status with respect to Wicks and will be looking for model legislation in the near future; no movement was made on the Design/Build legislation; Corporate Practice legislation has been held up largely due to opposition within the Office of Professions; QBS or Qualifications-Based Procurement of Professional Design Services did not progress and the status remains that we are still working to extend it; no movement/progress on Smart Growth legislation; the Brownfields legislation saw some success and a compromise between Senator Bruno and Assemblyman Silver will be worked out this September; taxing the professions will be an issue to follow for next year.
“LA and the Law”: More copies will go out this coming week; this year represents an expanded target audience which started out with Building Officials across the state, then Mayors, and now County Supervisors in municipalities over a population of 5000.
A8707: Picnic tables containing CCA: as noted by K. Mathews, and through a New York State Recreation and Parks Society announcement, this legislation passed both the Senate and Assembly late and the Governor is expected to sign it; this legislation is similar in concept to the previous legislation focusing on playground equipment constructed with lumber containing chromated copper arsenate (CCA). B. Rodriguez will follow up and determine if the NYSRPS will forward their legislative updates as a courtesy or if membership is a prerequisite and what that will entail.
2. Treasurer’s Report-submitted in writing by E. Olinger; accepted as submitted.
Old Business:
3. Lobby Day 2003- presented by N. Pouder; this year’s Lobby Day on April 29, 2003 was well attended and resulted in a success story with solid participation from both upstate and downstate; participating from NYSCLA was E. Olinger, D. Conklin, and N. Pouder; this joint effort with the architects continues to have a significant impact. N. Pouder personally contacted six or seven legislators/staff. throughout the day’s events. Likewise, D. Conklin and E. Olinger made contacts as well.
4. Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE)- The Committee researching this issue, D. McCord, E. Olinger, and N. Pouder reported that draft legislation was submitted to CLARB and ASLA about a month ago with no word received as yet; D. Fasser suggested that an opportune time to further discuss this with CLARB representatives would be at CLARB’s Annual Meeting this fall; the challenge for Landscape Architects is to find/organize a source to administer the MCE program. Unlike the Architects who have AIA ‘s Continuing Ed System which is affiliated with post secondary institutions, Landscape Architects currently do not have a pre-approved sponsor ready to undertake such a task. CLARB and/or ASLA are the two likely candidates. The draft legislation submitted by NYSCLA will kick off conversations in order for New York to move forward on this, all the while watching to see if either CLARB or ASLA emerges in the next two years as the entity which will coordinate the national MCE program. N. Bateman noted that our proposal should be designed so that state government Landscape Architects are not exempt from MCEs. D. Annese noted that the Universities and Colleges should be informed as to our progress, as they hold key potential as MCE providers whose resources we should safeguard. D. Conklin agreed, noting that prior to meeting with University and College officials, we should have as much of a solid plan together for administering such a program as possible; K. Mathews suggested, and D. Conklin agreed, that an official letter to each potential provider and educational institution should come from NYSCLA simultaneously once we are beyond our current state of data collection and research. Everything then will be more organized, resulting in a more presentable format. D. Fasser noted that once we have a package from MCE that is self sustaining and poses limited or no burden to the state, the State Education Department should approve it easily. D. Conklin noted that If CLARB or ASLA responds to our draft this fall, a general, tentative timeframe would likely be for legislation to be adopted within two years.
New Business:
5. New and Departing Officiers- D. Conklin, President, motioned for a vote for the new President, with the majority accepting the nomination of downstate’s K. Mathews as NYSCLA’s new leader, effective today. The Board thanked D. Conklin for all his leadership and energy for the past several years and is glad to have him continue service as a Board Member. K. Mathews graciously accepted her new position as President and the Board welcomed their new leader. Other Board Member changes include the departure of Damon Mark Scott, downstate, and the welcoming of John Imbiano, downstate, to replace him. The Board extends our best wishes to Damon, as well as our appreciation for his work and service as a Board Member. A new downstate member will soon be appointed to fill the position vacated by K. Mathews as she moves up to serve as President.
6. Postponed items- Work on the Archives has not been forgotten and D. Annese reported that some sorting and collecting still needs to be done in various locations. He will get in touch with Syracuse and get past minutes from P. Lester and will keep the Board posted on progress.
7. Meeting minutes review/submittal- D. Young suggested that the meeting minutes be in final form prior to posting on the website to keep things streamlined. N. Bateman suggested it would be a good idea if a couple Board Members could review/edit the minutes prior to final submittal. It was decided that D. Conklin, D. Fasser, and K. Mathews would review, with N. Bateman then submitting the final version to D. Young for web posting.
8. Calendar-
August 23: Fall Board Meeting (2004 calendar to be set at this meeting)
Oct. 30-Nov. 3 ASLA Annual Meeting in New Orleans (D. Conklin is this
year’s Conference Co-Chairman; Congrats Dale!)
With their being no further business, the meeting adjourned for a lunch gala down Lark Street.
* Please note, all Board Meetings will continue to start at 10:30 am.