Summary of Member Meeting on June 7, 2012

Alliance for Regulatory Coordination

Summary of Member Meeting

Meeting Date: June 7, 2012

Location: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

The meeting was convened at 9:30 a.m. by Bob DuPont, of Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC. Attendees introduced themselves and identified the organization they were representing.

Recent ARC communications with the Department of Safety and Professional Services were recapped by Bob DuPont and others. DuPont encouraged ARC members to respond to DSPS Secretary Ross’s invitation for persons to volunteer for service on DSPS code councils.

Some members said they have communicated concern and frustration to Secretary Ross over the fact that there have been few meetings of DSPS advisory code development councils over the past year.

Regarding ARC efforts to stop the diversion of funds from the DSPS, DuPont reminded everyone about the strategy meeting set for June 21st from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the offices of the Associated Builders and Contractors. He said the Wisconsin Realtors Association has confirmed their plan to attend the meeting and reminders will soon go out to other potential partners in this effort. DuPont encouraged Classic Members of ARC to participate in the strategy meeting and said a report on the meeting will be sent to all members. The meeting will address the historic skimming of ten percent of DRL revenue (since 1977) and the lapsing of Commerce, DRL and DSPS fee monies fund over the past ten years.

A review of progress on the top five priorities of ARC was lead by DuPont. There was general consensus that topics one through four were still top priorities needing attention. Those are:

• 1. Stop the lapsing of funds from the Safety and Buildings Appropriation,

  2. Improve the organizational structure of the Safety and Buildings Division,

  3. Improve the deployment of resources among programs and services within the Division, and

  4. Maintenance of services when merging into the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

There was considerable discussion regarding topic number four as it relates to continuing education policies and services of the DSPS. There was consensus that DuPont should call Greg Gasper, Executive Assistant to DSPS Secretary Ross, to request a meeting between Greg and some ARC members, regarding continuation of the Department’s service of tracking continuing education hours for credential holders previously licensed by the Safety and Buildings Division.

There was general consensus that topic five, future efforts of the Division to improve delivery of continuing education courses through more coordination with industry associations, seemed to be adequately addressed during the March 30th ARC meeting with Nancy Mistele. Members suggested that this topic be monitored by those interested, with future efforts of the Alliance to be based on how the Division implements the cooperation that Ms. Mistele described on March 30, 2012.

Attention next turned to consideration of developing additional priorities for ARC to address. DuPont briefly reviewed the list of ARC items of interest which he had separated into four tiers based on the number of ARC members expressing interest in them during summer of 2011. He suggested that dialogue on prioritization begin today with plans to finalize a decision during the next member meeting.

One new item of concern was reviewed; related to DSPS contractor registration requirements which seem to overlap the historic role of architects. This topic was raised by Douglas Gallus during the ARC Member Meeting on February 3, 2012. There was general consensus that such overlap also appears to affect some other DSPS credential holders, such as master plumbers and professional engineers. Scott Satula mentioned that his community has experience with private permit agencies from outside Wisconsin. He said that such agencies do not construct or supervise construction; they simply obtain the necessary building permits. Scott said that word from DSPS is that such entities may not need to obtain a contractor registration from the Department because they are merely agents of the project owner. No decision was made relative to making this topic a top priority.

DuPont briefly described what the ARC Fire Safety Team has been discussing, relative to possible legislation to require a more robust state program of permits and inspections for commercial buildings, similar to the state program for one- and two-family dwellings. He said this topic could encompass 13 previously identified interests of Alliance members regarding operation of the Safety and Buildings Division. DuPont said that, although the Fire Safety Team had not yet settled on a specific recommendation to ARC members at large, he felt it appropriate for all ARC members to be aware of this idea and to be prepared for more discussion and consideration of it as a possible future priority. He encouraged interested ARC members to participate in the ARC Fire Safety Team at 11:45 a.m., immediately following the member meeting.

A proposal to revise the ARC commendation of local safety programs was presented by DuPont. Instead of mailing paper certificates of commendation, to each Wisconsin fire department and to municipalities having a building inspection department, the new idea is to issue several press releases throughout the year. The releases would go out to over 200 newspapers, and every major radio and television station serving Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Newspaper Association would be paid to distribute the releases and to track and report which news outlets utilize the press releases in their publications or broadcasts. DuPont suggested three press releases per year: in August, to express support for, and encourage funding of, local fire and building inspection services; in October, to promote national fire prevention week and express support of those involved in fire prevention efforts; and in May, to promote national building safety week and express support of those involved in building safety efforts. There was consensus to implement this change as proposed.

The next meeting of Alliance Members was scheduled for September 14, 2012, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the headquarters of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

This summary was prepared by Bob DuPont, Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

It was issued on June 21, 2012.