 
2011 New England MCA / MSCA Cup
New England MCA / MSCA will be holding their annual golf event to raise money for our student chapters at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northeastern University on Tuesday, September 13th at Blue Hills Country Club in Canton, Massachusetts. Please join us for this enjoyable event and help support our student chapters and the future of our industry!
Click here to print the registration form & offer your support!
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MCAA PAC Contribution
In the wake of successful actions on the FASB disclosure issue, New England MCA / MSCA urges members and associates to consider becoming a member of the MCAA PAC. MCAA PAC has been a vital component to our government relations effort in Congress. From FASB to 3% withholding, the PAC is used to support those lawmakers who understand our industry. New England MCA / MSCA recently sent out a memo with MCAA PAC registration information. If you did not receive the memo or have further questions please contact Stephen in the staff office.
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Interesting Reading
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Industry News
FASB Update
FASB's final action on their disclosure proposal on employer's participation in a multiemployer plan marks a momentous achievement for MCAA and its Construction Industry FASB Coalition and for MCAA's John McNerney, who led the months-long effort to protect our members' interests in this crucial matter.
FASB approved a final rule that fully accepts the alternative disclosure table proposed by our coalition and removes all the detrimental aspects of the original and subsequent proposed disclosures that would have presented severe financial, competitive, and market risks to our members, all of whom contribute to multiemployer plans.
For further information, contact Stephen in the MCA office.
Maine Ends FY with $50 Million Surplus
The State of Maine credits unexpected revenues to a nearly $50 million surplus when the fiscal year closed on June 30th. Although over $30 million are already allocated to replenish reserves, state officials remain positive. The surplus amount could increase by $5 million when unspent appropriations are accounted for. Individual income tax came in $22.6 million over estimates and corporate income tax came in $15.8 million over estimates.
Lowell General "Legacy Project" Moves Ahead
Lowell General Hospital is midway through an aggressive $95 million,
six- story, 145,000 sqft expansion that will double capacity. Hospital officials said the "Legacy Project" is advancing ahead of schedule with the possibility of occupancy starting in 2012.
Fewer Employees Take Employer Health Care
MA employers offering health insurance has increased since the 2006 reform, though fewer employees enroll in employer sponsored health insurance plans. The state report shows MA employers offering health care increased from 72% in 2006 to 77% 2010. The percentage of eligible workers enrolled in employer plans increased from 78% to 80% from 2007-2009, but then dropped back to 75% in 2010.
President Announces Retrofit Program
President Obama recently unveiled an initiative to assist in the energy-efficient retrofitting program for commercial buildings. The Better Building Challenge will solicit large-scale, green-building commitments, and provide financing and technical assistance for such projects. This public-private partnership is an off shoot of the "Better Building Initiative" proposed early this year to jumpstart private-sector investment in energy-efficient commercial building improvements through outreach and a new federal tax credit.
Material Cost Increase Hurst Contractors
Area general contractors say that many of their projects are on hold due to the rising cost of construction materials. In an already difficult market place, contractors faced a 7.5% increase in materials cost in 2010. Prices are said to have increased 1% in May alone. "Contractors are paying more for the materials, but they're not reflecting that in the bids" states AGC of America Economist Ken Simonson. Contractors say the potential for a continued rise in materials costs is affecting bids for long-range projects.
House Seeks to Cut GSA Construction Budget
The House recently voted to cut the FY 2012 GSA construction budget. This could be the second blow to federal construction spending this year. In April, a spending bill slashed construction spending for FY 2011 by 91% to $82 million. The House has also slashed the GSA repair and renovation budget by 68%. The Senate has yet to take any action on these measures.
Boston Parking Fees 3rd Highest
Boston parking rates rank third priciest in North America, according to a study from Colliers International. The study measured parking rates from June 2009 to June 2010. Median parking rates in Boston were $32 per day. Only midtown Manhattan and Honolulu were higher. Even though Boston ranks third, the median cost for 2009-10 represents a 5.6% decrease from the prior year.
EPA Offers Energy Efficiency Credits
MCAA and the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency persuaded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer credits for energy efficiency. The program targets industrial facilities such as power plants. The credits can be used as set-asides in the emissions trading markets. The EPA explains the program as follows: By reducing electricity demand, energy efficiency avoids emissions of all pollutants associated with electricity generation, including emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, targeted by this final rule and reduces the need for investments in EGU (energy generation units) emission control technologies in order to meet emission reduction requirements.
USGBC Launches New LEED Program
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) recently launched its LEED Volume Program for Operations & Maintenance, available for existing green building projects. The operations and maintenance certification is the latest addition to the LEED Volume Program designed to streamline the certification process for high-volume property owners and managers of existing buildings and new construction projects. The new program uses a prototype-based approach to enable consistency in green building improvements to allow builders, owners and managers to earn LEED certification faster and at a lower cost.
Providence RI Awards Energy Efficiency Grants
Providence RI will award 7 to 10 grants to businesses undertaking energy efficiency projects under the Retro-Commissioning Energy Efficiency Pilot grant program. City officials stated that grants would range from $10,000 to $25,000. The program is designed to pay for comprehensive retro-commissioning, including technical assessment, on-site adjustments, HVAC and controls system integration and retro-commissioning documentation. The city used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) monies to fund the grants.
The iPad and Construction
The construction industry has embraced the iPad as a productivity tool, but the device and some of its applications (apps) can have problems. One problem is the difficulty in viewing Excel, Word and PDF documents. Though, the app called GoodReader can help overcome this. Dropbox is another good app for sharing files between a PC and and iPad in the field. The Jump Desktop app is useful in remotely accessing your server to view project management systems as well as remotely managing requests for information (RFI), change orders, contracts, etc.
RI Legislation Signed By Governor
Governor Chafee recently signed off on some construction related bills that New England MCA has been tracking. The Omnibus Fair Contracting Standards of 2011 requires contractors on public worksites with a contract exceeding $1,000,000 to maintain a daily log of employees on site. Contractors not in compliance can have payments held back or receive a fine of $500 per day. The bill also contains some stringent prevailing wage enforcement language.
Governor Chafee also signed off on apprenticeship legislation that transfers apprenticeship oversight to the Department of Labor and Training. The bill also changes state standards to be in line with federal standards and allows reciprocity between states. Contact Stephen for further information. |
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The Construction Institute
TCI hosts its Annual Golf Tournament
on September 27, 2011
The annual TCI Golf Tournament will be held at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts - one of New England's top courses. TCI relies on the net proceeds from the annual Golf Tournament to deliver high quality education and research programs; carry on advocacy, public relations and media initiatives; and provide other valuable services to the construction community.
Click here to register for TCI's annual Golf Tournament where you can win prizes, network and support TCI's mission. Registration form and fees need to be received by September 19, 2011.
Join TCI on Facebook (click link below)
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New England MCA / MSCA
2011 Education Schedule
September 15, 2011 - LEED Green Associate Preparatory Training - David
November 29, 2011 - Managing Your Subcontractors - John Koontz
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Officers Officers
Michael DelleFave - President John Canavan - President
Steven Kenney - Vice President Michael Grinnell - Vice President
Michael Mahoney - Secretary Michael DiMattia - 2nd Vice President
Robert Gallagher - Treasurer Troy DiNapoli - Past President
Peter Comeau - Past President
Directors Directors Robert Bolton Edward Marks Patrick Clifford David O'Brien John Canavan Robert Poirier Jr. Peter Comeau Mike Picariello Michael DiMattia David Raposa Chet Holt Karl Veazie Robert Gallagher Michael St. Martin Mac Lynch John Welch David Gernux Anthony Victor Frank Norton Jeff Potter Brian Lynch David Cannistraro Dennis Sacco
Executive Committee Mac Lynch Frank Norton Robert Silvia |
Officers
William Henry - President
Edward Marks - Treasurer
Fred Williams - Tech. Representative
Stephen Affanato - Secretary
Directors
Robert Gilligan Charlie Shaw
Mac Lynch Robert Silvia |
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Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what
makes a team work, a company work, a society work, and
civilization work.
- Vince Lombardi |
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1266 Furnace Brook Parkway, Suite 201
Quincy, Massachusetts 02169
Phone: 617-405-4221
Fax: 617-405-4222
Email: irene@nemca.org
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