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 July 2015

 

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 PPMA OFFICERS

  

Paul Kutney

President

Orkin

Larksville, PA

 

Keith Hamilton 

President Elect

J.C. Ehrlich Co.

State College, PA

 

Ed Van Istendal

Past President

Ensystex

Coatesville, PA 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Central Division

Gary Lesher

Governor

Perry Pest Control

Landisburg, PA

  

Keith Hamilton

J.C. Ehrlich

Pleasant Gap, PA

 

Keith Jones

Archer Pest Control

Camp Hill, PA

 

Greg Ten Hoeve

Terminix

Mechanicsburg, PA

 

Eastern Division

 

Marty Overline

Governor

Aardvark Pest Mgmnt

Philadelphia, PA


 

Mike Snyder

Township Pest Control

Warrington, PA

 

Jim Nase

Moyer Indoor/Outdoor

Souderton, PA

  

Northeast Division

 

Jeff King

Governor

The Pest Rangers

Hanover Twp., PA

 

Paul Kutney

                     Orkin

Ashley, PA

 

Diane Lown

Ajax Environmental Solutions

Dalton, PA

 

Western Division

John Morrison

Governor

D-Bug, Inc.

Latrobe, PA

 

Adam Witt

Witt Pest Management

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Eric Herrington

Terminix

Bridgeville, PA

 

John Besic

Besic Pest Control

Transfer, PA

 

Technical Advisor

 

Chad Gore

Rentokil North America

Carnegie, PA

 

AWDII Chairman

 

Ed Van Istendal

Coatesville, PA

 

Legislative Chairman

 

Keith Hamilton

J.C. Ehrlich

 State College, PA

 

Bed Bug Taskforce Chairman

 

Marty Overline

Aardvark Pest Management

Philadelphia, PA

 

Salino Scholarship Chair 

Dana Lown

Ajax Environmental Solutions

Dalton, PA

 

Industry Liaison

 

Brian Smith

Univar

Sharon Hill, PA

 

Executive Director

Versant Strategies

Harrisburg, PA

 

  

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Dear Friends:
 

I am honored to begin my service as your next President. I look forward to working with you to institute a plan of activities that will further enhance our organization, our business and our personal professional development. To that end, I have scheduled a planning session with the PPMA Board of Directors on September 1 to review our bylaws, approve operating procedures, appoint committee chairs/members and develop a strategy to carry our organization forward to accomplish our mission and goals. 
  
If you have ideas you wish to be considered during that session (especially ideas for additional services that can benefit the membership), please reach out to the PPMA office staff at 717-635-2320 or dchappell@versantstrategies.net. I am looking forward to serving as your President and welcome your input and ideas as we move forward, together, for the betterment of PPMA. 

Thank you for continuing to support the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association!


 Team Versant

  

News from NPMA  

  

Department of Labor Releases New Overtime Regulations

Initial Analysis and Details

 

On June 30th, new overtime regulations proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL) were released in advance of official publication.  The regulations are in response to a 2014 directive by President Obama to update overtime rules under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  FLSA guarantees overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half the employee's regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek.  The current FLSA has a salary threshold of $23,660 annually ($455 per week), meaning ANY employee making less is eligible for overtime.  Employees making over the $23,660 annual threshold are eligible for overtime unless they fall under a specific industry exemption (teachers, doctors, lawyers) or the "white collar exemption."  These exemptions include; executive, administrative, professional, outside sales and computer employees.

 

The DOL proposed rule would raise the minimum threshold to approximately $50,440 annually ($970) per week in 2016.  This new proposed level is equal to the 40th percentile of weekly earnings for full-time salaried workers.  The threshold will be indexed to maintain the salary threshold at the 40th percentile.  The DOL estimated that approximately 4.6 million employees that are currently exempt based on the $23,660 threshold, will become eligible for overtime under the $50,440 threshold.  The rule does not propose changes to the current exemptions, including the "white collar exemption," and the duties test used to determine the "white collar exemptions."  The rule does invite comment on these exemptions specifically, which raises concerns that the exemptions could be changed in the final rule.

 

It is anticipated that DOL will publish the rule in the coming days and solicit comments for the following 60 days.  DOL will then reevaluate the rule while considering comments and will then presumably publish a final rule in late 2015 or early 2016.

 

NPMA is continuing to analyze the rule and monitoring further legislative activity that may affect the proposed overtime rule.   If you have specific questions about the proposed rule or FSLA overtime guidelines in general please contact Andrew Bray abray@pestworld.org.

 

 The NPMA Policy Team

 

 

Upcoming Meetings        

   

The Eastern Division continues to hold its monthly meetings with varying topics of discussion on the second Thursday of every month at the Crowne Plaze in Trevose.  For more information on monthly topics and speakers, contact Sue at (215) 331-1121.

The date for the Eastern Division's fall seminar is September 10.  The event will be held at the usual spot, the Crowne Plaza in Trevose.  Vendors can sign up now for exhibit space.  Registration information is available here.

Next month the Central Division will be holding its summer seminar on August 18 at the Park Inn, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg commencing at 7:00 a.m. with registration. Stay tuned for more information!
  
Mark your calendars now for PPMA's 2015 Annual Conference on November 9 & 10 at the Eden Resort in Lancaster.

As noted above, NPMA's Eastern Conference will be held at the Kalahari Resort in Pocono Manor, PA on January 13-15, 2016!  Plan to attend.
  
Legislative Update


The information below represents legislative activity (including bill introductions) that has occurred since the last newsletter.  For a full listing of legislation that Versant is tracking for PPMA, please contact us at (717) 635-2320 or dchappell@versantstrategies.net.  Activity marked HCO or SCO indicates a co-sponsorship memo which precedes the actual introduction of legislation and is designed to secure the support of other legislators prior to introduction as a bill.

  

Legislation introduced since last month's newsletter:

  

HB 223 sponsored by Rep. Curt Sonney

Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods to allow the use of semi-automatic rifles with a caliber of .223 or less and a cartridge capacity of not more than six, for the hunting of coyotes, foxes and woodchucks (groundhogs). Effective in 60 days.

6-15-15 Hearing held with House Game and Fisheries Committee - contact PPMA office for testimony

 

HB 1421 sponsored by Rep. Sue Helm

Act regulating home inspectors; providing for funds, for licensure, for disciplinary actions, for remedies, and for penalties; & repealing provisions relating to home inspections.

6-28-15 Introduced & referred to House Professional Licensure Committee

 

HCO 2107 sponsored by Rep. Dave Reed

Changes the safety zone distance for trapping within any waterway, watercourse, marsh, pond or dam, from 150 yards to 50 yards, for properly licensed furtakers.

6-23-15 Filed

 

HR 364 sponsored by Rep. Robert Matzie

Resolution designating the week of June 15 through 21, 2015 as "Pollinator Week" in Pennsylvania

6-15-15 Resolution adopted

 

SB 737 sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson

Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.

6-24-15 Given third consideration & final passage (49-0)

6-25-15 Received in the House and referred to House Game & Fisheries


 

REMINDER from NPMA

Increase Your Business Opportunities; Update your Find a Pro Listing Today

 

Take advantage of the significant marketing opportunity provided to you as an NPMA member and update your Find a Pro listing for NPMA's consumer site, www.pestworld.org, today. Visit www.npmapestworld.org

  1. On the membership dropdown, choose Update Find-a-Pro Listing
  2. Click UPDATE YOUR LISTING TODAY
  3. Login using your NPMA member ID and password
  4. Click Edit next to the location you would like to update
  5. Follow the on screen instructions

Articles of Interest 

      

07-10-2015 West Nile virus being monitored as heavy rains speed mosquito breeding
 
Western Pennsylvania has received much more rain than is normal for this time of year, which means mosquito populations are growing faster than ever because of pooling water. And while there hasn't yet been a recorded case of West Nile virus in Beaver County, officials with the Penn State Cooperative Extension are... - Beaver County Times

07-07-2015A scientist discovered a new insect species living in New Jersey. He's already worried about its survival.
 
A grass-eating species of insect that makes its home in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey - just south of New York City - has until recently escaped the notice of humans. But now, the leafhopper has a scientific name - Flexamia whitcombi - and at least one scientist worried that it might not... - Washington Post

07-07-2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife fighting deadly bat disease
 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently awarded nearly $1 million to 35 states and the District of Columbia to help combat white-nose syndrome, a disease that almost decimated the bat population at the bat mine in Durham during the mid-2000s. Heritage Conservancy, which owns the mine and 90 surrounding acres, hopes... - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times

07-01-2015Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Is Now Open in the Pocono Mountains, PA
  (Press Release)

06-30-2015PGC: Highlights from Today's Commissioners Meeting
  (Press Release)

06-29-2015 State and poultry industry take precautions against bird flu
 
Agriculture officials and poultry farmers in Maryland are taking extra precautions against bird flu after outbreaks have devastated flocks in other states. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has banned the entry of waterfowl in fairs and shows in the state, stepped up testing requirements for poultry... - Baltimore Sun

06-25-2015DEP News for June 25, 2015
  (Press Release)

06-24-2015 Persistent June showers putting a damper on agriculture
 
Downpours that have been soaking Somerset County may mean trouble for local farmers and their crops. And that trouble may come in the form of diseased crops, decreased hay production and nutrient-depleted soil, according to Penn State Extension commercial horticulture educator Tom Ford.... - Somerset Daily

06-18-2015They're weevils, not ticks
 
 Lee Stivers first noticed the little, black bugs Sunday as they clung to her living room window. Concerned that they were ticks, the horticulture extension educator with Penn State Extension, Washington County, went out to investigate. She was relieved by what she found.... - Washington Observer-Reporter

06-18-2015 Invasive insect
 
The emerald ash borer is an exotic beetle native to Asia that attacks all species of ash trees. Identified by its oblong, metallic green body that is about half an inch long, it is primarily spread by humans through movement of untreated wood infested with the invasive pest into uninfested areas.... - DuBois Courier-Express

06-18-2015 In blow to cougar believers in Pennsylvania, feds declare eastern puma extinct
 
All those sightings of cougars you read about each year in Pennsylvania? In a blow to cougar believers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday said the eastern puma has likely been extinct for at least 70 years and wants to remove it from the Endangered Species List.... - Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

06-17-2015Lackawanna County under assault from gypsy moth caterpillars
 
Summer 2015 has not yet begun, but the score is in - gypsy moths 1, Lackawanna County 0. Hordes of the nonnative, invasive caterpillars have descended on Lackawanna and other Northeast Pennsylvania counties at a level not seen for at least 10 years, residents and experts say.... - Scranton Times