October 14, 2003
Elevator Association of Florida Meeting Minutes
Cocoa Beach
Meeting Minutes:
Lee Rigby, President – Opened meeting with introduction of
attendees – 30 members and guests were present.
- Approval of meeting minutes from September meeting.
- Treasurer’s report by Tim Newton, Treasurer –
Current account balance is $5,487.98.
Old Business:
- The January meeting will be held in Jacksonville on January 13th and the April meeting will be held in Ft. Lauderdale on April 13th –
Locations are being worked out.
- The Business Meeting and elections scheduled for today was
discussed and a motion was made, seconded, and passed to delay this
until the January meeting.
The Guest Speaker was introduced – Mr. Walter Barnes of
Electronic Controls, Inc.
- Mr. Walter discussed controller board repair and replacement and
their other services. Information and handouts were distributed and
all members were invited to tour Electronic Control’s facilities after
the meeting, they are located just up the street.
Lee Rigby then explained that the State would not have a
representative present to speak due to the contentious atmosphere at the
last few meetings which Cathy White attended.
Much discussion ensued regarding the professionalism which
we should strive for and that the presence of someone from Tallahassee is
desired even if we receive little or no input from them, at least so they
are exposed to the industries thoughts and ideas.
- Lee Wiggers made a motion which was, seconded and passed that
the President should meet with the
Bureau and propose that if they
agree to attend, the membership will agree to act professionally, and
that all questions that the Association members want answered will be
submitted to the Bureau in writing prior to the next Association
meeting. Questions should be routed through the Association website or
the President. The motion unanimously passed.
Other Topics of Discussion:
- Fred Slater suggested that the
Board Members sit in front of the
group during meetings so that members would be aware of who they are
and give them recognition for their efforts.
- It was suggested that meetings be tape recorded or videotaped.
Discussion followed and many felt it would discourage participation by
the State.
- It was suggested that Florida Legislators be invited to our
meetings, especially those who are representing the area where the
meeting is being held.
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Elevator Association of Florida
October 03’ Meeting - Minutes Page 2
- The State has disbanded the
Elevator Safety Technical Advisory
Committee, which in Chapter 399 was only required through 2003. They
are now trying to hire an engineer with elevator experience to be
their in house expert.
- The State now has an assistant for Cathy; his name is Mark
Boutin who is a long time State employee who has been put in place to
assist managing the Bureau. Mr. Boutin has worked in the Division and
is knowledgeable on elevator matters but has no technical elevator
experience.
- Some of the private inspectors have a serious concern about the
State’s letting the company’s sign off that violations noted on an
inspection report have been corrected. From their perspective they
seem to think the elevator company mechanic will "cheat" at the behest
of the company.
- Some private inspectors think a call back inspection should be
mandatory not just something that an owner has an option to do. The
practical problems with re-inspection are at least two: one, that the
private inspectors will abuse the opportunity by continuing to find
additional violations so the re-inspection business will become self
perpetuating and abusive; two, that the private inspector will
overlook violations to just get the job behind them and thus not meet
the intention of providing a safe elevator environment.
- A solution was suggested, which the group seems to support, is
to have an Elevator company employ a person who is a QEI to be
required to sign off on the corrected work. The group seems to believe
there will be a chain of enforcement connecting back to legal closure.
- Lee Rigby complained that
NAESA was not being very responsive in
policing its members or in correctly evaluating the applications for
QEI testing. Too many people with no elevator experience are being
provided QEI certificates.
- A discussion took place regarding that some private inspectors
are turning in an inspection report when all they do is witness a
pressure test. This is not a correct procedure and the State then
requires a call back sign off as a reaction to receiving this
inspection report even though the only thing that occurred was a
witness. A comment was made that although the witness is not required
to be identified, it would be a prudent move to have a document that
will be able to identify the witness left in the machine room.
- The State is writing up machine room reports if they do not show
routine (6 month) inspections and the annual tests as required by
Chapter 61C-5.013. Hub Williams contends they are not complete if the
code rules are not included with the statement identifying the
inspection performed. Discussion ensued and Lee stated he believes
that the code does not require that all code rule numbers be listed in
the log.
You may want to consider making a donation through the
Florida Elevator Association to support the
Elevator/Escalator Safety
Foundation in place of our normal golf outing proceeds (the golf outing
was cancelled). Send a check made out to the Elevator Association of
Florida to Tim Newton, Treasurer or to Lee Rigby.
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed.
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