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VII. Committee Reports • At the last Board of Directors meeting, Dave discussed the committee’s
[Editor’s note: All committee meeting minutes can be viewed on the practice of checking to see if an alleged violator has had an enforcement
NYSAPLS website. Go to the About Us tab. Scroll down to Committees. action listed on the OPD website. Dave asked for guidance as to what the
Click on the name of the committee to view meeting minutes]. committee should do if they see a member who is not the subject of a
Annual Conference NYSAPLS investigation but is on the OPD list. The Directors were asked to
Amber Carpenter reported for Ken Stigner, Chair discuss this matter with their regional members and discuss at tonight’s
• The conference committee toured the Saratoga Springs Conference Center meeting. The discussion resulted in a consensus that the committee
facility on July 27th for the 2026 conference to be hosted by Eastern. The should take no further action if a member has had an enforcement action
committee met on August 18th to review three proposals. The committee listed on the OPD website, provided that an ethical practice complaint
agreed to recommend Saratoga’s proposal for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 has not been filed against the member.
conferences at locked in pricing. The pricing is comparable to what Turning Legislative
Stone has been charging. MOTION BY SCOTT GILLIS TO ACCEPT THE Jason Graf, Chair and Emily Whalen
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION TO CONTRACT WITH • See the Legislative Committee page on NYSAPLS website for a
SARATOGA SPRINGS CONFERNCE CENTER TO HOST THE 2026, 2027, condensed list of bills that may directly impact surveyors. The committee
AND 2028 NYSAPLS ANNUAL CONFERENCES, SECONDED BY SAEID will also resume publishing the Legislative Update Newsletter. Their next
JALILVAND, ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED, MOTION CARRIED. prerogative is to find an effective way to get feedback from our members.
• Nassau Suffolk will be hosting the 2024 conference at Turning Stone. • At the last Board of Directors meeting, the committee asked the directors
Constitution & By-Laws to seek input from their regionals on the best language to support for
No report. the New 2022 Datum legislation. The committee presented 3 options to
choose from. The consensus was to support option 2 language.
DOT Relations (ad hoc)
James Thew, Chair • Jason discussed the new Prevailing Wage legislation.
• Jim reported that he will be attending the roundtable discussion on this topic • Emily discussed the DOL Wage Transparency law that goes into effect
and similar topics at the upcoming NYS GeoCon (NYGeoCon2023 | NYS September 17th. The law requires employers with four or more workers to
Geospatial Conference 2023 (nysgis.net) . Jim has also been working with list salary ranges and hourly rates for all advertised jobs and promotions.
Greg de Bruin on creating a trial GIS using Albany County DOT right-of-way
maps that were given to us by DOT (11,000 tiff images). Greg has been able LS PAC
to, for the most part, finish creating the GIS prototype. NYSGIS Association Amber Carpenter for Steve Boddecker, Chair
is looking for a sponsor for the “meet-n-greet” reception that will follow • Current balance is $7,483.87.
roundtable discussion at GeoCon. The cost would be $1,500.00. MOTION Membership
BY RICH MORAVEC TO DONATE UP TO $1,500 FROM NYSAPLS TO NYS Don Stedge for Nik Decker, Chair
GIS ASSOCIATION TO COVER THE MEET-N-GREET RECEPTION THAT • One of the committee’s charges is to welcome new members. The
WILL FOLLOW THE GEOCON ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION, SECONDED BY committee pledged to rejuvenate this initiative.
TIM COYER, ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
• Membership overall is slightly down from this time last year. The
Education committee will be sending a mailing to all non-renewed members, and
Bill Eggers, Chair then follow up by phone call to all at-large non-renewed members.
• Bill attended the FIG Working Week in Orlando Florida this summer. The • Members are reminded to update their profiles on the NYSAPLS website
last time FIG was held in the United States was 20 years ago. Bill was and include your photo. The membership committee suggested changing
impressed with how well the conference was organized. the display to not include photos, as there were too many members
• The Education Committee has been working hard on the education track without them. The Board suggested that NYSAPLS uploads a generic
for our annual conference. The committee looks for quality presentations, photo such as the NYSAPLS logo or some other attractive symbol be
while still allowing time for attendees to visit the exhibitors’ hall. Bill used in place of the “no photo available” symbol currently on those
encouraged suggestions for future speakers. profiles and keep members photos visible.
Ethical Practices • The membership committee is looking to partner with Retrieve Technology to
David Zigler, Chair offer discounted software guides and gift cards on the NYSAPLS website. This
• Dave gave an update on the committee’s investigation into the YouTube would be an added benefit to membership, with no cost to NYSAPLS.
video discussing land surveys seen here: https://www.nyrentownsell. • Initiatives are being discussed to increase the spirit of camaraderie
com/blog/how-much-does-a-land-survey-cost/ . As opposed to a “cease among members, such as golf outings and social events.
and desist” approach to this company, the committee recommends
that we take an “educational” approach in addressing the issue. The Minimum Technical Standards (ad hoc)
discussion resulted in a consensus that the ethics committee pursue the Roy Garfinkel for Jason Larson, Chair
“educational” approach in addressing this issue by drafting a letter to the • Roy reported on his and Jim Vienna’s attendance at the September
company to request changes to the wording on their website. SBELSG meeting held in Albany. The SBELSG surveying committee needs
to finish their review of the draft MTS and report to SBELSG. Shaine
Porter, LS was recently accepted by SED to serve on SBELSG.
continued on page 26
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 59 • NO 6 2023 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 25