BTEA E-NEWS
President’s Message
A special meeting between City Hall, City Council, BTEA, Real Estate and Labor officials will
be held today at 3 PM after a flurry of e-mails over the weekend.

After exchanging proposals on proposed safety legislation, it is apparent, at this point, the industry’s recommendations for amending those proposals were rejected.

Industry leaders informed the Administration and City Council officials if we could not reach a consensus on these proposals we would oppose them at the City Council Housing and Buildings Committee public hearing on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10 AM.

Officials have asked the BTEA, Real Estate and Labor officials to attend a meeting today to further discuss the proposals outlined in the other sections of this e-mail newsletter.

If they prove to be unsuccessful, we will be asking you to contact individual City Council members urging them to defeat these proposals.

After the hearing on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, I anticipate we will continue to have discussions on these safety proposals.  The City Council has scheduled a final vote for July 23, 2008.
The following outlines the positions to be taken, at this point, by the BTEA, Real Estate and Labor on the safety legislative proposals to be presented at the City Council Housing and Buildings Committee public hearing on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10 AM:

Proposals to be Supported
Intro 657-A  
Requiring additional inspections of structurally compromised buildings.
Intro 687-A   
Requiring buildings or structures that has been vacant for 5 years or longer to be inspected prior to issuing any permit to alter, repair or enlarge the structure.
Intro 763-A     
Classifies certain housekeeping violations as immediately hazardous.
Intro 793-A   
To require additional inspections, maintenance and repair of retaining walls.
Intro 795-A  
To restrict the use of nylon straps.

Proposals to be Opposed as Currently Written
IIntro 783-A   
Requiring a concrete site safety manager on all buildings 10 stories and above.
Intro 790-A
Requiring enhanced site specific safety plans requiring on-site meetings to review OSHA standards and job hazards.
Intro 794-A    
Requiring all licensed riggers and trade personnel involved in the erection, jumping or dismantling of tower or climber cranes to successfully pass a 30-Hour training course.
Intro 796-A      
Requiring protocols to be followed prior to the erection, jumping or dismantling of tower or climber cranes.

Proposals Which Have Not Yet Been Discussed

We are currently awaiting drafts of legislation to establish safety control numbers for:
  • General Contractors
  • Concrete Contractors
  • Demolition Contractors