LICA Meets with Suffolk County. Superintendents Association at Annual Conference. In This Issue

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1 BiWeekly e-gram that contains the latest news and information vital to LICA s members LICA Meets with Suffolk County Highway Superintendents Association at Annual Conference In This Issue LICA Meets with Suffolk County Highway Superintendents Association at Annual Conference!!CRIME ALERT!! Who s stealing Long Island heavy construction equipment? Energeia Transportation Workshop Bottom Line: Investing in Infrastructure Helps Long Island s Economy LICA s Annual PAC Reception Only Two Weeks Away CFMA Honors LICA Executive Director as the Construction Executive of the Year Stimulus Money Allows Improvements on NY Route 112 to Continue Full Speed Ahead LICA Joins in Honoring Port Washington Sandminers Whose Labors Built New York City Make a Difference in a Child s Life Transportation Task Force Meeting Columbus day holiday schedule Marc Herbst offers LICA s assistance to Riverhead s Highway Superintendent George Woodson and other highway officials as they advocate before their town boards seeking more investment in our public highways. Bid results The message was all about saving the taxpayer money while protecting the region s roads and bridges. No surprise then that the keynote remarks made by Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association (LICA) before the Suffolk County Highway Superintendents Association annual conference were warmly received by an attentive audience. Hauppauge, NY Welcomed by Shelter Island Highway Superintendent Mark Ketcham, Herbst also stressed the importance of promoting ethical conduct throughout the construction industry. He invited Highway Superintendents and public (Continued on next page)

2 2 works officials to work collaboratively with contractors in monitoring and enforcing the highest levels of standards and professionalism. It is important that you stay on top of monitoring and inspections. LICA proposes that municipalities follow and practice the standardized procedures of the New York State DOT, said Herbst. Municipalities should have inspectors present at asphalt plants, review and collect material batching reports, and ensure plant weight scale inspections are performed. As an industry we want to make sure the public officials and the contractors are working to prevent the possibility that taxpayers may be cheated. Herbst also suggested that the industry s governmental partners look for potential red flags that may indicate improper labor wage practices. He suggested that during the collection of certified payrolls a comparison be made to the supervisory field inspection reports. Early detection of any discrepancy will allow for immediate clarification or correction and avoid a potential black eye for an elected official and the industry somewhere down the road, remarked Herbst. Uniformity and standardization equals savings Herbst also explained that establishing uniformity of bid specifications and monitoring practices among Long Island s municipalities would allow for greater standardization and taxpayer savings. Brookhaven Highway Superintendent John Rouse has offered to champion the standardization of local municipal bid product specifications. He requested LICA work with him and his colleagues in developing the concept. In addition to Highway Superintendents Ketcham and Rouse, additional town representatives from Suffolk County included: Babylon DPW Commissioner Phil Berdolt, East Hampton Highway Superintendent Scott King, Riverhead Highway Superintendent George Woodson, Smithtown Highway Superintendent Glenn Jorgensen, and Southampton Highway Superintendent Alex Gregor.!!CRIME ALERT!! Who s Stealing Long Island Heavy Construction Equipment? Third theft in two weeks suggests the beginning of a crime wave Three thefts of heavy construction equipment in two weeks have put the entire Long Island construction industry on high alert. These are big pieces of equipment that can t be easily stolen or pawned, explains Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association. Last week a $94,000, three ton vibrator driver/extractor hammer was stolen from a work site in the Massapequa Preserve. In the last twenty-four hours two more thefts were reported when LICA member Edward Ehrbar, Inc. reported a brand new heavy duty trailer used to haul equipment has been stolen from their Holbrook yard. More ominously, master keys that give thieves access to a broad range of heavy construction equipment have been stolen from Ehrbar and that should make everyone very nervous. Just hours ago, Suffolk Brake Service reported the theft of equipment worth approximately $50,000 from its yard in Bohemia. (Continued on next page)

3 3 Someone knows exactly what they are doing Herbst says this is beginning to have all the signs of an organized assault on the heavy construction industry. LICA urges all members to step up surveillance of their yards, construction site security and add locks on construction equipment to prevent further losses. Someone who is familiar with the equipment, their importance, and their value is making a run on Long Island s heavy construction industry. LICA notes that the lock was burned off one of the trucks at Ehrbar while the doors on two of their other repair trucks were bent from what appears to be the use of a pry bar. An undetermined amount of mechanic s tools were stolen from all three pieces of equipment. At press time, LICA received word the Bove Industries hammer valued at $94,000 was returned. LICA is awaiting details on the recovery, as well as details on the theft from the Suffolk Brake Service site. Diligence by our entire industry, and our combined effort to get the word out makes it all the more difficult for the thieves to sell or dispose of this valuable equipment and we are very pleased that the first case was resolved successfully in a very timely manner, concluded Herbst. Got information? Police investigations are underway and LICA is asking anyone with information to contact them at , info@licanys.org or to call the Suffolk Police 5th Precinct at or the Nassau Police 7th Precinct at Energeia Transportation Workshop In a wide ranging presentation on past and future Long Island transportation milestones, LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst offered insight into how Long Island gets from here to there as he addressed Class of 2010 members of the Energeia Partnership, a regional think tank dedicated to charting solutions to seemingly intractable problems. Seated from left to right: Gabe Leung, President OSI Pharmaceuticals, Gerry Kaiser, Esq., Molloy College Trustee, Michael McCarthy, Esq. Michael McCarthy & Associates, LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst, and Danielle O Hagan of Energeia Partnership. The Energeia Partnership is the Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College. The Academy is committed to educating leaders for the benefit of all people who live and work on Long Island. With an emphasis on leadership through service, the Energeia Partnership gives proven, ethical leaders the opportunity to act as catalysts for change, helping to create innovative and sustainable solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our region. (Continued on next page)

4 4 Where is Long Island s fair share? If you look back in time at critical moments in history, there was leadership that seized on emerging technology to move Long Island forward. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the LIRR, from parkways and the LIE to creating Long Island MacArthur Airport, men and women of vision in private and public sectors recognized the opportunity for growth and economic development, Herbst stated. He told the Energeia assembly meeting at Long Island MacArthur Airport that, Our current challenge is to build upon nearly two centuries of vision and leadership. Some see the recession as an obstacle to achieving the next transportation breakthrough. My membership believes it is an opportunity unseen since the days of the Great Depression. He asked the group to support LICA s message, to advocate for and insist that Long Island receive its fair share in infrastructure dollars to maintain and repair the region s existing roads, bridges and sewer infrastructure. That is the baseline if we expect to protect the future. Albany currently views Long Island s 2.7 million people as some distant settlement. Energeia, and similar groups, need to speak with one political voice, warned Herbst. Bottom Line: Investing in Infrastructure Helps Long Island s Economy Members of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Long Island Branch gave a warm welcome to LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst as he was introduced by Rockville Centre s Department of Public Works Superintendent Harry Weed at their luncheon at City Cellar in Westbury last week. Herbst spoke candidly about the important impact the construction industry has on our local economy, stressing that like the rest of the nation, Long Island is facing very tough economic times and must place on its collective agenda a demand for policies that will create a revival. Left to Right: LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst, Rockville Centre s DPW Superintendent Harry Weed, and LICA members Steve DelVecchio and Mike VanValen, both of Independent Equipment Corp., discuss the crisis our industry is facing. We need to get the appropriate infrastructure funding to Long Island. You want to start the economy going again? The construction industry is the way to do it, stated Herbst. For every one job created in construction, three additional jobs are generated. It s a ripple effect, and it s what we need for Long Island to rebound. Holding them accountable Herbst explained that LICA s role is to go after state and local officials to make sure that they are doing everything in their power to secure funding for New York State and more importantly, Long Island. (Continued on next page)

5 5 Some $787 billion in stimulus money sounds like the New Deal all over again. But the truth is, only 6% of that actually points to highway construction and infrastructure repair, explained Herbst. Herbst went on the explain that for years the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has been the construction industry s number one client, but because of our state s poor economic condition, the NYSDOT has fallen to number three and the towns are taking on the burden. Nick Camarano, Valley Stream s Highway General Supervisor and President of APWA Long Island Branch, was also in attendance. LICA s Annual PAC Reception Only Two Weeks Away The stunning primary results tell us everything we need to know about this November. The heavy construction industry needs to be active. It needs to be involved. It needs to put its money where its collective mouth is. And LICA is reminding its members that they need to actively, aggressively and effectively support those who understand the value of public works and Long Island s fair share. LICA has stated that there is one state candidate who stands with the taxpayer and the need to put dollars into roads and bridges. That is New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. He has single handedly led the crusade to stop the looting of the state funds dedicated to infrastructure repair. He has attacked the red tape that slows down timely payment of invoices for work performed on state projects. He has been responsive to a heavy construction industry whose responsibility is to build, maintain and strengthen the state s infrastructure on Long Island and across New York. And now he needs our help. LICA is inviting all of its allies to join in honoring Long Island s own New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on Thursday, October 14th from 5:30 7:30pm at the Stonebridge Country Club, Smithtown. Suggested contribution is $250 or $500 per guest. By way of demonstrating the importance of this candidate and this race, the LICA PAC will be matching individual contributions to ensure that the Comptroller has the resources to have his message heard in this expensive media environment. LICA reminds us that this is not just any election year. This November the future of the heavy construction industry and the region s infrastructure is going to be decided by who the voters send to Albany. LICA is asking its members to support the industry s allies like Tom DiNapoli and those who insist on protecting the taxpayers biggest investment, our roads and bridges. If you have not yet responded, please click here for LICA s invitation or contact LICA Comptroller Sheryl Buro at sburo@licanys.org for more information or call our office at LICA (5422).

6 CFMA Honors LICA Executive Director as the Construction Executive of the Year Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors Association, is being honored as the Construction Executive of the Year by the Construction Financial Management Association Long Island Chapter (CFMA) at their 3rd Annual Dinner Dance on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 from 6:00-9:00pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury. 6 This honor is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of the Long Island Contractors Association and all the supporting advocates from the heavy construction industry that have fought tirelessly for increased funding for the safety and greater efficiency of Long Island s public infrastructure, said Herbst. All proceeds from this evening are designated to support Contractors for Kids (CFK), a charitable organization founded for the purpose of providing assistance to families in our communities. Their goal is to assist children and their families to overcome unfortunate obstacles that have changed or impacted their lives through sickness, injury or death. LICA believes this is a worthy cause that is a natural fit for those who participate in the construction industry. We ask that you please support this cause. To reserve your table or sponsor this event, please click here and mail to the address provided. Stimulus Money Allows Improvements on NY Route 112 to Continue Full Speed Ahead Town of Brookhaven residents are eyewitnesses to Long Island history. At long last, sections of NY Route 112 between Pine Road and NY Route 347 are being renovated to significantly improve safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists within this vital and heavily traveled corridor. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) awarded $37.9 million in stimulus funds to LICA member Bove Industries, Inc., funded through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to perform the work that will build a stronger, safer infrastructure for future generations, while also creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Improvements for the more than three miles of NY Route 112 include the installation of center turning lanes and raised planted medians to increase mobility, better maintain traffic flow and increase safety. New landscaping and storm-water-runoff filtration systems will also be added to enhance both environmental and aesthetic qualities. New bike lanes, sidewalks, bus stops and shelters are also included in the renovation of NY Route 112. (Continued on next page)

7 7 Projects like this one are what we need to create jobs, improve public safety and build a modern infrastructure that will benefit our communities for years to come, said Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors Association. This reconstruction project will ultimately reduce travel delays and enhance the environment and visual character of the area. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of For more information on this project, click here. LICA Joins in Honoring Port Washington Sandminers Whose Labors Built New York City LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst reaches out in gratitude to shake the hand of Saby D Amico, age 91, who worked as a mechanic foreman at the Port Washington Sand Mine to provide the materials that built New York City. Looking on are North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman and North Hempstead Town Clerk Leslie Gross. Make a Difference in a Child s Life LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst joined sandminers of old, their families and descendents, public officials and industry colleagues at the dedication of the Sandminers Monument on Saturday September 25 in Port Washington. The monument, located on West Shore Road at the site of the former Port Washington sand mine, is a bronze sculptural representation of the workers, the sand mining process, and a history of the industry that built the skyscrapers, roads, tunnels and bridges of New York City. The monument reflects the work of immigrants who toiled under dangerous conditions, often resulting in serious injury, and the role of sandmining in Port Washington history. LICA s thoughts are reflected in the monument, The sandpits that built NYC embody our strength, diversity & work ethic. Contractors for Kids (CFK) is hosting their 2nd Annual WALK-ATHON this Sunday, October 3rd at the Holtsville Ecology Site. Registration begins at 9:00am. Contractors for Kids is a non-profit corporation founded for the purpose of providing assistance to families in our communities. Their goal is to assist children and their families overcome unfortunate obstacles that have changed or impacted their lives through sickness or injury or death. Rest stop sponsorships are available for $ CFK is allowing you to advertise any way you want to at your rest stop. You provide your own giveaways, signage and banners, and CFK will supply you with water and snacks for the walkers. Take the first step and make a difference in a child s life. Register today. Click here to view their registration brochure. For any additional information, visit their website at

8 8 Transportation Task Force Meeting Action Long Island (ALI) is holding their next Transportation Task Force meeting on Wednesday, October 27th from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in Melville. The Transportation Task Force s mission is to build a sustainable future through improved and smarter transportation on Long Island. Some of the task force s initiatives include encouraging innovative transportation technology for future development projects, providing innovative public transportation solutions for Long Island, working to accelerate cost effective road improvements, developing solutions to improve traffic flow in Melville and Uniondale, and reopening the LIRR Train Station at Republic Airport. Co-chairs include Ed Petrou, Tectonic Engineering (former Regional Director of NYSDOT), Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors Association (LICA), and Mike Jones, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. If you wish to attend or have ideas for agenda items, please contact Lenae McKee Price at or via at lmckee@actionlongisland.org. Columbus Day Holiday Schedule Click here to view the LICA and GCA Union holiday schedules. Did You Know... When reading the LICA e-gram with Adobe Reader, you can zoom in and out of the pages by holding ctrl (or apple) and pressing + (to zoom in) and - (to zoom out)? Legislature Vote OKs Jackson Avenue Road Work Click Here to View Article (Bid Results on next page)

9 9 Bid Results Bid Date Project Name Owner Contractor Bid Amount 9/9/10 Concrete Slab & GAC Vessel - Phase I Bethpage Water District Philip Ross Industries, Inc. $ 867,800 Bensin Contracting, Inc. 882,900 Merrick Utility Associates, Inc. 895,000 Bancker Construction Corp. 985,800 J Anthony Enterprises 992,279 9/9/10 Captains Cove Site De-Watering & Soil Cap Regrading Glen Cove Community Development Agency Biltwel General Contractor Corp. $ 122,300 D F Stone Contracting 141,490 Gramercy Group, Inc. 186,042 Chesterfield Associates 187,120 PSL Industries, Inc. 194,640 Galvin Brothers, Inc. 243,350 Bi-County Construction Corp. 266,125 Bove Industries 289,700 9/9/10 Furnish and Install Guide Railing - Suffolk County County of Suffolk, Dept. of Public Works Gibson & Cushman Contracting $ 511,750 Total Bid Comparison A United Fence & Guard Rail 846,525 Total Bid Comparison B Gibson & Cushman Contracting $ 511,750 United Fence & Guard Rail 846,525 Total Bid Comparison C Gibson & Cushman Contracting $ 560,970 United Fence & Guard Rail 846,525 Total Bid Comparison D Gibson & Cushman Contracting $ 612,350 United Fence & Guard Rail 846,525 9/14/10 Streetscape Improvements Along Main Street (CR.80) Town Of Brookhaven, Purchasing Division Bove Industries $ 1,898,565 9/16/10 Park & Ride, Bikeway Maintenance & Graffiti Removal New York State Department Of Transportation Mana Construction Group, LTD $ 2,981,556 Looks Great Services 3,380,464 Sweet Hollow Management Corp. 4,973,593 Public Utilities Maintenance, Inc. 5,116,125 9/16/10 Construct (2) Concrete Foundations & Pony Walls Village Of Thomaston Ora Construction, Inc. $ 56,300 Premier Contracting 57,000 H & A Landscape of Long Island 74,700 Watral Brothers, Inc. 118,968 9/16/10 Replacement of Motor Control Center at Plant #5 Roslyn Water District South Shore Electric $ 204,552 Wire To Water, Inc. 242,000 Madhue Electric, Inc. 244,000 Eldor Contracting 255,900 Hinck Electrical Contracting, Inc. 259,900 Lake Grove Electric 300,000 9/16/10 Thermoplastic Reflectorized Pavement Markings Town Of Islip The Fenceman, Inc. $ 125,464 Hi-Way Safety Systems, Inc. 227,128 KJB Industries/Eagle Asphalt Maint 228,712 9/16/10 Allard Field House SUNY Farmingdale SUNY At Farmingdale Viridian Industries, Inc. $ 287,500 Titan Construction Group 299,000 SMC Construction Corp. 323,000 Stalco Construction, Inc. 326,000 Fidele Construction 328,000 Laser Industries, Inc. 352,000 Gramercy Group, Inc. 364,000 Ruttura & Sons Construction Co. 365,000 Lipsky Enterprises, Inc. 373,066 Norman Kurrass Contractor, Inc. 383,395 MPCC Corp. 437,773 Tri-Rail Construction 438,000 LJC Dismantling 449,000 Red Hook Construction Group 484,000 A Russo Wrecking, Inc. 577,222 Fratello Construction 796,000 9/21/10 Storm Water Pump Station SWB #73 County of Nassau Office of Public Works WHM Plumbing & Heating Contr., Inc. $ 494,000 RJ Industries, Inc. 522,450 Adjo Contracting Corp. 596,842 Newborn Construction, Inc. 625,134 Scalamandre Organization 672,870 Bi-County Construction Corp. 676,352 Amma Construction Corporation 697,500 Bancker Construction Corp. 810,250 9/22/10 South 6th Street Road Raising & Drainage Improvements Village Of Lindenhurst Bimasco, Inc. $ 243,785 Norman Kurrass Contractor, Inc. 243,955 J Anthony Enterprises 282,302 Araz Industries 306,360 (Bid Results continued on next page)

10 10 Bid Results 9/22/10 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Improvements Town of Oyster Bay, Div Purchase & Supply, Dept Gen Svcs Laser Industries, Inc. $ 3,678,910 Adjo Contracting Corp. 3,835,859 Landtek Group, Inc. 3,874,389 Galvin Brothers, Inc. 3,979,384 D F Stone Contracting 4,322,504 Rocco Agostino Landscape & General Contractor Corp 5,567,000 9/24/ Road Improvement Program, Atlantic Boulevard Incorporated Village Of Atlantic Beach The Novelli Group $ 477,400 Newborn Construction, Inc. 479,568 Stasi Brothers Asphalt Corporation 523,825 Pioneer Landscaping & Asphalt Paving, Inc. 544,915 Araz Industries 557,360 Fort Hill Ind., Inc. 571,625 Intercounty Paving Associates, LLC 625,990 9/24/10 Chain Link Fence for Sport Court, Stony Brook University SUNY Stony Brook Research & Development Campus Perimeter Barrier Systems, Inc. $ 29,892 Reliable Garden & Fence 49,668 American Chain Link & Construction 49,880 Westbury Fence & Guide Rail 49,995 United Fence & Guard Rail 52,000 Meli Contracting Co., Inc. 64,240 Mack Glassnauth Iron Works 148,341 9/24/10 Excavation/Grading/Site Preparation, Stony Brook University SUNY Stony Brook Research & Development Campus Ruttura & Sons Construction Co. $ 146,330 Norman Kurrass Contractor, Inc. 149,724 Bimasco, Inc. 158,860 PSL Industries, Inc. 183,000 Galvin Brothers, Inc. 354,000 9/24/ Miscellaneous Roadway Improvements Sands Point Village John McGowan & Son $ 339,572 Pioneer Landscaping & Asphalt Paving, Inc. 350,705 Bimasco, Inc. 351,860 Stasi Brothers Asphalt Corporation 355,680 Newborn Construction, Inc. 367,245 Pratt Brothers, Inc. 367,682 9/24/ Roadway & Drainage Improvements Inc. Village of East Hills Carlo Lizza & Sons Paving $ 545,256 Intercounty Paving Associates, LLC 598,880 Galvin Brothers, Inc. 622,340 Newborn Construction, Inc. 659,478 Bimasco, Inc. 669,339 Pioneer Landscaping & Asphalt Paving, Inc. 688,851 Stasi Brothers Asphalt Corporation 705,287 ALAC Contracting Corp. 789,789 John McGowan & Son 834,070