Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, Inc.
Serving Healthcare Since 1949
*** General Membership Meeting***
Minutes to the Meeting of
June 21, 2007
President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE, called the meeting to order on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at the Galloping Hill Inn, Union, New Jersey, commencing at 6:08 p.m. President Elect Ben DiFranco, CHFM, lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance. Self-introductions were made by all in attendance.
SPONSOR
The sponsor for this evening’s meeting was Sordoni Construction.
EDUCATIONAL SESSION TOPIC
The educational session was presented by Mr. Stan Bernard , representative for AIA Building Information Modeling of Micro Desk. Mr. Bernard gave an in-depth educational presentation on this latest computer program, then fielded questions from the audience.
DINNER BREAK.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE, was extremely pleased to announce to the group that the Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey has been awarded the status of Platinum Level from the American Society of Healthcare Engineers. John thanked everyone for their hard work and explained how only a half-a-dozen chapters across the country received this level and how very proud he will be to stand up and receive this recognition at ASHE's annual conference in New Orleans.
John urged any existing members to please continue their membership and support of the organization and anyone considering membership to please take an application, as a courtesy John explained how it is common for many individuals and organizations to let their membership lapse beyond their renewal date often in part due to budget constraints, but ASHE has begun dropping people for failure to renew their membership in a timely fashion.
Roger Ennis the chair of the golf committee was thanked by John for yet another successful golf outing.
PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT
Ben DiFranco, CHFM, informed the group that Thursday August 23rd, would be the date for this year’s annual field trip to ASCO, please look for and respond to an upcoming email soliciting a head count for the day’s events.
Ben also let the group know to continue to respond to the registration application sent out about the HFMSNJ all day seminar, Ben took a moment to remind everyone that it was going to be a very informative event consisting of Dan Chisholm speaking on Emergency Power Systems, Mike Yarnell speaking about OSHA inspections and Bill Anderson speaking about BMP's and would include breakfast and lunch.
As a final piece of information Ben reminded everyone to save the date for the Societies annual holiday party slated for December 7, 2007.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE, presented the following synapses of the 2007 budget:
Beginning Balance: $71,309.03
Disbursements: $22,814.84
Deposits: $36,740.00
Ending Balance: $85,234.19
The organization is solvent.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Edward Fay informed the group that the updates to the society’s website and educational calendar are completed as was the email data base, anyone not receiving the email updates and reminders was asked to please correct their information on the website or to contact one of the committee members for assistance.
ADVOCACY
Robert Roop asked if the group had any issues for advocacy and informed everyone that Dan Campbell of the Delaware Valley Chapter had successfully lobbied in support of the CO2 fire suppression system changes. Robert also announced that the time frame for comments to the latest changes to the AIA were still open for consideration.
NEWSLETTER
No Report.
MEMBERSHIP
No Report.
WEBSITE
Ben DiFranco, CHFM, filling in for Oscar Gonzalez, SASHE, CHFM, asked all the members to please contact Oscar via email with any information for the 2007 ad journal as the deadline of June 30th is fast approaching.
EAB
Brian Akers filling in for James Corueil reminded any facility using VIOS fire alarm systems should carefully consider changes or upgrades as NFPA 72 requires a specified time frame for battery back-up and the VIOS system apparently does not comply.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
George Thomas, FASHE, CHFM, informed the membership to start thinking about prospective candidates for Facility Manager of the Year and a Regional Leader recipient now for next year’s event and asked that when we meet in September we be prepared to select.
AUDIT & NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Joe Berlesky CHFM reminded everyone that the position of Treasurer and Secretary would be coming up for nomination.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Frank Keller thanked everyone for their participation in the annual community assistance day, Frank explained how pleased the handicapped homeowner was for the assistance of the organization and Frank asked for thoughts on if anyone in the membership would like to participate in additional work to this intervals home.
Frank reminded everyone that the next bridges run was coming up next Friday the 29th meeting at Christ Church in Summit, New Jersey.
GOLF OUTING
Roger Ennis thanked all the vendors for the sponsorship and everyone for their participation in this year’s golf outing. Roger reminded everyone to mark your calendars for the same date, time and location for next year.
DOH UPDATES
Frank Del Gaudio reminded the membership that any work taking place at their facility involving sprinkler systems, to please be sure that the people working on it are now certified sprinkler technicians as to avoid any potential violations.
Robert Roop took a moment to remind the group that although our advocacy had been successful regarding the DEP emergency generator run tests in New Jersey. Facility managers are still required to contact the New Jersey Department of Health and Social Services within 24 hours following power loss causing the generators to run four hours or more.
NFPA UPDATES
No Report
JOINT COMMISSION UPDATES
Joe Berlesky, CHFM, informed everyone he received his unannounced Joint Commission Inspection at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Joe urged all facility managers to look back at the hand out from the annual conference a few years ago in Anaheim, California that detailed the who, what, how and when of the inspection process, and by following this hand out you stand to have a more successfully survey. Joe said basically a single RFI was given indicating as he and his staff knew what they were doing.
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE, spoke about some major changes to the EC.410 & 420 standards effective January 1, 2008, and that 410 would basically become its own standard with approximately 10 elements of performance for emergency preparedness. One of the required drills will need to escalate to a point where the facility will not be able to use "outside" agencies for assistance.
OLD BUSINESS
No “Old Business” was discussed.
NEW BUSINESS
Bill Anderson, FASHE, CHFM, spoke about the 4 hour required run test meeting multiple requirements had been in discussion by Dan Chisholm, George Mills and Dale Woodin, but they could not get a formal interpretation from the NFPA to date. Gary Giovinazzo felt that perhaps the issue about verbiage between static vs. dynamic could be the stumbling block on the issue
Brian Akers reminded any facility operating a day care center that the time frame for the installation of carbon dioxide detectors was coming to a close.
ASHE
Ben also urged eligible members of the group to consider taking the CHFM test and prospective members to please take an application which is available at every meeting, and any member attending the annual conference to please offer to pick up literature for members who might not be able to attend.
GOOD OF THE ORDER
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE, also announced that our very own President Elect Ben DiFranco, CHFM, and Frank Del Gaudio, CHFM, would be receiving their SASHE at this year’s annual conference.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:20 P.M.