County adopts state weights-and-measures fee updates; MOU with IBEW Local 363 approved
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Putnam County amended its local code to align inspection fees with new New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations (including a per-scale fee change) and authorized a memorandum of understanding to grant reciprocal recognition for IBEW Local 363 journeymen on union jobs.
County consumer-affairs director Mike Keficinski told the committee that New York State Agriculture and Markets revised its weights-and-measures regulations; the county moved to align its local fee schedule with the state’s changes. Keficinski said the key fee change affects scales: under the new state rules every scale inspected will be charged the same $20 fee; previously the fee had been structured as $20 for up to five scales and $10 for each additional scale.
Keficinski also said the new state rules include electric-vehicle (EV) charging-station meters; the county currently does not have testing equipment for EV chargers. Legislators asked whether the county may need to acquire specialized equipment or participate in regional testing; Keficinski said he would raise the question at a regional training session and follow up.
The legislature also approved a resolution authorizing the county attorney to draft a memorandum of understanding with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 363 (IBEW Local 363). Keficinski and committee members said the Putnam County Electrical Board found Local 363’s training and testing to be equivalent to county requirements and recommended reciprocal licensing for union journeymen working on county union projects. The resolution authorizes the county executive to execute an MOU that would permit reciprocal recognition for qualified Local 363 journeymen for union jobs in Putnam County.
Both items were approved by the committee; the weights-and-measures local-law change was adopted and the MOU resolution passed on voice votes. No specific roll-call tallies were stated on the record.
Committee members requested follow-up on two points: whether other jurisdictions in the region are testing EV charging meters yet, and whether the county will face any reporting or compliance obligations if it does not immediately acquire EV-meter testing equipment. Keficinski said he would report back after the regional training.
The committee’s actions align the county with recent state regulatory changes and establish a path for streamlined recognition of IBEW Local 363 journeymen on union projects in the county.