Proposal by Electrical firms for Licensing Law

This is in response to the letter written for the Register Star by Jack Scheriff, an electrician, on behalf of a local group of electrical contractors. Licensing of electricians is an old issue that has been urged by the same group several times over the years. It has been refused by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors each time. It has been raised twice during my terms. It provides for a County administrated “licensing” program. In my view, it is designed to protect large electrical contractors from competition and duplicates existing laws requiring underwriting approval of all electrical work.

I have heard two presentations and each begins with the “unfairness” of competition from electricians from other counties or states that require licenses. I am surprised that attorney Patrick Grattan supports this proposal. As described by a very good electrician and friend of mine- the urged legislation is an attempt by a “good old boys” network of large electrical firms to limit competition. The proposal conveniently allows “grandfather status” for the group’s members without testing or required education. If passed, a new bureaucracy would be created; positions would be needed to keep track of the licensing and all the other organizational red tape that goes with licensing legislation. It is ironic that this group is saying: “Help, please regulate us”! Usually these same people urge that there is too much government regulation.

This licensing law would, in my opinion, be too much regulation. It duplicates the current statutory scheme found in all Towns. A permit is required for building, remodeling and other construction work. The permit leads to inspections and, in the case of electrical work, written and certified approval by an independent under-writing organization. Those inspectors are certified and have training beyond having been in business a long time. This licensing law would make it hard for a young person to become an electrician. It would also prohibit homeowners from doing their own work – even if the person was a graduate electrical engineer.

Although I have again been singled out by this mostly Republican group, only Supervisor Thomas Diaz from Ancram recently urged adoption of this scheme. At the May meeting of the Legal Committee, attended by 5 Republican Supervisors and 2 Democratic Supervisors, the vote was 6 to 1 to table. At the July meeting, the motion to "abolish the process of creating an electrical licensing law" was passed by the full Legal Committee which consists of 7 Republicans and 3 Democrats. All but Supervisor Dias voted for the motion. In addition, many people and small contractors have expressed opposition to this legislation. Presumably other Supervisors have received the same message, I am only one vote. In the past this legislation was also rejected by the local association of building inspectors.

Does Mr. Grattan really support this added bureaucracy and increased taxes it represents? This partisan attack by Mr. Scheriff contains false information. I have never seen a 300 signature petition nor photos of shoddy work. I am sure this group would have little trouble producing such photos!

Mr. Scheriff refers to a quote of Presiden Martin Van Buren, who he correctly refers to as another Kinderhook Democrat. I do not understand his quote in this context. Mr. Scheriff's scolds me and by inference those Republican and Democratic Supervisor that do not agree with him. A more apt quote from our famous Democratic President is: Most men are not scolded out of their opinion".