Meeting Minutes

 

Maine Section ASCE Board of Directors

4:00 PM October 27, 2005

Ramada Inn Conference Center

Lewiston, Maine

 

Present:            Peter Merfeld, President-Elect

                        Tim Merritt, Vice-President

                        Erik Wiberg, Secretary

                        Chris Taylor, Treasurer

                        Walter Fagerlund, Informant Editor & Technical Seminar

                        Patricia Korbet, Informant Editor

                        Be Schonewald

                        Ralph Nelson

                        Jennifer Tooley

 

  1. Welcome and Introductions

 

  1. Minutes of September 20, 2005
    1. Meeting minutes reviewed and corrected.  Walter motioned to accept as edited.  Chris seconded.  Unanimously accepted.

 

  1. Budget 2005-2006/Treasure’s Report/Meeting Minutes
    1. Budget 2005-2006.

                                                               i.      The board reviewed the revised 2005-2006 budget.

                                                             ii.      There was a discussion of cash versus accrual accounting methods. Annual report suggests cash accounting is appropriate, though budget is made on accrual method.

                                                            iii.      Tim motioned to accept the budget.  Erik seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Monthly Programs

November – Penobscot Restoration project restoration topic fell through.  Army Corps of Engineers will present reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

December – No meeting.

January – Brunswick area.  Dam removal topic.  Malone & MacBroom might present.  Be Schonewald offered to arrange GZA speaker as backup.

February –Calais bridge topic with Panel discussion.  Peter Merfeld suggested Dept. of Transportation Commissioner as keynote speaker.  Jeff Andrews of TY Lin scheduled to participate.

March – Technical Seminar.

April – UMaine student chapter

May 18 –Ocean Gateway project.  Tim considering a harbor boat tour. 

  1. Committee Updates
    1. Informant/Webpage

                                                               i.      Walter is sending in Informant newsletters for small section recognition by National ASCE.

                                                             ii.      Past issues should be posted on the website.

                                                            iii.      Ralph Nelson presented website updates/renovations.  Ralph has cleaned up PDF formatting, updated links, and added contest info.

                                                           iv.      Past presidents and award winners should be listed in the website.

    1. Heritage & History

                                                               i.      Portland Observatory as National ASCE Historic Landmark – Peter passed out draft application for review.  Application due next week.

                                                             ii.      Ellsworth Dam as National ASCE Historic Landmark. – Ralph presented on this application.  Already on NRHP.  Dam has one owner (PPL) and PPL would likely be willing to support the application. 1st Amberson Company dam in New England.

                                                            iii.      Aziscohos Dam as National ASCE Historic Landmark. – Multiple owners would require coordination of parties with potentially divergent interests.  Ralph indicated listing might effect relicensing.  Peter indicated Jim Wendell (formerly H&H Committee Chair) and Greg Blake have additional information on this dam.

                                                           iv.      Multiple submittals do not dilute application effort.

                                                             v.      Hold off on Historic Site brochure reprint/update until spring.

    1. Younger Members –

                                                               i.      Jennifer reported that she has been contacted by a New Hampshire member about AASHTO school out reach programs.

                                                             ii.      Board suggested acquiring AASHTO’s Maglev train model for the Engineers Week Expo and other student outreach efforts.

    1. Model Contest

                                                               i.      A post card reminder should be mailed out during the 1st or 2nd week in January.

                                                             ii.      Be will look into the cost of the postcard mailing.

    1. Technical Seminar

                                                               i.      Planning continues. No report.

    1. Transportation Conference

                                                               i.      Peter reported Bob Chaput has been attending meetings.  ASCE should obtain a booth; Peter to follow up with Bob.

  1. Old Business
    1. ASCE Re-Governance – Peter reported that Bob has submitted the section’s vote.
    2. Blodgett’s Welding Seminar – Peter reported that the seminar will be in April.  ACM has expressed interest in sponsoring or co-sponsoring the event.
    3. Bylaws – Be is proofing the digital copy against the original hard copy.   The board should consider updating the bylaws to reflect current communications methods and other developments since they were adopted.
  2. New Business
    1. SPAG – Erik will submit a grant application for MEPC sponsorship and Engineers Week activities.  MEPC sponsorship goal is Silver level ($3,500).  May solicit UMaine students to assist with Ask the Infrastructure exhibit.
    2. Be might prepare SPAG for historic landmark brochure reprinting.
  3. ASCE Zone 1 Workshop in February – Erik and Kathy Kern will attend.  Jennifer and Matt Gill will attend on behalf of Younger Members
  4. Adjourn – Meeting Adjourned

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Erik J Wiberg, P.E., Secretary