Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention Meeting
January 27, 2009
Miss Utility Call Center
Hanover, MD  21076

I. Call To Order and Introduction:

Wayne Gilmer (Utiliquest) called the regular monthly meeting to order at 9:40 am.

Introductions were made.

The minutes of November 25, 2008 were approved.

II. Safety Item:

Wayne Gilmer’s monthly safety topic covered safe driving tips during inclement weather.

 III. Title XII Steering Committee:

Jim Barron gave a lenghty update on the Steering Committee meetings through January 26, 2009. He said they have reviewed the entire Maryland Law and are now focused on the enforcement phase. He said the Committee would meet every other week from now until the end of June, so that everyone has time to review and provide comments to the proposed changes before the larger stakeholder meeting which would happen sometime in late August or early September 2009.

There was a general discussion about the enforcement phase of the Committee meetings. Jim Barron indicated that it would not entail governmental agency oversight. Tom Baldwin (BGE) said the biggest issue being tackle by the Committee is how to fund the enforcement authority.

There was a lengthy discussion about the Land Development Council (LDC) of the Home Builders Association of Maryland request that Miss Utility attend their May 7, 2009 meeting. Jim Barron cited an example in which a contractor damaged an unmarked water main that was owned by a member of the LDC. He said the LDC would like the Damage Prevention Committee to do a safety presentation with the primary focus on what their duties are under the current Maryland Law. Jim Barron and Matt Ruddo are going to work together on the presentation for the LDC.

IV. MGH Report:

Nick Kelly (MGH) presented the MD/DC Damage Prevention & Subscriber Committees with the MarCom Awards 2008 Honorable Mention plaque for last year’s Diamond Dig promotion. Nick stated that the MarCom Awards program honors excellence in marketing and communications around the country.

 V. Dig Smart/Locator Achievement Awards:

 LOCATOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:
        
JANUARY

      27th – Meeting to evaluate LAA entries, discuss prizes and agenda
    
 FEBRUARY
     
      20th – Posting    http://www.missutility.net/missutilityawards/maryland_awards2008.asp
      24th – Meeting to finalize event logistics, prizes and agenda
     
MARCH

      24th – Meeting to finalize event logistics

APRIL

      7th – Meeting at venue to discuss final event logistics/run through
      16th – Event to be held at Harper’s Choice in Columbia, MD

VI. Contractor Nights:

There was a brief discussion about the Greater Chesapeake Damage Prevention Training Conference replacing the contractor night initiative in 2009. Tom Baldwin said the goal is to partner with Paradigm Liaison Services on strengthening their Emergency, Public Official and Excavator Safety Awareness Training Program.
 

VII. Damage Prevention Presentations:

There is an upcoming presentation for Frederick County Public Schools at 7446 Hayward Road in Frederick, MD on February 3, 2009 at 9:00am.

VIII. 2009 Greater Chesapeake Damage Prevention Training Conference (GCDPTC):

Matt Ruddo (MGH) gave an update on the GCDPTC that will be held at the Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel on October 21-23, 2009.

Matt Ruddo stated that sponsorship opportunities of all levels were currently available and the exhibit hall floor plan would be available online before the next meeting. He also stated that early bird registration was moved to April 1, 2009 in order to survey potential attendees for content feedback. He encouraged everyone to visit www.missutility.net/2009conference for updates and more details.
 

IX. Trade Shows & Safety Events:

Tom Baldwin asked for help filling a handful of shifts at the Landscape Contractors Association Winter Workshop in Ellicott City, MD and the Washington Home Garden and Flower Show at the DC Convention Center. Wayne Gilmer said he could be contacted if anyone needed further details on any of the trade shows. He also thanked everyone for their past participation. 

Trade show coordinator contact is Nick Kelly of MGH and he can be reached at nkelly@mghus.com or 410-504-8338.

  
X. MD/DC Subscribers Committee Meeting:

Tom Baldwin stated there was a lengthy discussion about the MD/DC Subscribers advertising/public awareness budget at the last meeting. He said the LAA/Dig Smart budget was slightly cut in order to do a second Diamond Dig event in Frederick, MD this year. He also said that other initiatives such as the promotional item inventory, trade shows, etc. would be looked at closely for budget cuts if call volumes continue to decrease.

XI. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:

Mark Hamrick(Verizon) provided the following FTTP trench footage projections:

Mark Hamrick said Verizon may be moving into the District of Columbia in the near future and this could affect the trench footage projections in certain parts of Maryland.
                                   

Open Discussion:
 
Dora Parks provided a brief update on the ADC 4 digit mapping conversion. She said the Miss Utility Center began accepting the new 4 digit map books for Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Frederick County. She said Harford County is scheduled to be ready by February 27, 2009.

Jim Verga (Eastcom Associates) stated that in England the person doing the digging is also responsible for locating the utility lines.

There was a lengthy discussion about the duties of the Damage Prevention Chairperson as well as the annual nomination process. Tom Baldwin made a motion for Wayne Gilmer to stay on as the Chairperson for another year. Everyone agreed and thanked Wayne for his service.

Mark Hamrick and Sam La Quey (Verizon) both stated that they have seen a reduction in damages from the FTTP/FIOS initiative in Charles County and around the state.

Upcoming Trade Shows:

The following tradeshows are schedule for 2009:

Show name:		Landscape Contractors Association, Winter Workshop 2009
Date:		January 28-29, 2009
City, State:		Ellicott City, MD
Place:		The Turf Valley Resort
Website:		http://www.lcamddcva.org/conferences/winter.cfm
Show name:		Suburban ACS
Date:		February 6-8, 2009
City, State:		Upper Marlboro, MD
Place:		The Show Place Arena
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/SPS.html
Show name:		Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 6-8, 2009
City, State:		Timonium,MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		http://www.mdhomeandgarden.com/0_HG/01_HG_show_info.html
Show name:		Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 13-15, 2009
City, State:		Timonium,MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		http://www.mdhomeandgarden.com/0_HG/01_HG_show_info.html
Show name:		Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show
Date:		March 13-15, 2009
City, State:		Germantown, MD
Place:		Discovery Sports Center at Maryland Soccerplex
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/DSS.html
Show name:		Maryland Plumbing, Heating and Contractors Seminar
Date:		March 13, 2009
City, State:		Pikesville, MD
Place:		Pikesville Armory
Website:		www.phccweb.org
Show name:		Washington Home, Garden & Flower Show
Date:		March 19-22, 2009
City, State:		Washington, D.C.
Place:		Washington Convention Center
Website:		http://www.washingtonhomeandgardenshow.com
Show Name:		Frederick County Builders Association Home Show
Date:		March 21-22, 2009
City, State:		Frederick, MD
Place:		Great Frederick Fairgrounds
Website:		http://www.fcbal.org/html/homeshow.cfm
Show name:		Builder Mart
Date:		March 25, 2009
City, State:		Timonium,MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		http://www.homebuilders.org/page/55597/
Show name:		Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show
Date:		April 3-5, 2009
City, State:		Landover, MD
Place:		Prince George Sports and Learning Complex
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/PGS.html
Show name:		Maryland Municipal League
Date:		June 28-July 1, 2009
City, State:		Ocean City, MD
Place:		Ocean City Convention Center
Website:		http://www.mdmunicipal.org/cv09/cvgeneralinfo.cfm
Show name:		Maryland Association of Counties
Date:		August 12-15, 2009
City, State:		Ocean City, MD
Place:		Roland Powell Convention Center
Website:		http://www.mdcounties.org/events/default.cfm
Show name:		Chesapeake Safety Conference
Date:		N/A
City, State:
Place:
Website:
Show name:		Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show
Date:		September 11-13, 2009
City, State:		Germantown, MD
Place:		Discovery Sports Center at Maryland Soccerplex
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/DSF.html
Show Name:		Harford Live!
Date:		September 26-27, 2009
City, State:		Aberdeen, MD
Place:		Ripken Stadium
Website:		http://www.harfordlive.com
Show Name:		Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		October 16-18, 2009
City, State:		Timonium, MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/HAF.html
Show Name:		Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show
Date:		October 30th-November 1, 2009
City, State:		Upper Marlboro, MD
Place:		The Show Place Arena
Website:		http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/HAF.html

Upcoming Meetings:

The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2009 at the Miss Utility Center.  Coffee and donuts will be served at 9:00 am.  The meeting will begin at 9:30 am.  

The next Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held March 18, 2009 at the Miss Utility Center. Coffee and donuts will be served at 8:30 am, and the meeting will begin at 9:00 am.  

There being no further business brought before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.

ITIC % Report for Maryland and Washington D.C.
Month		Call Center Tickets		ITIC Tickets		Percentage
Jan-08		58,159		41,586		72%
Feb-08		51,004		36,810		72%
Mar-08		57,239		39,568		69%
Apr-08		63,265		42,709		68%
May-08		60,597		41,305		68%
Jun-08		61,717		42,510		69%
Jul-08		63,231		44,582		71%
Aug-08		58,606		40,823		70%
Sep-08		60,176		42,587		71%
Oct-08		63,374		44,378		70%
Nov-08		44,680		31,772		71%
Dec-08		48,953		36,569		75%
Jan-09		44,393		32,250		73%

Attendee List
Name		Company		Phone		Email
Wayne Gilmer		Utiliquest		301-674-2769		walter.gilmer@utiliquest.com
Dora Parks		Miss Utility Center		410-782-2026		dora@missutility.net
Dennis Lescalleet		Pleasants Construction		301-428-0800		dlescalleet@pleasants.org
Matt Ruddo		Miss Utility Center		410-712-0056		matt@missutility.net
Tom Baldwin		BGE		410-291-3121		t.c.baldwin@bge.com
Mark Hamrick		Verizon		410-610-1371		mark.a.hamrick@verizon.com
Art Worthman		Master Locators Inc.		610-620-7808		art.worthman@masterlocators.com
Greg Johnson		PEPCO		301-670-8735		gmjohnson@pepco.com
Dan Wiles		Utiliquest		410-536-0070		dan.wiles@utiliquest.com
Z. Sushko		PSC		410-767-8113		zsushko@psc.state.md.us
Jimmy Jennings		OCCLS		443-783-4211
Cynthia King		Verizon		540-265-5088		cynthia.t.king@core.verizon.com
Kevin Woolbright		WSSC		240-205-3684		kwoolbr@wsscwater.com
Jim Barron		Ronkin Construction		410-679-4750		jbarron@ronkinconstruction.com
Bill Dow		CableCom		410-354-5880		bdow@att.net
Rick Behrens		CableCom		410-354-5850
Bob Norman		Utiliquest		443-790-0052		bob.norman@utiliqyest.com
Tim Kempa		Comcast		410-371-3304		tim_kempa@cable.comcast.com
Sam LaQuey		Verizon		301-519-4251		sam.i.laquey@core.verizon.com
Jim Verga		Eastcom Associates		908-803-0195		jverga@eastcomassoc.com
Nick Kelly		MGH		410-504-8338		nkelly@mghus.com
Steve Nichols		Radiodetection		207-329-5467		steve.nichols@spx.com