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Granholm gives nod to unions in latest round of appointments

Date Posted: August 5 2005

LANSING - A flurry of recent construction-related governmental appointments highlights the benefit of having a union-friendly governor running the state.

In the past several weeks, Gov. Jennifer Granholm made several appointments to state construction-related boards, in many cases placing representatives of unions or union-related businesses on the panels. Due to the term lengths for many positions, this is the first opportunity she has had to make appointments to these positions.

Following are some of the appointments:

State Building Authority Board of Trustees - Patrick Devlin, secretary-treasurer of the Greater Detroit Building & Construction Trades Council, was appointed by the governor to represent the general public for a term expiring Aug. 21, 2006.

The State Building Authority Board of Trustees oversees the use and allocation of funds to acquire, construct, furnish, equip, renovate, operate, mortgage, and/or maintain facilities and equipment for the use of the state or any of its agencies, including public universities and community colleges.

Michigan Construction Safety Standards Commission - D. Lynn Coleman, training director of the Michigan Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Institute, and Gregg Newsom, training director for Operating Engineers Local 324 Journeyman & Apprentice Training Fund, have been appointed to represent labor on the committee.

Coleman and Newsom, whose terms expired in 2008, are "appointed to represent labor and persons actively engaged in construction operations on the employee level," according to the job description.

In addition, Donald Staley, safety manager for the Christman Co. was appointed to the committee to represent management. So too was Valerie Warren, vice president of administration and safety director for Dee Cramer, Inc.

The Construction Safety Standards Commission provides rules and establishes safety standards for construction operations to protect the life and safety of construction workers in Michigan.

State Construction Code Commission - Nelson McMath, secretary-treasurer for Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 9, has been appointed to represent organized labor for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2006.

In addition, Beth A. Yorke, construction project manager for Barton Malow Co., was appointed to represent the field of building contracting for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2007.

The Commission prepares and promulgates the state construction code that governs the construction, use, and occupation of buildings and structures. The commission is also charged with adding, amending, and/or rescinding rules to update the code at least once every three years in order to coincide with the national code change cycle.

Electrical Administrative Board - Mark A. Bauer, assistant business manager with IBEW Local 692, has been appointed to represent master electricians serving as supervisors for a term expiring Aug. 10, 2007.

Also, Ernest Harju, electrical project coordinator for M.J. Electric, was appointed to represent electrical journeymen for a term expiring Aug. 10, 2007.

The Electrical Administrative Board, in addition to the inspection of wiring and its installation, establishes fees for inspection and appoints inspectors.