Construction Outlook November 2017

NOV | 2017 A PUBLICATION OF THE UTILITY CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

Barbara and John Our

UCANE Interview: Representative Smitty Pignatelli

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IN THIS ISSUE

OFFICERS President PAUL SCENNA

Albanese D&S, Inc.

President-Elect RICHARD PACELLA, JR. R. M. Pacella, Inc.

Treasurer MARCELLA ALBANESE

Albanese Brothers, Inc.

Secretary RYAN McCOURT

McCourt Construction Company

BOARD OF DIRECTORS VINCENT BARLETTA

Barletta Heavy Division

JOHN BERKSZA

Eastern Insurance Group, LLC

NICK BIELLO

J. D’Amico, Inc.

TONY BORRELLI

Celco Construction Corp.

GERRY CARNEY, JR.

C. N. Wood Company, Inc.

KEVIN COLE

J. F. White Contracting Co.

BRIAN COONEY

C. C. Construction, Inc.

GREG FEENEY

Feeney Bros. Excavation, LLC

JERRY GAGLIARDUCCI

Gagliarducci Construction, Inc.

MARCO GIOIOSO

P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc.

A. J. LORUSSO

Lorusso Heavy Equipment, LLC

AL MORTEO

FED. CORP.

JOHN OUR

Robert B. Our Co., Inc.

JOSEPH PACELLA

RJV Construction Corp.

BRIAN RAWSTON

Jay Cashman, Inc.

CHRIS VALENTI

GVC Construction, Inc.

KEN VOGEL

WES Construction Corp.

DAVID ZOPPO

R. Zoppo Corp.

ANNE KLAYMAN

Executive Director

5 President’s Message:

2017 UCANE Banquet Exemplifies Our Industry and Our Mission

7 Legislative Update:

• UCANE and Auditor Bump Announce Conditional Support for Primacy Legislation • Baker Administration Teams with Treasurer Goldberg to Announce Water Testing Program for Lead for 2017-2018 School year • House and Senate Pass OSHA Adherence Legislation Governing Municipalities and Independent Authorities • News in Brief

17 UCANE Interview:

Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lennox)

21 UCANE’s Annual Christmas Party & Scholarship Auction 23 Under the Hard Hat with UCANE’s Officers & Board Members: Q&A with UCANE Board Member Kevin Cole (J. F. White Contracting Co.)

26 UCANE’s 63rd Annual Banquet 42 UCANE’s Banquet Sponsors 48 UCANE’s Contractor Member of the Year: John Our, Robert B. Our Company, Inc.

51 UCANE’s Associate Members of the Year:

Oscar and Newton Johnson, Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc.

53 Spotlight on Cape Cod:

Orleans Voters Fund Sewer, School Projects

55 UCANE Joins Third Annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” Campaign to Raise Awareness About the Value of Water 57 Springfield Public Works Officials Attend White House Infrastructure Summit 65 Champions Circle: Joe Andruzzi Foundation 67 Financial Management: • • • • •

Uncertainty Hampers Year-End Tax Planning Year-End Planning for Investors Year-End Retirement Tax Planning Year-End Tax Planning for Charitable Donations Year-End Business Tax Planning

Editor: Anne Klayman, Associate Editor: Suzanne Savage, Magazine Designer: Sherri Klayman Construction Outlook Chairman: Paul Scenna Editorial Board: Paul Scenna, Richard Pacella, Jr., Marcella Albanese, and Ryan McCourt CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK published monthly by the Utility Contractors’ Association of New England, Inc., 300 Congress Street, Suite 101, Quincy, MA 02169; Tel: 617.471.9955; Fax: 617.471.8939; Email: aklayman@ucane.com; Website: www.ucane.com. Statements of fact and opinion are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of UCANE and the Construction Outlook editorial board and staff. Subscriptions are included in dues payments for UCANE members. Presorted Standard postage paid at Brockton, MA. POSTMASTER, please send form #3579 to Construction Outlook, Crown Colony Office Park, 300 Congress Street, Suite 101, Quincy, MA 02169.

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2017 UCANE Banquet Exemplifies Our Industry and Our Mission Having been a UCANE member for over 12 years, I have always looked forward to attending our Association’s Annual Banquet. The evening is always a first-class affair, a giant wedding, and a big party all rolled up in one. It’s a great chance to enjoy an evening with my wife and my co-workers, to socialize with my fellow UCANE members and competitors, and to honor our Contractor and Associate Member of the Year recipients.

U

CANE’s 63rd Annual Banquet “Masquerade Ball” held at the Newton Marriot Hotel was no exception.

The food and entertainment were again spectacular and the dance floor was overflowing the entire evening.

Once again I was in awe of the decorations, the detail, and the planning that goes into this one-of-a-kind event.

What was different for me this year, however, was that I had the privilege of attending the banquet while serving as President of UCANE, which gave me a whole new perspective on the event and what it means to our Association. My “official” duty that evening was to step up to the podium and welcome our members and guests, and I must say that I was overwhelmed with a sense of pride when I looked out and saw almost 600 people filling the ballroom, knowing that they were there not only to have a good time, but because they support and value UCANE and its mission.

As President, I want to thank all of our members who sponsored various segments of our banquet and whose unfailing generosity make this event possible. Special thanks to C. N. Wood Co., Inc. and Komatsu for once again taking the role as lead sponsor for the 18th consecutive year. Congratulations to Anne and the UCANE staff for once again pulling it all together. You can read about the night’s festivities and look at some of the photos from our banquet in this month’s magazine beginning on page 26.

I would also like to congratulate our Contractor and Associate Members of the Year who were honored at our banquet.

UCANE’s Contractor of the Year is John Our of the Robert B. Our Co., Inc. of Harwich, MA. John is also our immediate Past-President, and is an extremely committed and supportive member of UCANE. The Associate Member Award this year was co-presented to Oscar and Newton Johnson of

NOVEMBER, 2017

Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc. They have been actively involved with UCANE for many years and serve as a model Associate member supporting our industry.

The theme for this year’s banquet was a “Masquerade Ball”, with many guests donning elaborate masks during the evening. UCANE Executive Director Anne Klayman noted in her remarks how this served as a symbol for our industry, as water infrastructure is often “masked” because it is below the surface and rarely seen. She is absolutely correct, and it is one of reasons that the work UCANE does is vital, as we are constantly “unmasking” the importance of our work and the value of clean water.

While there is still plenty of work to do, we are seeing progress. The most recent examples are on Cape Cod, where in the past month multi-million dollar clean water projects have overwhelmingly been approved by voters in Orleans and Bourne. It is extremely encouraging to see the margin of victory in the votes in favor of these projects, as it continues to show recognition by Cape residents of the critical need to protect their lakes, bays, and beaches by upgrading their water and sewer infrastructure. We will continue to work hard to make sure this same message resonates throughout the state.

I would be remiss if I did not mention another UCANE initiative in which our members should take great pride. On December 6 at The Lantana in Randolph, MA we will gather once again for our Annual Christmas Party and Scholarship Auction. As you may know, our Scholarship program awards twelve $2,000 scholarships to the children of our members and their employees. This will be the 44th year of this program and, like all UCANE programs, it is member driven and sustainable only through your continued support.

I look forward to seeing you there and wish you and your families all the best as we come upon the holiday season. n

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Mark Molloy, Esq., Lynch Associates, Inc.

UCANE and Auditor Bump Announce Conditional Support for Primacy Legislation

T

he Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture held a public hearing in mid-October on House Bill 2777, An Act Relative to the Administration of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. The legislation, which will allow the MassDEP to enforce the federal drinking water and clean water permitting process, is a priority of the Baker-Polito Administration as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

In particular, the legislation will allow the MassDEP to begin the process for assuming control over the implementation of the NPDES from the EPA. In particular, the EPA requires submission of a letter from the Governor requesting review and approval; a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA); a program description; a statement of its legal authority, and the federally compliant state laws and regulations.

This legislation provides the necessary authority to the DEP while bringing our water quality laws in line with the federal requirements. The Baker-Polito Administration will be able to apply to the EPA for approval under this program once this legislation is passed.

In offering testimony in support of the legislation, UCANE praised the DEP’s work to date, but also expressed caution that advancing this legislation will require a commitment from all involved parties. In its testimony, UCANE stated, in part: “While concern has been raised by some as to whether the DEP can administer this federal program, UCANE has seen firsthand the DEP’s success in managing and directing the state’s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF/DWSRF). As a result of DEP’s work with the Clean Water Trust, municipalities

NOVEMBER, 2017

and regional water authorities have access to technical expertise and funding to address their drinking water and sewer system needs. There are few programs in the nation that match the Commonwealth’s success in administering and managing this federal-state partnership. With the additional financial commitment made by the Baker-Polito Administration, the DEP will have the financial resources to operate the NPDES program as efficiently and effectively as the CWSRF/DWSRF program. Please note, however, if the financial resources needed for DEP to operate the NPDES program are taken from existing DEP or Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs appropriations, it is more than likely that the agency will not be able to successfully manage this program. As has been stated by the Administration and others thus far, separate and distinct funding must be made available to the DEP for the purpose of managing the NPDES program.”

UCANE found itself in line with a prominent government watchdog with this position. According to a press release issued by her office, Auditor Suzanne M. Bump weighed in with the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, as well to express her qualified support for the legislation.

In her testimony, Auditor Bump noted that taking this step will simplify the regulatory framework for cities and towns, stating, “This will allow municipal leaders to more effectively work with regulators to develop mutually agreed-upon capital plans that help get the most out of every dollar spent across all types of water infrastructure.” continued on page 9

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Legislative Update continued from page 7 However, Bump calls for two critical changes to the funding amount and mechanism in the bill. In that, the Auditor calls for funding for the program to come from not only the Commonwealth’s General Fund, but also a user fee, and a fee paid by major point industrial and commercial sources. Given her earlier study on water infrastructure needs, she believes these revenue streams should be used to augment the state’s line-item contribution.

“Diversifying these funding sources will provide greater funding consistency, support long-term planning, and insulate this critical function from state budgetary challenges that may arise in the future,” she wrote in her testimony.

In January, Bump released a study that examined the municipal water infrastructure needs in the Commonwealth. In this study, the Auditor calls for the state administration of the NPDES program. Her office’s analysis also found a total municipal water infrastructure spending need in excess of $17.8 billion over the next two decades.

Bump’s written testimony is available at: https:// w w w.mas s.g ov / files / d o c uments / 2017/10 / 20 / NPDES%20Testimony.pdf continued on page 11

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Legislative Update continued from page 9

Baker Administration Teams with Treasurer Goldberg to Announce Water Testing Program for Lead for 2017-2018 School Year

I

n a continued effort to ensure safe drinking water in schools across the Commonwealth, the MassDEP and Treasurer Deb Goldberg launched the 2017-2018 Lead in School Drinking Water Assistance Program, seeking to again help more public schools and day care centers test for lead and copper in their school drinking water. The 2016-2017 program was completed last spring after thousands of taps and drinking water fountains in more than 800 school facilities were tested.

According to a press release from the MassDEP, the testing program was funded last year with $2.75 million made available by the Baker-Polito Administration and State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. Approximately $600,000 of that funding remains and will be utilized to help more schools perform testing this school year.

The program is designed to encourage more schools to perform lead and copper testing with the help of experts at the MassDEP. Under current federal laws, testing in schools is voluntary and this program is designed to help schools implement effective testing programs and take water samples, and to educate them about how to address elevated levels.

Elevated lead and copper was detected in less than 10 percent of the drinking water taps and water fountains tested last year. School officials were encouraged to shut off those water fixtures as they determined appropriate next steps, and to communicate the results along with short-term action plans to parents and staff. Among the actions taken by schools were to remove and replace fixtures, use signage to indicate fixtures not intended to be used for drinking water, and the implementation of water line flushing programs.

Nearly 56,000 water samples were collected from approximately 32,000 water faucets, drinking fountains and other fixtures within public schools. Water supplied to schools is generally free of lead, but lead can be introduced into drinking water through plumbing and fixtures in buildings – especially in facilities more than 20 years old. Copper can also enter drinking water through plumbing, so the assistance program will also address copper levels in drinking water.

To its credit, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is providing lab analysis and supplemental technical assistance at no charge to the school systems located in communities served by the MWRA. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst will also be providing technical assistance to all school systems participating in the program. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Environmental Health supports the assistance program by developing educational materials and by assisting school departments with how to communicate test results to school communities. Additionally, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) and the Department of Early Education and Childcare (EEC) are assisting with program outreach to public schools across the Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust lends financial assistance to the Commonwealth under the State Revolving Fund program by providing subsidized loans to cities and towns for clean water and drinking water infrastructure development. Since its establishment in 1989, the Trust has loaned approximately $6.6 billion to improve and maintain the quality of water in the Commonwealth. continued on page 13

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Legislative Update continued from page 11

House and Senate Pass OSHA Adherence Legislation Governing Municipalities and Independent Authorities

T

he Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate recently passed legislation relative to extending the protections of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to municipal employees. The legislation, Senate Bill 2167/House Bill 3952, Acts Further Defining Standards of Employee Safety, updates Massachusetts’ antiquated public sector safety laws, which had not clearly defined what measures public agencies, such as the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, should employ to keep workers safe. The legislation would require that municipal public workers in the state have the same OSHA safety standards that cover all private sector and Commonwealth workers. If the House and Senate can resolve the minor differences between their versions, Massachusetts will join 26 other states that provide at least OSHA level protections for all public employees.

According to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MassCOSH), groups supporting the measure include the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, National Association of Government Employees - Service Employees International Union (NAGE-SEIU), Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 93, Service Employees International Union 888, Service Employees International Union 509, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, and Teamsters Local 25.

Under current law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch.

149; §6 authorizes the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) to respond to complaints, and investigate injuries and deaths.

While DLS encourages municipal and independent agencies to comply with OSHA regulations as a minimum standard of employee protection, the current state law does not directly cite OSHA regulations as the minimum safety standard for NOVEMBER, 2017

city, town, higher education, and independent authority workers.

Last session, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law that extended OSHA protections to 36,000 executive branch workers. According to Liberty Mutual’s Research Institute for Safety, employers save $4 to $6 for every dollar spent on a health and safety program.

Furthermore, the federal government has a grant program that matches state dollars oneto-one to fund the technical assistance and enforcement of public employee safety programs. It has been asserted that the Commonwealth will be eligible for these federal funds once the municipal and independent agency OSHA law is signed. continued on page 15

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Legislative Update continued from page 13

News in Brief •

•

•

•

Anderson Named Insurance Commissioner. At the end of October, Governor Charlie Baker appointed Gary D. Anderson to Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, a regulatory agency under the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Mr. Anderson joined the Division in 2014 as First Deputy Commissioner and has served as the Acting Commissioner since February 2017, where he is responsible for overseeing and monitoring an approximately $53 billion industry with over 1,600 licensed insurance companies and approximately 126,000 insurance agents licensed to do business in Massachusetts. As Policy Advisor and Senior Counsel in the Massachusetts State Senate President’s Office, Commissioner Anderson worked on Chapter 259 of the Acts of 2014, the comprehensive water infrastructure legislation.

Feeney Sworn In As Senator. Senator Paul Feeney, who worked previously as legislative director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2222, and also as former Senator Jim Timilty's first chief of staff, was sworn into office on the first day of November. Previously a member of the Foxborough Board of Selectmen, Senator Feeney was appointed as the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service shortly after his swearing in. A former Massachusetts State Director for United States Senator Bernie Sanders presidential bid, Senator Feeney is a prolabor, progressive Democrat.

HWM Budget Director Shuffle. House Ways and Means Budget Director Justin Sterritt recently accepted the position of Director of the Budget Office within the City of Boston. Replacing Mr. Sterritt will be the Honorable David Bunker, the former State Representative who previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Education. Mr. Bunker, who returned to the State House at the end of October, previously worked with the House Committee on Ways and Means under former House Chairman John Rogers.

Treasurer’s Legislative Director Named New Executive Director of Cannabis Control Commission. Mr. Shawn Collins, formerly Chief of Staff and General Counsel to former Senator Richard Moore and most recently Assistant Treasurer for Policy in the Office of the

NOVEMBER, 2017

•

Untitled-6 1

Treasurer, was recently named the Executive Director of the state’s new Cannabis Control Commission. Mr. Collins was the Treasurer’s point person on legislation, including matters impacting water infrastructure and the funding of such infrastructure through the Clean Water Trust.

Advocates Call for State to End Paying for Bottled Water. The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on State Administration recently heard legislation, HB 3451, proposing to ban the Commonwealth from purchasing bottled water where an available public water supply existed. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Chris Walsh, was filed to reduce the use of plastic bottles and encourage the use of public water supplies. The Commonwealth spent approximately $1 million dollars on bottled water in fiscal year 2017. The legislation, which received a favorable report from the same committee last session, has never progressed past the House Committee on Ways and Means. n

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Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lennox) Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli’s father has always been a big influence in his life. He was a life-long public servant in one form or another, including Lenox Town Selectman and eventually a County Commissioner. He took great joy in serving his community and Smitty was raised with a similar mindset.

Smitty is a lifelong Lenox resident; he went through the Lenox Public School system and graduated from Lenox Memorial High School.

In 1987 he took a more active interest in local politics by running for and winning a seat on the Lenox Planning Board. He served for five years, after which he was elected a Selectman. Smitty was a Berkshire County Commissioner from ’95-’99. He focused close to home, and it took him to the State House in 2003 and here he is, after 30 straight years of public service.

Q:

Representing a district with municipalities that have varying water uses, you are aware that every municipality has unique water infrastructure needs. What are your thoughts relative to the importance of local asset management planning and financing for the maintenance of the infrastructure that transports clean drinking water.

A:

When the state budget is restricted and spread thin, I think we need to empower our cities and towns with the tools they need to come up with creative funding sources for local projects that often cost millions of dollars. We have examples of this already on the books, here in Massachusetts, like the hotel/motel tax, local sales tax, meals tax, etc. Now is the time for the state to give our cities and towns more leeway in raising the funds they need for water infrastructure projects, whether that is through a local gas tax or through short-term rental tax. In a perfect world, our state revenues would be sufficient to fund these projects but with an array of needs throughout the Commonwealth, our cities and towns are the ones best suited to raise the funds and use them accordingly to meet their own specific needs. This will allow for a more reliable revenue stream that cities and towns can use for long-term planning purposes.

Q:

As the House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, can you tell us about some

NOVEMBER, 2017

of the initiatives you hope to work on that will address the Commonwealth’s water infrastructure needs?

A:

I have a distinct memory of when one of my towns did a major water infrastructure project back when I was a Selectman. They dug up the road to get to those 100 plus year old pipes only to find one that was completely eroded away, with the “pipe” being the carved out earth where the actual pipe should have been.

With that memory in mind, I have always thought that a more regional approach to our water systems would be hugely beneficial, particularly in the Berkshires and other less densely populated areas of the state. If communities could pool and share their resources to create regional wastewater districts, I think we would see a much better use of town finances and a better outcome for our residents.

Q:

Are there other initiatives before your committee that you see as having strong potential to support economic development and positive growth in municipalities?

A:

Ecotourism is something you hear more and more often these days. Folks are traveling to destinations for the natural beauty and the experience of detaching from the built environment. Where I continued on page 19

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17

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Interview continued from page 17 am from out in the Berkshires, we are extremely proud of our state parks and the easy access to outdoor recreation.

However, because of budgetary constraints, our state budget has not adequately funded our Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) leading to a strain on their resources and personnel. We have over 1,000 acres of parkland in the Berkshires and yet only two park rangers to cover the whole area. I would love to see the state make the investment into DCR so that cities and towns, like the ones I represent, can better attract folks to come out to enjoy our states natural resources, which will drive local economies and support small businesses. With my role as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, I look forward to pushing proper funding of DCR in our next budget cycle.

A: Q:

Could you share some of your other priorities for the rest of the current legislative session?

Outside of the legislation I have filed, I’m looking forward to working on improving workforce training, particularly in the Berkshires.

We have a burgeoning manufacturing sector that is in need of trained skilled employees, while at the same time we have young people leaving the area for jobs in other parts of the

NOVEMBER, 2017

I have always thought that a more regional approach to our water systems would be hugely beneficial, particularly in the Berkshires and other less densely populated areas of the state. If communities could pool and share their resources to create regional wastewater districts, I think we would see a much better use of town finances and a better outcome for our residents. state, or even the country. Refocusing on connecting our business sector with our educational programs, I hope that we can come up with some quality workforce training and development opportunities, including internship programs, apprenticeships, and co-ops, that will connect our graduating students entering the workforce to industries that have high paying, secure, and locally based careers to help build the Berkshires into an economically strong region. Along with connecting our workforce and our industries, to become a 21st century economy, communities in the Berkshires need widespread, dependable broadband connectivity. To retain our small business, and to attract larger ones, our companies need access to the online market in order to compete in the global market, the same way businesses in other areas of the Commonwealth are able to do. n

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UCANE’s Annual Christmas Party Scholarship Auction and “Ugly Sweater Contest”

Our members’ commitment to our Scholarship Program begins when our Association holds its Annual Christmas Party and Scholarship Auction. It is through the generosity of members who donate cash and auction items, and those who attend and bid for items that money is raised for our scholarships...all this to make certain that our Scholarship Program continues.

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with UCANE’s Officers and Board Members How did you get started working in the underground construction industry and what was your first job?

I have been interested in building from an early age. I grew up on a street where half of the residents worked in the construction or engineering industry. Like the saying “It takes a village,” while growing up my neighbors all had a part in teaching me the skills I have now, but I especially credit my parents with fostering my love for construction by allowing me to transform a large percentage of our backyard into a miniature version of a city, complete with roads, bridges, and utilities.

When it came time to choose a college, I knew I wanted to be a civil engineer. I also wanted to make a strong impact in the construction industry, so I chose Wentworth Institute of Technology, understanding the benefits of a cooperative education. My cooperative education advisor, Betsy Weisel knew I would be a good fit for J. F. White Contracting Co. She sent me to interview at Deer Island, where I worked on three major projects for J. F. White over three years as both a co-op and part time.

How long have you been with the company you currently work for and what is your current position?

I completed my co-ops with J. F. White in 1996. Their backlog was low when I graduated, so I worked for M. Dematteo Construction for three years before returning to J. NOVEMBER, 2017

UCANE Board Member Kevin Cole General Superintendent J. F. White Contracting Co.

F. White on the Big Dig. I have had the pleasure to work for the company for the past 18 years and currently hold the position of General Superintendent.

How and why did you decide to get involved with UCANE? I was asked in 2007 to be part of an outreach team to welcome the City of Boston’s new Public Works Commissioner. We worked to develop inroads with the department to streamline the permitting process and to keep our membership from being assessed unnecessary fees and warranty periods related to street opening and sidewalk permits.

I found it very rewarding to be a part of a group of industry professionals who were able to tailor regulations for the mutual benefit of our membership and the municipality. continued on page 25

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What would you like our membership to know about being a Board Member?

Under the Hard Hat continued from page 23 What is the nature of the industry as you currently see it?

I think we are at a very critical point.

We are having a difficult time attracting new talent. The trades are no longer a desirable choice to most people entering the workforce. I think we need to do a better job exposing children to the trades at an early age and allowing them to remain engaged throughout their education. A fair amount of our youth have the potential to be excellent craftsmen if given the opportunity, but we have removed the wood shops, auto repair, drafting, and other vocational classes from our public schools. Our children are not afforded the opportunity to realize that their true calling may be in a trade, not behind a desk. To that end, I would like to see UCANE spend more effort securing funding for these programs where they still exist, and work to restore the funding in public schools where budgetary woes have forced the abandonment of these programs.

Helping to shape the future of our industry is a responsibility of each of our members. The most effective way to advance our agenda in a productive and meaningful way is to serve our membership on the Board of Directors at UCANE. Serving our membership as a director has definitely been a very rewarding highlight of my career. n

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After much anticipation, the “mask” was lifted on UCANE’s 63rd Annual Banquet, which was once again held at the Newton Marriott Hotel. As usual, the evening did not disappoint the nearly 600 guests that attended the “Masquerade” themed event.

UCANE’s staff, who wondered if members would embrace the masquerade theme, had their answer as soon as the members began to arrive adorning elaborate masks and ready to embrace the theme and enjoy the evening. They were directed downstairs to the Commonwealth Ballroom for a social hour, where they were greeted with a beautiful selection of food and drink, including a “Mysterious” Martini Bar with masquerade themed drinks, along with sumptuous hot and cold seafood stations and a tuscan bar with cheese, crackers, and fruit among other delicacies. continued on page 28

NOVEMBER, 2017

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Banquet continued from page 27

F

ollowing the social hour, guests made their way upstairs ready to begin the evening’s festivities. When the doors to the Grand Ballroom opened, the band, Decades by DeZyne, was on stage playing, and the room was a dazzling sight to behold. The custom dance floor, courtesy of Travelers, was a beacon in black and white, with 100 oversized black and white balloons floating above with dangling crystals that sparkled in the lights. With a color scheme of black, white and red, the decorations on the tables and throughout the room carried the theme of Masquerade perfectly. Like all UCANE’s Banquets – you have to see it to believe it, so please see the photos throughout the magazine and mark your calendar for next year’s Banquet. We have already started planning!

After welcoming remarks from UCANE President Paul Scenna, Executive Director Anne Klayman officially began the evening’s program by introducing UCANE’s Officers and Board Members who were in attendance. She spoke of how the theme for the evening directly related to the work of UCANE members. She said that the nature of water infrastructure is such that much of our members’ greatest accomplishments are beneath the surface, with the ground “masking” their work. She acknowledged that their work is rarely seen or appreciated because it is forever hidden from public view. Anne then said, “The ‘Masquerade Ball’ was a tribute to every UCANE contractor in an effort to show that, while the work you perform is typically out of sight, and symbolically behind the mask, your efforts are certainly valued, and the structures you build are nonetheless critically important.”

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N

ext on the agenda was the awards presentation, in which UCANE honored our Contractor and Associate Member of the Year. These awards are given in recognition of our member’s involvement in UCANE and support for our industry. She also noted that this year’s award recipients epitomized the high-quality individuals that make up UCANE, and that they were completely unaware that they were about to be honored!

The 2017 Associate Member of the Year Award was presented jointly to Oscar and Newton Johnson of Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc., and the 2017 Contractor of the Year Award was presented to UCANE Past-President John Our of the Robert B. Our Co., Inc. The recipients, much to their surprise, were joined by their families as they received their awards. You can read more about these very deserving recipients on pages 48 and 51.

Anne then thanked the more than 150 companies whose sponsorships made the evening another record setting success. While they were too numerous to mention she did want to specifically thank some of the major sponsors: J. Derenzo Company (Hot Seafood Bar), Concrete Systems, Inc. (Cold Seafood Bar), Dagle Electrical Construction Corp. (Photo Booths), Badger Daylighting and Core & Main (Martini Bar), Travelers (Custom Dance Floor), Barletta Heavy Division, GTA Co., Inc., GVC Construction, Inc., United Concrete Products, and Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc. (Entertainment), and Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc. (Candy Buffet).

A complete list of banquet sponsors can be found on pages 42-43.

Anne then took a moment to recognize and thank UCANE’s major banquet hosts and sponsors for the past 18 years. It is largely because of them that our banquet has become a never-to-be-missed event. She acknowledged Bob and Paula Bernard of C. N. Wood Co., Inc. and Tracy Dreschel of Komatsu. Paula and Tracy then took to the podium to address the crowd and reiterated their support of UCANE’s mission and the Banquet. continued on page 31

NOVEMBER, 2017

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Banquet continued from page 29

U

pon the completion of the formal program, Anne let guests know about the entertainment and prizes that were upcoming. There were awards for “best masquerade” costumes for male, female, and couples. She also let folks know about the several raffle prizes that would be given out throughout the evening, and those who had attended before knew that meant they had to be on the dance floor to be eligible to win! The incredible prizes included a beautiful one carat diamond heart necklace, a one carat diamond cocktail ring, a chance to win more than $10 million with $250 in lottery tickets, a one carat diamond bangle bracelet, an Amazon Echo Show, a 43” Vizio Smart TV, and a gold, sterling, and diamond choker necklace.

UCANE President Elect, Richard Pacella, Jr., then gave the invocation, which kicked off the evening’s music and entertainment. This year’s band, Decades by Dezyne, which had played at our banquet in years past, returned by popular demand. They did not disappoint! It did not take long for guests to flood the dance floor and almost raise the roof of the Grand Ballroom. When the band took a well-deserved break, the party and entertainment did not. Matt “Matty B” Bernier and Amanda Carr, who have played for the likes of Tom Brady as well as at Caesar’s Palace and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, kept the crowd moving, performing hits both old and new while interacting with partygoers both on stage and on the dance floor. continued on page 33

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Banquet continued from page 31

T

he night was filled with top-notch entertainment, delicious food served throughout the evening, topped off by the Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae Bar and Coffee Carts, the ever-popular Candy Buffet, the ladies gifts, raffle prizes, and the hundreds of light up giveaways.

UCANE’s 63rd Annual Banquet could never “masquerade” as anything but a night to remember. But what is most important about the evening is that we took the time to celebrate who we are underneath the mask, honor three deserving members, and celebrate with family, friends, and business associates for a 63rd year.

UCANE would like to thank all of the companies that sponsored various segments of our Banquet, without whom the event would never be possible. This was once again the most anticipated event of the year, and UCANE’s staff has already begun planning for next year. We look forward to seeing you at our 64th Annual UCANE Banquet. n

All photos by Simply Beloved Photography.

NOVEMBER, 2017

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Risk starts even before you do.

Before you break ground, there are risks that can threaten the success of your project ranging from contractual and surety needs to environmental exposures and site security. And once construction begins, even more risks arise.

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We’ll leverage our expertise and knowledge and work with you to uncover potential pitfalls others might miss, and provide solutions that will help you get ahead of risk. By anticipating and preparing for it, you can avoid project disruptions, reduce loss costs and keep your projects running smoothly. Don’t start without us.

For more information, please contact your Travelers agent.

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Hot Seafood Bar J. Derenzo Company Cold Seafood Bar Concrete Systems, Inc. Photo Booths Dagle Electrical Const. Corp.

Custom Dance Floor Travelers Martini Bar Badger Daylighting Corp.

Core & Main Entertainment Barletta Heavy Division GTA Co., Inc. GVC Construction, Inc. United Concrete Products Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc. Candy Buffet Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc. Band A. R. Belli, Inc. Hinckley Allen, LLP LM Heavy Civil Const., LLP McCourt Const. Company Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers Shea Concrete Products J. F. White Contracting Co. Sundae Bar Aggregate Industries - N.E. Region American Shoring Inc. C.C. Construction, Inc. Gagliarducci Const., Inc.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc. MDR Construction Co., Inc. Robert B. Our Co., Inc. Scrap-It, Inc./ Minichiello Bros., Inc. Taylor Oil Company Walsh Construction Company Invited Guests Feeney Brothers Excavation, LLC Milton CAT Daniel O'Connell's Sons, Inc. Decorations LM Heavy Civil Const., LLC Program Book Sponsor Tonry Insurance Group, Inc. Program Book Advertisers Albanese D&S, Inc. American Shoring Inc. C.C. Construction, Inc. Dagle Electrical Const. Corp.

J. Derenzo Co. GTA Co., Inc. P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc. IUOE - Local 4 Milton CAT Northeast TrafficControl Svcs., Inc. E. J. Prescott, Inc. Rodman Ford Sales, Inc. Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc. United Rentals Trench Safety C. N. Wood Co., Inc. & Komatsu All Signage RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Inc.

Centerpieces

Jay Cashman, Inc. CleanBasins, Inc. J. D’Amico, Inc. DeSanctis Insurance Agency, Inc. Ferguson Waterworks Griffin Dewatering New England Corp.

HD Supply Construction & Industrial White Cap Lorusso Heavy Equipment, LLC Ludlow Construction Co., Inc. McWane Ductile Rain for Rent - New England SPS New England, Inc. Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc. Vacuum Excavation, Inc. W. Walsh Company, Inc. WES Construction Corp.

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Ladies’ Gifts

Albanese Brothers, Inc. Albanese D&S, Inc. Aon Construction Services Group Barker Steel LLC Celco Construction Corp.

Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP FED. CORP. HD Supply Construction & Industrial White Cap A. H. Harris Const. Supplies S. M. Lorusso & Sons, Inc. R. M. Pacella, Inc. Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers R. H. White Construction Co., Inc.

Prizes & Surprises

ATS Equipment, Inc. Aqua Line Utility, Inc. AQUAREHAB USA Inc. T. L. Edwards, Inc. Equipment4Rent HUB International New England Jones Contracting Inc. K & K Excavation Co., Inc. Lorusso Heavy Equipment, LLC Putnam Pipe Corp.

RFS Corp.

Vacuum Excavation, Inc.

Social Hour

Allied Bolt & Screw Corp.

Dennis K. Burke, Inc. Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP Hilb New England Kistler & Knapp Builders G. Lopes Construction Inc. S. M. Lorusso & Sons, Inc. Mabey, Inc. Ocean State Oil Qualified Pension Services, Inc. RJV Construction Corp.

Schmidt Equipment, Inc. The Scituate Companies T-Quip Sales & Rentals, Inc. USI Insurance Services, LLC United Rentals Trench Safety Vacuum Excavation, Inc.

Party Favors

Biszko Contracting Corp.

P. Caliacco Corp.

Con-Conn DeSanctis Insurance Agency, Inc. Eastpoint Lasers, LLC GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

I. W. Harding Const. Co., Inc. Iron Haulers, LLC Lorusso Corporation Marois Brothers, Inc. Milton CAT Minuteman Trucks, Inc. Palmer Paving Corp.

J. A. Polito & Sons, Inc. Sunbelt Rentals Vianini Pipe, Inc. R. Zoppo Corp.

Plaques

James J. Dowd & Sons Insurance Agency, Inc. Exit Strategies Group, LLC Gorilla Hammers Lawrence-Lynch Corp.

Metro Equipment Corporation Milton CAT Northeast Traffic Control Services, Inc. Podgurski Corp.

Umbro & Sons Const. Corp.

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UCANE’s 63rd ANNUAl BANqUEt • 10.28.17

UCANE’s 63rd ANNUAl BANqUEt • 10.28.17

Barbara and John Our

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CANE’s Contractor Member of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed on a member by their peers. Previous recipients are some of the most respected men and women who continue, year after year, to work for the betterment of our industry. They each represent the high standard of business excellence that our Association has come to expect, and this year’s recipient fits this high standard perfectly.

Our members voted John Our of the Robert B. Our Company, Inc. as UCANE’s 2017 Contractor of the Year. He is a successful second-generation contractor, who comes from a family whose name is synonymous with quality workmanship, and the ability to take on difficult projects.

John serves as Vice President of the company, and along with his brother Chris, his sister Hope, many of their children, and other family members, they have expanded the company through acquisitions or partnerships in complementing businesses.

Over the years, John has continued the family’s tradition and commitment to support various charities, and their generosity is evident with their ongoing commitment to our scholarship program and everything else that we do. UCANE was so humbled when John and his family chose our scholarship program to pay tribute to his dad by establishing an annual scholarship in his father’s name.

John’s daughter Abby said it best when she wrote to Anne Klayman, Executive Director of UCANE, “My dad is the first to volunteer to help someone in need, and he is generous beyond words.”

This family is the classic example of people who have been blessed in life and who want to give a helping hand wherever they can.

John has been an active and dedicated member of UCANE since he first joined in 2004. He served on our Board of Directors prior to moving up the ladder and taking on the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, President Elect, and then UCANE President.

In his spare time, John serves on the Board of Directors and Events Committees of the Allen’s Harbor Yacht Club, the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cape Cod, and the Cape Cod Children’s Place in Eastham, just to name a few.

We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Our family on their 60th year in business, which they celebrated on November 18 at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich, MA. Robert B. Our Co., Inc., also recently received the Family Business Association’s “Large Business of the Year Award,” beating out several other nominees for the prestigious honor, which recognizes the very best in family businesses.

It was a great pleasure to present UCANE’s 2017 Contractor of the Year Award to John Our, and we look forward to his continued support of our Association.

NOVEMBER, 2017

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CANE’s Associate members are the businessmen and women who sell and service machinery, supply materials, and also finance, bond, insure, litigate, and support our contracting companies, and we are very fortunate to have some of the best and most well-respected companies in our industry as members.

Executive Director Anne Klayman stated, “This year, we have a very unique situation, as we have two brothers who are the recipients of our Associate Member of the Year award. Each of them can best be described as motivated young businessmen who are highly regarded for their knowledge of our industry, their desire to assist our members with their insurance needs, and their commitment to UCANE.” Our recipients were born and raised in Winchester, MA. Newton, the older of the two brothers, attended Mitchell College and then transferred to Northeastern University while he worked in his father’s insurance agency. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986.

Throughout this time, Newton held various positions at Eastern States Insurance Agency, and in 1989, when his dad passed away; he was promoted to a management position and later became President of the agency.

Newton’s younger brother, Oscar followed a similar path. He attended North Adams State College, and transferred to Bentley College where he earned a Bachelor of Finance degree.

Oscar also worked at his dad’s insurance agency while in high school and college. His concentration is in construction, transportation, and public transit.

Both brothers are valued members of UCANE and have each served on our Board of

NOVEMBER, 2017

Newton & Oscar Johnson with their wives Kerry & Katie Directors. Eastern States Insurance Agency has been a staunch supporter of our Association and all of our programs for many years. They are also avid supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Middlesex Human Service Agency, the Pan Mass Challenge, and they hold a monthly food drive at their office.

We were proud to present UCANE’s 2017 Associate Member of the Year Award to Newton and Oscar Johnson, and we look forward to their ongoing support of our Association.

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Lorusso Heavy Equipment LLC

Lorusso Heavy Equipment LLC 160 Elm Street • Walpole, MA 02081 Phone: 508-660-7600 • Fax: 508-660-7614 www.lhequip.com 52

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NOVEMBER, 2017

Orleans Voters Fund Sewer, School Projects Approval of borrowing requests allows work to move forward.

O

RLEANS — Voters approved two borrowing requests Tuesday October 24, at the special town election, allowing a sewer project to move forward as well as utility upgrades at the elementary school.

With a vote of 1,102 in favor and 412 against, a $3.68 million project sought by the Board of Selectmen to lay sewer pipes under Main Street can begin.

And with a vote of 1,360 in favor and 159 against, voters consented to a $600,000 upgrade of heating and ventilation systems at the elementary school.

Of the town’s 5,274 registered voters, 1,524 turned out Tuesday, just under 30 percent. “It was decent,” Town Clerk Cynthia May said of the turnout.

The sewer pipes are to be laid before the state Department of Transportation begins intersection upgrades along Main Street, at routes 6A and 28.

Otherwise the town would have had to wait five years after that project was completed, according to state guidelines. Also, digging up parts of Main Street after the transportation department project ended could risk harming the extra upgrades the town will pay the state to do, town officials said.

The delay could cost the town an additional $2.83 million in increased construction costs and the cost of ripping up the road and sidewalks again, town officials said at the Oct. 16 town meeting.

But Selectman Mark Mathison was concerned that no effluent disposal area had been selected.

On Tuesday, Mathison said he was not surprised the measure passed at the ballot box, which

SEPTEMBER,2017 NOVEMBER, 2016

he said was more about economics and revitalizing downtown.

“Clearly it’s cheaper to do it once than it is to do it twice,” he said. “We’ll see what happens when we go forward.”

As originally planned, the intersection project was expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

The new timeline has the contractor for the current intersection improvements stopping work while the town bids the project and then completes the installation of sewer pipes, estimated to be completed in early 2019. After that, the state work on the intersections will continue.

Given that both borrowing requests were for taxation above state limits, voter approval was needed at town meeting and the special election.

Written by Mary Ann Bragg. Reprinted from Cape Cod Times. n

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NOVEMBER, 2017

UCANE Joins Third Annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” Campaign to Raise Awareness About the Value of Water

UCANE Assistant Executive Director Jeff Mahoney with Representative Jay Livingstone (D-Boston)

(L-R) Sathyaprya Mandjiny, Lynch Associates, Inc., Jeff Mahoney, Rep. Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown), and his Legislative Aide Sarah Steinberg

UCANE once again joined elected officials, water utility employees, community leaders, and local business leaders participating in the third annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” campaign, a nationwide day of education and advocacy led by The Value of Water Campaign. Hundreds of organizations across the country hosted events aimed at raising awareness about the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water infrastructure to ensure that no American community is left without safe and reliable water.

U

CANE Assistant Executive Director Jeff Mahoney, along with Mark Molloy and Sathyaprya Mandjiny from Lynch Associates, spent the day at the State House meeting with legislators. The purpose of this was to discuss UCANE’s water infrastructure initiatives to help close the $21 billion dollar funding gap in Massachusetts.

“We're thrilled that UCANE is participating in Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in all of our lives, and the threat that an aging and underfunded water infrastructure poses to our communities and economy,” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the U.S. Water Alliance and Director of the Value of Water Campaign. “It is easy to take our water infrastructure for granted because it is often underground and out of sight. But the systems that deliver water to and from our homes and businesses require reinvestment and upkeep, just like roads and bridges. It is time to take action before we face a crisis.”

Our water infrastructure is aging and has gone underfunded for decades. Drought, flooding, and climate change are stressing our water and wastewater

NOVEMBER, 2017

systems. A single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk. In just eight days, a national water service stoppage would put nearly 2 million jobs in jeopardy.

While many of these challenges are regionally specific and will require locally driven solutions, reinvestment in our water infrastructure must be a national priority. Imagine a Day Without Water depicts the stories of the challenges we face when our water infrastructure fails.

Despite these vast challenges, the good news is that there is great opportunity when investment is made in water infrastructure. A study conducted by the Value of Water Campaign has found that there is over $220 billion in economic activity to be gained nationwide by closing the water infrastructure investment gap. Surveys show that Massachusetts residents and the American public are already widely supportive of implementing these needed investments. Imagine A Day Without Water was another opportunity to remind our elected officials that without additional funding for water infrastructure, the gap will continue to grow. n

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NOVEMBER, 2017

Springfield Public Works Officials Attend White House Infrastructure Summit Since his election one year ago, President Donald Trump has maintained that investments into America’s infrastructure is one of his top priorities. Although the first year for the President has contained many “distractions,” this year he sought input and ideas from a variety of stakeholder groups on prioritizing infrastructure needs and identifying obstacles that prevent large construction projects from moving forward.

O

ne such group was a select list of governors, mayors, and local officials from across the United States who were invited to attend Infrastructure Summit meetings at the White House. Springfield (MA) Mayor Domenic Sarno (D) was contacted by the Trump Administration in the spring of 2017 to provide a perspective on infrastructure from his city of 160,000 residents. Mayor Sarno appointed Chris Cignoli, Springfield Director of Public Works, and Joshua Schimmel, Executive Director of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, to represent the city at the summit.

DPW Director Cignoli is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) with over 30 years of experience in civil engineering projects in both the private and the public sectors. A graduate of the University of Hartford, Chris has been Director of Public Works since 2014. Chris is responsible for an operating budget of $20 million, and a typical annual capital improvement program of $5 million. His office oversees 1,100 lane miles of city roads, all traffic signals and signs, and the City’s stormwater drainage system – including 23,000 catch basins – as well as the solid waste removal and recycling divisions. Fleet maintenance, engineering, and snow and ice removal are also under the DPW umbrella.

Josh Schimmel has been with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission for 25 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from UMass Amherst and multiple state licenses for water and sewer operations. Josh began his career at the Commission as a wastewater treatment plant operator, working his way through the ranks to his appointment as Executive Director in 2015. He oversees a staff of 225 employees with an operating budget of $68 million and a capital program in excess of $50 million per year. The SWSC provides approximately 30 million gallons of drinking water daily and treats approximately 40 million gallons of wastewater per day from 250,000 regional customers.

NOVEMBER, 2017

SWSC Executive Director Josh Schimmel and DPW Director Chris Cignoli at the White House The decades of on-the-ground experience Josh and Chris brought to the Summit table provided Springfield and the Commonwealth a strong voice in the discussions.

UCANE representatives Mike Lenihan and Jeff Mahoney, along with UCANE members Jerry Gagliarducci (Gagliarducci Construction, Inc.) and Scott Pio (Ludlow Construction Co., Inc.), recently met with Chris and Josh to learn about the progress made at the Infrastructure Summit. UCANE also briefed the Springfield officials on the history and goals of UCANE and in particular, our mutual concerns and initiatives when it comes to educating the electorate and the public about the needs for increased infrastructure funding. UCANE provided some infrastructure studies and data that might assist in future visits to Washington.

Chris and Josh have participated in the two Infrastructure Summit meetings held in Washington thus far; the first in May, and the second in September of this year. The list of attendees included top members continued on page 59

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Springfield continued from page 57

of the Trump cabinet, including the Secretaries of Interior, Commerce, Transportation, and Agriculture; a bipartisan group of 20 governors and mayors (including Governor Chris Sununu from New Hampshire); several representatives from tribal lands; and about a dozen county and city public works officials from across the country.

The President, who outlined the goals for the Infrastructure Summit, made the opening remarks at the June meeting. He particularly wanted the group to discuss their ideas on how to shorten the lengthy permitting process that is raising the costs of large DPW Director Chris Cignoli; Jerry Gagliarducci infrastructure projects and delaying them from mov(Gagliarducci Boston AreaConstruction, Inc.); Scott Pio (Ludlow ing forward. He stressed his desire to partner with the Construction Co., Inc.); Jeff Mahoney; SWSC Locations Cities and States to rebuild America’s infrastructure Director Josh Schimmel to “top of the world” levels while 2 Dexter Street creating good jobs. “By encouragEverett, MA 02149 Boston Area ing innovation in construction and Boston Area Locations private investments in traditional Locations 431 Second Street infrastructure projects, the cost to Everett, MA 02149 taxpayers could be lowered,” said 2 Dexter Street 2 Dexter Street

Everett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 the President. “In addition to fixing our broken permitting system, 431 Second Street we want to partner with state and 431 Second Street local governments to better meet Everett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 BOSTON AREA LOCATIONS

the needs of our citizens. My bud get proposal includes a massive 2 Dexter Street 431 Second Street Everett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 investment in new federal support for infrastructure. These dollars will be matched by significant private, state, and local dollars for maximum efficiency and accountability.” He also appreciated the knowledge that each member brought to the Summit when it comes to infrastructure needs, priorities, and funding mechanisms.

Minichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc., Minichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc. According to Cignoli, “The Serves over 2500 customers a week and is one of New England’s largest Serves customers a week and is one New England's largest buyers, Summit attendees were then as- over 2500 buyers, sellers, and processors of scrap metal.

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Group members were looking at the issues from different perspecTurn your metal into money today! tives due to their varying positions Turn your metal into money today! in government. Being a little bit continued on page 61

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Springfield continued from page 59 more in the trenches than some of the others, I think I brought some practical experience and day to day issues to the table.”

Schimmel took part in the group focusing on permitting. “We exchanged stories about the length of time and the often surprisingly high cost of both state and federal permitting procedures when it comes to big projects,” he said. “While the procedures direct important project reviews, their open-ended nature has large unintended consequences on project costs. Those extra costs detract from the amount of work we can do and the positive economic impacts we know more infrastructure projects would create.”

Schimmel’s recommendation to the group was to place timelines on review periods to add more predictability to planning and construction schedules.

He also recommended making the permitting process more local to facilitate the project review. The Trump administration is interested in finding ways to reduce the permitting process from an often 8-10year timeframe down to two years.

Schimmel also noted that though the President did mention “water” in his remarks to the group, much of the discussion was geared toward bridges and highways. “I think the water and sewer industry was

under-represented,” he said, “We still have a lot of work to do to bring water and sewer needs front and center in the infrastructure discussion.”

The second meeting in September brought some additional members to the Summit and continued on the theme of determining infrastructure priorities and on how best to expedite the current permitting process. The President promised to concentrate his efforts on removing or changing federal regulations that impede infrastructure projects and, continued on page 63

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Springfield continued from page 61 as suggested at the first Summit, creating timelines under which various agencies must complete project review.

The President also gave the attendees an overview of his (draft) 5-year financial plan for national infrastructure investment with a target of $1 trillion.

Without identifying specific infrastructure areas, the preliminary research by the administration estimated that a $200 billion federal allocation could leverage another $800 billion in private, state, and local investment. He emphasized that he was still soliciting feedback from Summit members and others, and that the Infrastructure Plan was still a work in progress.

Both Chris and Josh thought that the Summit was a worthwhile process and they expect that a third meeting will be held before the end of 2017, and prior to any formal announcement of an Infrastructure Plan.

“There are a lot of small cities across the country with infrastructure and funding issues just like Springfield’s,” said Schimmel. “Springfield’s infrastructure is aging while the city is just getting back on its feet economically and beginning to attract new development. So we need our infrastructure

to be ready to support that momentum. The experience and perspectives that Chris and I brought to the meetings are transferrable to a lot of other places nationwide.”

“With the bipartisan makeup of the group, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Chris. “But I was very impressed by the sincerity exhibited by everyone that I met and there was no partisanship politics anywhere at these meetings.”

UCANE congratulates Springfield Mayor Sarno for facilitating his city’s involvement in the Infrastructure Summit, and for his overall efforts in working with the current administration to secure Federal funding opportunities for his City.

We also thank Josh Schimmel and Chris Cignoli for participating in the Summit and for so professionally representing their City and the entire state. UCANE stands ready to assist these two delegates with their efforts in Washington and to promote their respective capital improvement programs in Springfield. n

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s of this writing, year-end tax planning is clouded by questions about federal legislation. President Trump and many of the Republicans in Congress favor changes that would affect the tax code. Currently, the success they’ll have in their efforts is difficult to predict.

One undecided issue is the future of the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare), which might be retained, replaced, or repealed. Although this act addresses health insurance, it includes several provisions relating to taxes. For instance, it includes a 3.8% surtax on net investment income reported by certain high-income taxpayers—this surtax could be abolished.

In addition, President Trump urged far-reaching changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Full details of this plan have yet to be revealed but could include lower tax rates for individuals and businesses.

As an offset, some itemized deductions, including those for medical expenses, as well as state and local taxes, could be eliminated.

NOVEMBER, 2017

In additio President Tr far-reaching the Internal Code. Full d this plan hav be revealed b include lowe rates for ind and busines offset, some deductions, those for me Be Prepared expenses, as As of this writing, year-end tax planning and local taxes, could be elimina How can you plan for tax savings at year-end in isthis clouded by questions about federal environment? One vital step is to arrange for a prepared legislation.

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Marge until 2018 and to accelerate ded addresses insurance, itlong-term includes capital into 2017, several provisions taxes.would For be taxed anticipates thatrelating such to a gain at a when 20% practical.

Example: Marge instance, includes a 3.8% surtax on net rate, asit well as the 3.8% surtax on net investment in- Wilson is p saletoofclose income-producing prope investment incomethere reported certain reason come. Unless is abypressing the she expects to produce a substa high-income taxpayers—this could deal by the end of 2017,surtax Marge could wait until 2018 term capital gain. Marge anticip beinabolished. the hope of avoiding the 3.8% surtax. continued on page 69

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Financial Management continued from page 67 Regarding health insurance, business owners and employees and self-employed individuals should weigh the pros and cons of high deductible plans when choosing coverage for next year. High deductible policies may be linked with health savings accounts (HSAs), if certain requirements are met. HSAs, in turn, offer unique tax benefits: deductible contributions, untaxed investment income inside the account, and tax-free distributions for qualified health care. However, high deductible health plans may lead to greater expenses for medical care before the insurance takes effect.

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Taxing Issues Deferring income may pay off if Trump’s tax plan leads to lower rates. Self-employed individuals might consider delaying year-end billing for work done in hopes they’ll owe tax at, say, 25% instead of 28% or 33%.

That said, the proposed demise of certain itemized deductions might be worrisome. In some circumstances, accelerating expenses for medical bills, state estimated tax, and property tax from 2018 to 2017 could provide deductions in 2017 that might no longer be available in 2018. At year-end tax planning meetings, your accountant can recommend moves that are suitable in your specific situation. continued on page 71

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Financial Management continued from page 69

R

Year-End Planning for Investors

egardless of future legislation, some tried and true strategies will help investors trim their tax bill in 2017. Year-end loss harvesting can be worthwhile.

Example 1: Nick Rogers tallies his investment trades so far in 2017 and discovers he has realized $30,000 worth of net capital gains: his trading profits versus his trading losses. If those gains are all longterm (the assets were held more than one year), Nick would owe $4,500 to the IRS at his 15% rate.

Therefore, Nick goes over his portfolio to see if he has securities that he can sell at a loss. Although recent stock prices were generally strong, Nick has some energy and telecom shares that have lost value. If Nick takes $15,000 worth of losses in 2017, he will drop his net capital gain from $30,000 to $15,000, cutting his 2017 tax bill from his trading in half.

Example 2: Suppose that Nick can take $35,000 worth of losses by year-end. That would convert his $30,000 net capital gain for 2017 to a $5,000 net

capital loss, avoiding any tax owed on Nick’s trades this year.

In addition, taxpayers generally can deduct up to $3,000 worth of net capital losses on their annual tax returns. Assuming Nick is in a 33% tax bracket, a $3,000 net capital loss would save him $990—much better than a tax bill of $4,500.

Don’t Forget Funds When you tally your year-end net gains or losses to date, don’t neglect to check your mutual funds.

Many funds make distributions to shareholders in December; estimates of upcoming distributions may be posted on the fund’s website before the payout.

Whether you receive the money or automatically reinvest in more shares of the fund, distributions from funds held in a taxable account will be taxable. These payouts could be interest, dividends, or capital gains, and taxed accordingly. A distribution of short-term capital gains, for instance, may be taxed more heavily than a distribution of long-term capital gains. continued on page 72

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Financial Management continued from page 71 Be careful of how you purchase funds near yearend. If you buy before the payout (technically, the “ex-dividend” date), you will receive the scheduled distribution and owe tax on that amount. (Reinvested distributions add to your basis, which would produce a better tax result when you sell the shares.) Conversely, if you wait until after the distribution, you’ll avoid the resulting tax and possibly buy at a lower price, as fund shares typically drop after the payout.

Selling shares before the distribution will enable you to avoid the tax on a distribution you haven’t received. You may sell at a higher price before the payout, which would increase your taxable gain or reduce your capital loss from the sale. The bottom line is that the timing of mutual fund trades can be a topic for discussion in year-end tax planning sessions.

Gaining from Gains In example 2, Nick has a net capital loss of $5,000 in 2017, of which he can deduct $3,000. What happens to the other $2,000? If he wishes, Nick can carry over that $2,000 loss to future years to offset future capital gains. There are no limits to the amount of losses Nick can carry over or the length of time he can do so.

Example 3: Yet another option is for Nick to sell enough assets to produce an additional $2,000 gain

by December 31. This gain will be tax-free because Nick can use his excess $2,000 net capital loss as an offset. If Nick wants, he can immediately buy back the shares he sold.

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Source: Automatic Data Processing ing a capital loss, several tactics can be used. You can wait for at least 31 days and then buy back the security you sold, if you still want to hold it. If you don’t want to be out of the market that long, you can immediately buy another security that’s not substantially identical to the one you sold. Yet another possibility is to “double up.”

Example 4: As part of his plan to take losses near year-end, Nick intends to sell $10,000 worth of an energy stock that has lost value. He believes this stock is now well valued, so he wants to maintain his position in this holding.

To do so, Nick first invests another $10,000 in this stock, then waits 31 days and takes a $10,000 loss by selling shares that he previously held. Nick will wind up in the same position but will be able to take the $10,000 loss on the original shares. Because of the timing, a doubling up strategy must be initiated before the end of November to provide a 2017 tax benefit. continued on page 73

Why would Nick do this? To increase his basis in the shares he sold and bought.

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Financial Management continued from page 72

I

Year-End Retirement Tax Planning

f your company sponsors a 401(k) plan, your employer may offer a match.

Make certain that you’re contributing at least enough in 2017 to get the full match, which is essentially free money.

The same is true when you’re setting up your 2018 contributions late this year.

Example 1: Jill Myers earns $100,000 a year working for a company that offers a 50% match on 6% of pay. For Jill, 6% of pay is $6,000, so Jill must be sure that she has contributed at least $6,000 to her 401(k) in 2017 to get a $3,000 match, and that she’ll contribute at least that much in 2018. That’s an assured 50% return on her money.

Many companies now offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With the traditional version, contributions reduce taxable income and the current tax bill, but future distributions will be taxable. Roth 401(k) contributions offer no current tax benefit, but distributions will all be tax-free after age 591⁄2, if you have had the account for at least five years.

If both versions are available, which should you choose for 2018 contributions? Employees in relatively low tax brackets may prefer the Roth 401(k) because the current tax savings will be modest and the advantage of tax-free withdrawals in retirement may be significant.

Employees in higher brackets may opt for the traditional 401(k) for upfront tax reduction. That’s especially true for those who expect to be in a lower tax bracket after retirement. On the other hand, even plan participants with high income might choose the Roth side if they wish to have a source of tax-free cash flow in retirement and they already have ample pretax funds in the traditional 401(k). Note that all matches to a Roth 401(k) contribution will go into the participant’s traditional 401(k) account.

Considering Contributions In 2017, the maximum you can contribute to a 401(k) as a plan participant is $18,000, or $24,000 if you will be at least age 50 at year-end. As of this writing, the 2018 limits haven’t been released, but some estimates indicate they could be $18,500 and continued on page 74

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Financial Management continued from page 73 $25,000. When you’re finalizing your 2017 contributions and setting the amounts of income you’ll place in the plan in 2018, should you choose the maximum amounts? That could be a savvy selection, but you should consider the alternatives.

Instead of maxing your 401(k), you may prefer to pay down any credit card balances. Credit card interest is not tax deductible, so paying off a card with a 15% interest rate is the equivalent of earning 15%, after tax, with no investment risk. It’s possible you’ll earn that much or more with an unmatched 401(k) contribution, which offers tax deferral, but that’s not a sure thing.

The choice between unmatched 401(k) contributions and paying down a home mortgage or student loans is a tougher call. Mortgage interest usually is tax deductible, and student loan interest might be, as well.

Example 2: Jill Myers has a mortgage with a 4% interest rate. In her 25% tax bracket, Jill’s return on paying down the mortgage would be 3%, and after tax, 75% of 4%. Jill believes she could earn more than that in her 401(k), so she increases her 2017 contributions to her 401(k) at year-end and raises her contributions for 2018, rather than planning on sending extra amounts to reduce her mortgage balance.

If her company does not offer a Roth 401(k), Jill may have to make another choice. She could reduce the amount she’ll specify for unmatched 401(k) contributions and plan to contribute to a Roth IRA instead.

As is the case with a Roth 401(k), Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars but may deliver untaxed cash flow in the future. Roth IRA contributions in 2017 can be up to $5,500, or $6,500 for those 50 or older.

Example 3: Suppose Jill is age 40, and she has been putting $500 per month into her 401(k), for an anticipated total of $6,000 in 2017. As the year-end approaches, Jill believes she can contribute a total of $15,000 to retirement funds for 2017. Besides the $6,000 to get a full employer match in example 1, Jill decides to put $5,500 into a Roth IRA and a total of $9,500 into her 401(k). Therefore, Jill has her employer increase her 2017 401(k) contribution by $3,500, and she also sets her 2018 contribution at $800 a month, or $9,600 a year. Jill has until April 17, 2018, to make her 2017 Roth IRA contribution.

IRA Withdrawals IRA owners also have some year-end tax planning opportunities. Money in a traditional IRA compounds, tax deferred, but required minimum distributions (RMDs) take effect after age 701⁄2.

Example 4: Bert Palmer, age 75, has $1 million in his IRA. The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table puts his “distribution period” at 22.9 years, so Bert divides $1 million by 22.9 to get his RMD for this year: $43,668. continued on page 75

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Financial Management continued from page 74

spent, given to loved ones, reinvested elsewhere, or moved to a Roth IRA for potential tax-free treatment in the future. Your accountant can go over your specific situation to assess whether it makes sense to reduce your traditional IRA before age 701⁄2 and, thus, decrease the amount of RMDs for you and for your beneficiaries. continued on page 76

If Bert withdraws less, he’ll owe a 50% penalty on the shortfall. (If you’re 701⁄2 or older, you should withdraw at least the RMD amount.)

Although Bert does not need the money for living expenses, he must take the distribution to avoid the penalty. That $43,668 is added to Bert’s other income, so the effective tax on that distribution can be steep.

MBO Precast Inc. Suppose that Bert dies with that $1 million IRA, which passes to his 4 Marion Drive • Carver, MA 02330 daughter, Carol. Carol must take T: 508-866-6900 • F: 508-866-5252 RMDs each year, regardless of her www.MBOPrecast.com age. If Carol is now a middle-aged, successful executive with a high Stone Strong Retaining Wall Systems income, those RMDs likely will be Manholes / Catch Basins / Custom Structures heavily taxed. Indeed, pretax money in a traditional IRA probably will be Septic Tanks / Leaching Products taxed when paid out, whether to the IRA owner or to a beneficiary.

Therefore, IRA owners may want to take distributions before age 701⁄2. Careful planning can fine tune the amount withdrawn at year-end 2017, keeping taxable income within a relatively low tax Burke We Earn B 7.5 xfunds 5 9-16:Dennis bracket.

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Financial Management continued from page 75

Year-End Tax Planning for Charitable Donations

S

ome surveys indicate that more than 30% of all charitable giving occurs in December, and that over 10% of donations are made in the last three days of the year. The year-end holiday spirit may be a factor in the early winter philanthropy, but taxes probably play a role, as well. A check you write to your favorite charity in December gives you a tax deduction the following April, but if you wait until New Year’s, you’ll have to wait a full year for the tax benefit.

To do well while doing good, you might reconsider the typical practice of writing checks for gifts to charity. Instead, give appreciated securities. Going into the ninth year of a bull market, you probably have stocks or stock funds that have gained value and would be ideal for contributing to your favorite cause.

Example 1: Wendy Harris donates, by check, $5,000 every year to a cancer research charity. This

year, Wendy looks over her portfolio and sees that one of her stocks has appreciated substantially since its purchase in 2015, so she decides to reduce her exposure to that company.

Wendy paid $30 each for the shares, which now trade at $50. If she sells $5,000 worth of those shares, Wendy would have a $2,000 long-term capital gain and owe $300 to the IRS, at a 15% tax rate.

Instead, she donates $5,000 worth of shares to her favorite charity.

With this tactic, Wendy would get the same $5,000 tax deduction that she would have received with a cash contribution. If the assets have been held longer than one year, donors can deduct the fair market value of the contribution. Yet, the donated shares would have been worth only $4,700 to Wendy if she had sold them and paid the tax on her gain.

Meanwhile, the recipient can sell the shares for $5,000 and owe no tax as a charitable organization.

Therefore, Wendy gets a full tax break, the charity continued on page 77

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Financial Management continued from page 76 keeps the full amount, and the capital gain tax obligation is never paid.

Multiple Choice The strategy followed by Wendy can be effective if you wish to make one or two charitable gifts of appreciated securities. However, if you want to make many gifts to various charities, the process can get cumbersome.

(See the Trusted Advice box.) In these situations, you might want to contribute via a donor-advised fund.

Example 2: Jack Franklin donates $5,000 a year to 10 different charities, at $500 each. Jack sends $5,000 of appreciated securities, bought years ago for $3,000, to a donor-advised fund. If he donates the securities by December 31, 2017, Jack can take a $5,000 deduction on his 2017 tax return. Once the money is in the donor-advised fund, Jack can request grants of $500 each to his 10 designated recipients.

Even if he requests the grants after 2017, his tax break for this year won’t be affected.

Many financial firms and community foundations offer donor-advised funds, and they might have different requirements for the initial contribution, subsequent contributions, and individual grants.

Senior Strategies Yet another charitable opportunity is available for IRA owners over age 701⁄2. Instead of writing checks or donating appreciated assets, they can make qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from their IRAs, up to $100,000 per donor per year.

Example 3: Phyllis Thompson, age 77, donates a total of $3,000 a year to 3 different charities. Phyllis takes the standard deduction, rather than itemizing, so she gets no tax benefit from these donations.

In 2017, Phyllis donates via QCDs: she sends the $3,000 directly from her IRA to the 3 charities. In this example, Phyllis has a required minimum distribution of $15,000 in 2017. The $3,000 QCD counts as part of her RMD, so Phyllis satisfies her full RMD with a $12,000 IRA withdrawal.

Here, Phyllis has fulfilled her philanthropic intentions and the charities have received their funds. Instead of paying tax on a $15,000 taxable RMD, Phyllis picks up $12,000 of taxable income, saving tax by using QCDs. Note that people who itemize deductions can’t deduct QCDs. Even so, there may be tax advantages from using QCDs because making RMDs to charity, rather than to IRA owners, will reduce adjusted gross income (AGI). A lower AGI, in turn, may deliver benefits elsewhere on the IRA owner’s tax return. continued on page 78

NOVEMBER, 2017

Trusted Advice Donating Appreciated Shares • Check with the charitable recipient to determine its procedure.

• You may need to obtain the charity’s brokerage account number, then inform your broker or mutual fund company, which can execute the share transfer.

• Some financial firms have their own forms to be signed by the donor and the charity’s representatives. Other paperwork might be required.

• The earlier you begin the process, the greater the probability of completing the transfer by December 31, for a 2017 tax deduction.

• Rather than donate shares that trade at a loss, you can sell those shares, take the capital loss for tax advantages, and donate the cash proceeds.

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Financial Management continued from page 77

I

Year-End Business Tax Planning

RC Section 179 permits “expensing,” or first-year tax deduction, of outlays for business equipment that otherwise would be recovered through depreciation over many years. For 2017, expensing the costs of up to $510,000 of equipment is allowed, with a phase-out beginning after $2.03 million of purchases.

Example 1: ABC Corp. spends $400,000 on equipment and off-the-shelf computer software equipment in 2017. The company can deduct $400,000 this year on those purchases. To qualify for this Section 179 tax treatment in 2017, the equipment or software must be purchased and placed into service by December 31.

Example 2: DEF Corp. spends $800,000 on qualified items in 2017. The first $510,000 can be deducted immediately, but the other $290,000 must be depreciated.

Example 3: GHI Corp. spends $2.4 million on equipment and software in 2017. Above $2.03 million, there is a dollar-for-dollar phaseout of IRC Section 179 tax benefits, so the $370,000 phaseout limits first

year deductions to $140,000. The remaining $2.26 million must be depreciated.

Bountiful Bonus Beyond IRC Section 179,“bonus” depreciation is in effect in 2017. Companies can depreciate 50% of the cost of relevant equipment acquired and placed in service this year—that would be a $145,000 deduction in the case of DEF Corp. in example 2 (50% of $290,000), in addition to the $510,000 deduction under IRC Section 179. Bonus depreciation will drop from 50% to 40% in 2018 and to 30% in 2019; this tax break applies only to new equipment, whereas Section 179 expensing applies to used and new equipment.

Sooner or Later As explained previously, there is considerable uncertainty about whether tax legislation will pass this year and what such a law might include. Lower tax rates are a possibility. Consequently, you might plan to defer business income into 2018, when tax rates might drop, and accelerate company deductions into 2017 to offset highly taxed income. continued on page 79

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Financial Management continued from page 78 In terms of deferring income, if your company uses the cash method of accounting, you could delay sending out invoices late in the year, so you’ll receive the payments (and owe the tax) in 2018. Deferring income can be more challenging if your company uses the accrual method of accounting, but, in certain circumstances, you may be able to defer income, even where you have been paid in advance. Your accountant can let you know if this is a practical approach for your firm and help with the required paperwork.

Even if tax rates do not drop under a new law, deferring income—and the resulting tax—for a year may be helpful for your company’s cash flow. Similarly, accelerating deductible expenses from early 2018 to late 2017 may be advisable. Necessary equipment repairs might be pushed forward, for example.

If your company pays substantial bonuses to employees, consider the timing as 2017 ends. Cash method businesses might pay those bonuses in December. Companies on the accrual method generally can deduct bonuses to unrelated employees in 2017, if their obligation to pay the bonuses is fixed and determinable at year-end and they make the bonus payments within 21⁄2 months after year-end.

Reprinted from CPA Client Bulletin. n

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E.H. Perkins Construction, Inc. & Subsidiaries P.O. Box 301, Wayland, MA 01778 (508) 358-6161 • (781) 890-6505

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Advertisers’ Index APJ Equipment Corp..............................................................60 ATS Equipment, Inc. .............................................................38 Acme Shorey Precast Co., Inc...............................................50 Aggregate Industries - N.E. Region.......................................78 Albanese Brothers, Inc............................................................1 American Shoring, Inc........................................ Ins. Back Cvr. AQUAREHAB USA Inc...........................................................68 Boro Sand & Stone Corp.......................................................58 Brennan Consulting............................................................... 74 Dennis K. Burke, Inc..............................................................75 C&S Insurance Agency.........................................................22 Core & Main.............................................................................4 Dagle Electrical Construction Corp.........................................2 Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP................................................64 Dedham Recycled Gravel......................................................69 DeSanctis Insurance Agency, Inc. ........................................66 Dig Safe System, Inc.............................................................62 The Driscoll Agency ..............................................................19 EJ...........................................................................................56 Eastern Pipe Service, LLP.....................................................70 Eastern States Insurance Agency, Inc..................................60 Eastpoint Lasers, LLC...........................................................70 T. L. Edwards, Inc..................................................................64 Equipment4Rent....................................................................68 Ferguson Waterworks..............................................................9 Genalco, Inc...........................................................................72 Gorilla Hydraulic Breakers.....................................................15 L. Guerini Group, Inc.............................................................. 74 HD Supply Const. & Industrial White Cap.............................14 A. H. Harris Construction Supplies........................................25 Hinckley Allen LLP.................................................................20 JESCO...................................................................................61 P. J. Keating Company...........................................................10 Kenworth Northeast............................................................... 11 P. A. Landers, Inc...................................................................12 Lawrence-Lynch Corp............................................................56 Lorusso Corp............................................................................9 Lorusso Heavy Equipment, LLC............................................52 MBO Precast, Inc...................................................................75 Mabey, Inc..............................................................................79 Mass Broken Stone Company...............................................25 McGill Hose & Coupling, Inc..................................................64 Milton CAT..............................................................................44 Minuteman Trucks, Inc...........................................................13 Norfolk Power Equipment, Inc...............................................77 North American Crane & Rigging LLC..................................24 North East Shoring Equipment, LLC.....................................66 Ocean State Oil......................................................................68 Palmer Paving Corp...............................................................76 E. H. Perkins Construction Co., Inc.......................................80 Podgurski Corp......................................................................58 E. J. Prescott, Inc................................................Ins. Front Cvr. Rain For Rent-New England..................................................18 Read Custom Soils ...............................................................79 Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers......................................................71 Rodman Ford Sales, Inc..........................................................6 Rogers & Gray Insurance......................................................40 Schmidt Equipment, Inc............................................. Back Cvr. Scituate Concrete Products Corp..........................................46 Scrap-It, Inc............................................................................59 Shea Concrete Products, Inc. ...............................................36 SITECH New England............................................................16 Smith Print..............................................................................70 Starkweather & Shepley Ins. Brokerage, Inc.........................62 Taylor Oil Company................................................................63 Tonry Insurance Group, Inc...................................................69 Travelers.................................................................................34 United Concrete Products......................................................73 United Rentals Trench Safety................................................32 Webster One Source.............................................................54 C. N. Wood Co., Inc. .............................................................30 Woodco Machinery, Inc...........................................................8 Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc............................................58

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