PCCLI Keeps North Hempstead Town Marketplace Competition Open

North Hempstead, LI, NY; March 1, 2019 – The PHCCLI (Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of Long Island), an organization comprised of many of Long Island's professional licensed plumbing, heating and cooling contractors, and PHCCLI member Gramman Plumbing and Heating, Inc., of Carle Place, recently received a favorable outcome in a court case between them and the Town of North Hempstead that was pending in Supreme Court, Nassau County. The PHCCLI and Gramman challenged amendments to the Town Code that prohibited the ability of licensed master plumbers and other contactors to perform non-public jobs on projects of over a certain size (100,000 square feet) unless they had employees who were graduates of state-approved apprenticeship programs. In the course of two separate rulings, New York State Supreme Court Justice James P. McCormack determined that these amendments did not bear a substantial relationship to the promotion of the public health, safety, morals or general welfare of the community. Accordingly the Court determined they were unconstitutional and it vacated the amendments to North Hempstead's Town Code. As a result, licensed union and non-union contractors are now permitted to work on larger private projects, regardless of whether or not they offer or are part of apprenticeship programs.

"This law placed undue restrictions on our members; however, with this ruling, the market is now open and this will benefit professionals, customers and the region economically," explained PHCCLI President Don Conway.

"PHCCLI is made of up of many of Long Island's licensed plumbers, and we work with all municipalities to ensure that laws are conducive to having an open, competitive and fair marketplace. We have a positive working relationship with the Town of North Hempstead and all municipalities on Long Island. This effort was undertaken to correct language in a law that restricted our members' ability to provide services, and that limited competition. We worked together as an organization on this matter and were successful in protecting our members and their ability to fairly compete for business," added Conway.

The Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors of Long Island is entering its 78th year as an organization of professional licensed master plumbers, heating contractors and cooling contractors operating on Long Island. Membership consists of established business men and women who recognize the advantages of membership in a professional organization that represents the plumbing, heating and cooling industries. The PHCCLI members are committed to protect the health and safety of the general public through establishment, adherence and compliance to detailed code requirements. This objective is realized through high ethical standards, legislative work and continuing education. Membership is open to all licensed plumbers, heating and/or cooling contractors on Long Island. For more information, please visit https://www.phccli.org.

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