March 11, 2026 BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES - STATE BOARD OF HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR-CONDITIONING, AND REFRIGERATION CONTRACTORS

Date: March 11, 2026

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Place: 100 South Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Via teleconference (US +1 470-285-0286 PIN: ‪653 561 432#)
Members Present:Winfield “Rocky” Jones, Chairman
Michael Weglarz, Master Electrician
David Politzer, Consumer Member
Dwight Needham, Master HVACR Contractor
Robert Parker, Master HVACR Contractor
Michael Giangrandi, Master HVACR Contractor

Members Absent: Kabir Ahmed, Consumer Member

Staff Present: John Dove, Commissioner, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Sarah McDermott, Assistant Commissioner, Occupational and Professional
Licensing
Chuck Marquette, Executive Director, Mechanical Licensing Unit
Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General
LaKissha Thornton, Administrative Officer, Mechanical Licensing Unit

Guests Present: None

CALL TO ORDER :

Director Marquette took a roll call vote to establish a quorum. After a quorum was established Chairman Jones called the Business Meeting of the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration (“HVACR”) Contractors to order at 10:33 a.m.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

A motion to approve the Business Meeting Minutes of the February 11, 2026 HVACR Board meeting without amendment or correction was made by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Needham, and unanimously approved by the Board.

COMPLAINT COMMITTEE REPORT:

Mr. Politzer reported the findings of the Complaint Committee as follows:

* Case is in litigation

Chairman Jones stated that the Committee would meet on Thursday, March 12, 2026, to discuss two (2) cases still left on their agenda.

A motion to approve the findings of the Complaint Committee was made by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Weglarz, and unanimously approved by the Board.

APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT:

There was no Application Review Committee report.

REVIEW OF EXAMINATION STATISTICS AND LICENSE TOTALS:

Ms. Thornton reported the following PSI exam statistical summary for the month of February 2026:

Candidates Tested Passed Failed Pass Rate %
February 2026

Cumulative- YTD

Testing to date

There are currently 24,129 active licensees.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Ms. Thornton reported that the Maryland Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association (“MPMIA”) invited the members of the Board to attend their annual training to be held in Ocean City, Maryland on April 10th and 11th, 2026. Ms. Thornton requested that any member of the Board who planned to attend the training please inform either Director Marquette or herself to ensure no quorum of the Board is formed at the meeting without giving notice to the public. Chairman Jones thanked MPMIA for the invitation and requested the Ms. Thornton provide him with contact details for MPMIA.

Ms. Thornton reported that an individual stated that they were interested in opening a business that would clean the exterior coils and cages of HVAC units with little to no maintenance and repair. They stated that they hold a 608 Universal license for HVACR and wanted to know if an HVACR license was required to perform those services.

Chairman Jones commented that it was difficult for the Board to take a position, as the individual did not provide sufficient information about their business model and failed to define the type of maintenance and repair would be required. Counsel Kinstler stated that any sort of HVACR maintenance or repair required at least a limited HVACR contractor license. Chairman Jones and Mr. Weglarz stated that they both agreed with Counsel, as cleaning a unit changes its performance and could be considered servicing the unit. Mr. Needham asked what a limited license entitled a person to. Counsel replied that the license authorizes the maintenance or repair of a system or component, pursuant to Md. Ann. Code, Bus. Reg. §9A-101(o). Ms. Thornton thanked the Board and Counsel for their input and stated that she would advise the individual.

OLD BUSINESS

COMAR 09.15.05.01-.03 Update

Counsel stated that the regulation was still awaiting final approval from the Secretary’s Office. She added that once the regulation received final approval, she would submit it for publication in the Maryland Register and would take effect ten (10) days after publication. Counsel stated that she would keep the Board abreast of the regulation’s progress.

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion on Exceptions to Testing Requirements for Expired Licenses

Director Marquette reminded the Board that last year, tallow an extended time to renew or restore an expired license. The legislative amendment allowed a master- or journeyman-level HVACR licensee to retake the exam to reinstate their license if the license had been expired for four (4) years or more. Director Marquette continued, adding that per Md. Ann. Code, Bus. Reg. §9A-309(c)(2), the Board has discretion to allow reinstatement (or restoration) of a license without an examination based on the applicant's circumstances or explanation for the lapse. He then asked that the Board clarify if it would like to allow exceptions to the testing requirement. Director Marquette added that the other Mechanical Boards have similar testing requirements.

Counsel added that, historically, the Board considered exceptions to the testing requirement when an applicant had been actively deployed or had a health issue that, certified by a physician, prevented them from renewing their license, and that those requests were considered on a case-by-case basis. Chairman Jones stated that he agreed with requiring testing after four (4) years and agreed with Counsel that exceptions should be made on a case-by-case basis in the circumstances she described.

After a brief discussion by the Board, Mr. Weglarz moved to strictly enforce the retesting requirement imposed by Md. Ann. Code, Bus. Reg. §9A-309(c), except in situations in which the applicant can prove deployment for active military service, or a medical condition that prevented them from renewing their license for Board review. The motion was seconded by Mr. Parker and unanimously approved by the Board.

Discussion on requirement to assign a Master HVACR license to a company:

Director Marquette stated that he, Chairman Jones, and Counsel Kinstler met to discuss a proposed regulation that would limit a master HVACR licensee assigning their license to a single company. Director Marquette stated that they met to discuss the administrative issues that would arise around enforcement of such a regulation. Counsel stated that the State Board of Electricians was the only Board in the Mechanical Licensing unit with statutory language that addressed the assignment of a license, citing the language on qualified agent licensing. She added that the Board may need to obtain statutory authority before a regulation could be enforced, and encouraged further discussion as the regulation was due to be submitted to the Secretary’s Office for concept approval. Director Marquette added that additional time would be needed for staff to enforce the regulation, as currently staff have not tracked company assignment for HVACR licensees. Counsel added that, as the Board had no authority to issue business licenses or permits to operate HVACR business, that it would be more difficult to require and track that information without statutory authority to require some sort of business permitting. Director Marquette stated that while he agreed with the Board’s intent, it would be difficult to approve and enforce such a regulation and recommended that the Board pursue a statutory versus a regulatory change. After a brief discussion, the Board decided to postpone submitting the proposed regulation.

COUNSEL’S REPORT:

With Chairman Jones’ consent, Counsel presented her report before the Executive Director’s report so she could exit the meeting early for another commitment. She thanked the Board for their attendance and attention and left the meeting after her report at 11:09 a.m.

Mr. Politzer left the meeting at 11:10 a.m.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

Director Marquette thanked the Board for their attendance and participation. He reminded the Board that the position for HVACR Board Administrator had closed and that he would keep them updated on the hiring process.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:

The Chair did not offer a report.

CLOSED SESSION:

The Board did not convene in a Closed Session

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Weglarz moved to adjourn the March 11, 2026 meeting of the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. The motion was seconded by Mr. Parker and unanimously approved by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 11:12 a.m.
____________________
Charles Marquette Date
Executive Director