June 10, 2026 Business Meeting Minutes - State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors
Date: June 10, 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
Michael Giangrandi, Master HVACR Contractor
Dwight Needham, Master HVACR Contractor
Robert Parker, Master HVACR Contractor
Kenneth Sweetney, Master Restricted HVACR Contractor
Kabir Ahmed, Consumer Member
Members Absent: David Politzer, Consumer Member
Staff Present: Chuck Marquette, Executive Director, Mechanical Licensing Unit
Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General
John Dove, Commissioner, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Andrew Friel, Director of Government Affairs, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Aajah Harris, Policy Director, Occupational and Professional Licensing
Alicia Dennis, DWDAL Office of Apprenticeship
Jacob Guy, Administrative Officer, Mechanical Licensing Unit
Guests Present: No guests were present.
Call to Order:
A quorum was established, and Chairman Jones called the Business Meeting of the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration (“HVACR”) Contractors to order at 10:32 a.m.
Approval of the Agenda:
A motion to adopt the June 10, 2026, Business Meeting Agenda was made by Mr. Weglarz, seconded by Mr. Parker, and unanimously approved by the Board.
Approval of the Minutes:
Mr. Weglarz moved to approve the business meeting minutes of the May 13, 2026 HVACR Board meeting without amendment or correction. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ahmed and unanimously approved by the Board.
Complaint Committee Report:
Chairman Mr. Jones reported the findings of the Complaint Committee as follows:
| Closed Complaint | Under Investigation | Sent for A.G. Pre-Charge | Criminally Charged |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-0038 | 26-0010 | 25-0062 | |
| 25-0060 | 26-0011 | ||
| 26-0001 |
A motion to approve the findings of the Complaint Committee was made by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Ahmed, and unanimously approved by the Board.
Application Review Committee Report:
There were no applications to be reviewed; no report of the Committee was necessary.
Review of Examination Statistics and License Totals:
Mr. Guy reported the following PSI exam statistical summary for the month of May 2026:
| Period | Candidates Tested | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 Total | 93 | 38 | 55 | 41% |
| Cumulative-YTD Total | 413 | 171 | 242 | 41% |
| Testing to date Total | 14262 | 6117 | 8145 | 43% |
There are currently 25,062 active licensees.
Board Correspondence:
Administrative Officer Mr. Guy brought before the Board an inquiry received from a licensee looking for guidance on the scope of practice for a restricted air conditioning (“AC”) license. The individual asked whether a licensed master restricted to AC could install a new gas furnace and perform the associated duct work.
The industry members of the Board discussed the matter. It was determined that a licensed HVACR master or master restricted to forced air heat was qualified and authorized to repair, replace, remodel, or install a gas furnace. In addition, a licensed master plumber and/or gas fitter must install gas apparatus and make the gas connection. The Board further determined that an HVACR licensee must hold a master license or a master restricted to ventilation to be authorized to provide duct work or ventilation services.
Old Business:
Discussion on District of Columbia Reciprocity Agreement:
Director Marquette provided an update for the Board stating that questions and suggested revisions discussed at the previous Board meeting were sent to the Washington D.C. Board of Industrial Trades. They are currently under review, and Director Marquette stated that he will provide an update as soon as he has a response.
COMAR 09.15.02.02
Director Marquette informed the Board that the draft concept to amend COMAR 09.15.02.02 has been referred to the Secretary’s Office for review and approval. No feedback has been provided at this time, and Director Marquette stated that he would reach out to the Board with next steps once he has them.
Adoption of 2024 Codes by Division of Labor and Industry:
Director Marquette advised that the regulations to update various mechanical codes will be proposed on June 12, 2026, which will begin a public comment period for 30 days. After that, the Division of Labor and Industry will address any comments or concerns raised by the public. Director Marquette added that he maintains regular contact with PSI to work on altering exam questions as needed in preparation for the adoption of 2024 Codes. Ms. Kinstler offered 40-50 days as a rough estimate for a timeline for adoption of the 2024 Codes.
New Business:
There was no New Business to be discussed.
Executive Director’s Report:
Director Marquette offered an update for the Maryland Board of Plumbing, stating that there have been preliminary discussions for a reciprocity agreement between Maryland and Virginia for master licensees.
Counsel’s Report:
Counsel did not offer a report.
Chairman’s Report:
The Chair did not offer a report.
Closed Session:
The Board did not meet in a closed session.
Adjournment:
Mr. Weglarz moved to adjourn the June 10, 2026 meeting of the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. The motion was seconded by Mr. Giangrandi and unanimously approved by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 a.m.
