BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES April 16, 2026 - Plumbing

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: 100 S. Charles Street, Tower 1
Conference Room 3309
Baltimore, MD 21201
Held via Video Conference
meet.google.com/qks-niad-yfo
By Phone via Teleconference
1-414-909-7588 (PIN: 385820141)

Members Present: Joseph Radtka, Chairman
Hayward Hinkhaus, Vice Chairman, Industry Member
Megan Klepsig, Industry Member
Craig Stokes, Industry Member
Robert Parker, Consumer Member

Absent: Leif Hancock, Industry Member

LABOR Officials & Staff Present: Sarah McDermott, Assistant Commissioner, Occupational and
Professional Licensing
Charles Marquette, Executive Director, Mechanical Licensing
Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General
Andrew Friel, Director of Governmental Affairs, Occupational and
Professional Licensing
LaKissha Thornton, Administrative Officer III

OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Fishpaw, Pipe Trades Technologies
Kathy Stradley, MPHCC
Bill Skane, Nick’s Plumbing

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Radtka called the April 16, 2026, Business Meeting of the Maryland State Board of Plumbing to order, virtually, at 10:32 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion to approve the February 9, 2026 Business Meeting Minutes was made by Mr. Stokes, seconded by Mr. Parker, and unanimously approved by the Board without amendment.

PLUMBING COMPLAINT COMMITTEE

Vice-Chairman Hinkhaus reported the following findings of the Complaint Committee:

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

APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

There were no applications to be reviewed and no report necessary.

NATURAL GAS FITTER PROVIDER COMMITTEE REPORT

Chairman Radtka requested that Director Marquette provide an update on the distribution of the compliance letter the Board asked be sent to the list of Approved Natural Gas Fitter training providers. Director Marquette replied that staff was awaiting the findings of the Natural Gas Fitter Provider Committee regarding the requirements to be an approved provider before the letter would be sent. Chairman Radtka stated that he would work with the Committee to prepare a report for the May meeting.

REVIEW OF EXAMINATION STATISTICS AND LICENSE TOTALS

Ms. Thornton reported the following statistical summary submitted by PSI for February 2026:

Candidates Passed Failed Pass %
Tested

Ms. Thornton reported the following statistical summary submitted by PSI for March 2026:

Ms. Thornton further reported that since January 2026, 274 candidates were tested, 103 candidates passed, 171 failed, for a pass rate of 38%. Since the inception of the test, 13,307 candidates were tested, 4,845 candidates passed, 8,492 failed, for a pass rate of 36%. There are currently 14,304 active licensees.

CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence to be discussed.

OLD BUSINESS

Listing of Approved Natural Gas Fitter Training Providers:

Chairman Radtka reiterated that the Committee would provide a report at the May meeting.

Code Adoption update:

Director Marquette introduced Andrew Friel, Director of Government Affairs for O&P, to the Board. Mr. Friel greeted the Board and stated that he will be responsible for assisting with regulations proposed by the Board, the legislative process, as well as for Board Appointments. Mr. Friel added that he had been in contact with the Division of Labor and Industry regarding their adoption of the 2024 versions of International Residential Code and Internation Plumbing Code.

Chairman Radtka requested that Director Marquette advise as to how the Board is to proceed with adopting the 2024 version of the International Fuel Gas Code and NFPA 58 and NFPA 54. Mr. Marquette deferred to Counsel who stated she hoped that no action would be necessary by the Board in future code cycles because when the 2021 versions of those codes were adopted by the Board, language was included in the regulation that states the codes that provides that they were considered adopted as the may be periodically amended or modified. Counsel added that, unless the language in the regulation was challenged, no action was needed by the Board. Counsel also stated that the Board could choose to acknowledge in a public meeting that it was moving to the new code for enforcement purposes.

Mr. Stokes moved to acknowledge that the Board uses the 2024 codes editions for enforcement purposes, seconded by Mr. Hinkhaus, and unanimously approved by the Board.

VA Reciprocity Agreement:

Chairman Radtka informed the Board that Director Marquette was in talks with the Virginia Board of Contractors. to establish an agreement for reciprocal licensing. Director Marquette stated that he and Ms. Thornton met with the Virginia Board of Contractors to begin the process of drafting an agreement. He stated that applicants coming from Virginia to Maryland would be required to hold both a Master Plumber and Master Gas Fitter license. Conversely, applicants going to Virginia from Maryland would be eligible for both a Master Plumber and a Master Gas Fitter license from Virginia. Director Marquette stated that he would try to have a draft agreement prepared for the Board’s review at the May meeting.
Chairman Radtka noted that Delaware recently added a Continuing Education requirement for their licensed Plumbers, but that the addition did not affect the current Maryland/Delaware reciprocal licensing agreement at this time.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no New Business to be discussed.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Director Marquette introduced and stated that Mr. Friel would be assisting with Board appointments. Mr. Friel stated that he was currently working to fill the vacant number nine consumer member seat on the Board and that he expected to receive a status update after the meeting. Mr. Friel stated that he was also looking to fill a seat for a Baltimore City plumber and asked that if the Board members had any recommendations that they reach out to him. Director Marquette added that the Board members may be receiving confirmation letters in the upcoming months if their seats were up for reappointment or renewal.

COUNSEL’S REPORT

Counsel did not offer report but reminded the Board that after the meeting there would be a hearing on the Respondent’s exceptions; Counsel explained the nature and procedure of an exceptions hearing. She further explained that after the conclusion of the hearing, the Board would convene in a closed session to conduct their deliberation and seek the advice of Counsel pursuant to Md. Ann. Code, Gen. Prov. Art. § 3-305(b).

CHAIR’S REPORT

The Chairman did not offer a report.

CLOSED SESSION

The Board met in a Closed Session to consider the respondent’s exceptions to its Proposed Order in Case No. PLUM 24-0010, after which the Board modified it Proposed Order to include a six-month suspension and $5,000 monetary penalty for violations of Md. Ann. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. Art., §§12-312(a)(1) and 12-601.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn the April 16, 2026, Business Meeting was made by Mr. Hinkhaus, seconded by Stokes, and unanimously approved by the Board. The business meeting was adjourned at 11:04 a.m.

_______________ ___________ ______________
Charles Marquette Date
Executive Director

Signed on behalf of the Board as voted and approved on: ________