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Building Officials Association of Texas
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78754-5128
512-231-7400 • Fax 512-231-7494 or 7495
An affiliate of the Texas Municipal League
Mission Statement
The Building Officials Association of Texas is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of its members, advancing the standards of the building industry, and leading in the resolution of public policy issues.
President's Message
Scott A. McDonald
BOAT President
It has been a busy year thus far. BOAT has successfully reorganized its meeting schedule, updated its by-laws, and is now poised to become even more successful in the upcoming years. We look forward to developing better partnerships with all our local chapters to provide greater benefits for code officials throughout the state.
Our February meeting in Round Rock was very successful; your continued feedback provides us the necessary information to maintain a path of continuous improvement. The Capitol trip is continuing to pay dividends. Your Board has been busy monitoring proposed legislation, testifying on behalf of H.B. 1354 (Inspector Immunity Bill), and providing TML comments and opinions as requested. As a reminder to all code officials, the impact of new laws enacted by the legislature can often be in the form of an unfunded mandate. BOAT committees provide a valuable service to the membership, and those committees are made up of members like you. Please review our committees, and please apply to be part of shaping our future.
Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend the BOAT Fall Conference, scheduled for the week of August 15. As we advance our strategic goals, we look for methods of making our members’ involvement more family friendly. Your BOAT Board of Directors recognizes how challenging it is to travel for work, and the time away from family creates even more difficulties. The August meeting will focus more on allowing families to participate, with a spouse program and family-friendly events. The “first” fall conference will be in the Metroplex. We are working to finalize details and will send out an announcement as soon as they become complete. I would certainly like to hear any thoughts or ideas you may have to incorporate into our meeting. The fall conference will place a greater emphasis on CEUs and the functional aspects of code development and enforcement. We also recognize that it is necessary to budget for conferences, and this conference was not budgeted. Therefore, BOAT is going to provide some assistance to our members wishing to attend. This will only be successful because of our partnerships with other chapters and other professional relationships. This inaugural event will be loaded with surprises and benefits for our attendees, and I look forward to seeing all our families.
Spring provides many opportunities here in Texas that are unique to Texas. The first and most beneficial is the Arlington Building Professional Institute (BPI). The Arlington BPI is the largest educational program, drawing attendees from many states throughout the country. We have some of the best, most notable instructors from across the U.S. and the biggest variety of educational tracks anywhere. Make certain that your city takes advantage of our local, premier educational opportunity; spend the week or just a day, but don’t take for granted the value of local training.
The ICC Code Hearings in Dallas are in our own backyard once again. Be a part of the code development process; it is FREE, and the benefits are long-lasting. The code hearings are one of the best educational tools to understand the “intent” of the code. Furthermore, they provide you an opportunity to comment on the new International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). We have an exclusive occasion here in Texas; no other state has the opportunity to have the code development process year after year. With this being said; we must take advantage of this event and participate. As Texans, we have the ability to shape these codes and provide our expertise one day at a time. Take a road trip, take an inspector, take a permit technician, take a plans examiner—and share the experience, shape the codes, and shape our future. Texas has many pools and spas. Texas code officials should understand these standards better than many other states; however, if YOU wait for someone else to voice an opinion or vote on your behalf, you may be unsatisfied with the outcome. Be a part of the new ISPSC and have your voice heard in our children’s future with more sustainable methods of construction by voting on the IGCC. The education and experience will be invaluable.
Take advantage of Building Safety Month; it is an excellent opportunity to promote our profession—the profession of protecting life in the built environment. Codes and standards have a direct impact on everything within the built environment, often without a positive focus on important safety rationale. Secretary Kasson was successful again this year in having a Proclamation signed by Governor Perry declaring May as Building Safety Month in Texas. Promote what you do to the citizens, contractors, and leadership within your city. We are the silent defenders, doing our job best when no one knows it.
Please do your best to raise the profile of our professionalism; participate in any way you can. Together, we will build a stronger Texas.
Scott A. McDonald, CBO
President
Your feedback is always important to us. If you have comments or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact any current Board or committee members.
