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Good Morning!

good morning!! I hope everyone is well ;-))

I am muted, due to working while I listen. I will take a break when we start :)

Do we know if there is a chance that the rules will be changed on New Builds?

We don't have the link yet, but it will be Friday from 10:00-11:30

I have been going to the office every other day to get mail and check the building and work an hour or so for change of scenery. I am the only one there so it is safe.

There will also be a tool box that will have sample documents

Welcome!

How do we change background>

During this time of shut down i'm still doing bids and contracts should we be worry about availability of supplies and of price increases

Will you allow recording

Is there any idea if there is a chance that the rules on New Builds will change?

Michigan is shut down, liberal Governor shutting down most businesses. Builder allowed to do critical weatherization exterior work only right now.

Says host need to authorize recording

Can we proceed construction on projects that the deadlines impact the end consumer having a place to live or not?

Michigan we anticipate Governor extending this shut down

after we allow to go back to work we still have to be concern for spread of this virus and put things in place, we will be doing soap and water or sanitizer on every job site , and wipes to wipe down tools and equipment

I've got about 4-5 weeks left in my new construction project. My rental agreement ends April 30th and the homeowners are moving back in. Now that MI is shut down, where does the Governor expect me, my wife and my 16th month old daughter to live?

Look forward to hearing who is classed as critical workers

I have 13 fire victim families that are homeless and need us to continue repair work to get them back home. How is watering flowers more important than getting fire victims back home? Please let us finish these projects so they can go back home and be safe!

Trying to record this, needs host’s permission!!

How many surrounding States have such a shutdown order in place regarding our Industry?

Hi Gordy....my display says that the session is "recording" in the upper left-hand corner of the screen

Many builders and contractors in residential construction can work very effectively to social distance - trimming, siding, brick work, etc. I have seen all of the construction teams working at the US131 and 100th Street project in Grand Rapids. Much more dangerous with social interactions in situations like that vs. allowing certain residential construction work to continue as long as no risk at all to spread the virus. My house is currently in the middle of construction and everything has now stopped. Very frustrating. You have more contact in the grocery store, etc. when you have to go vs. having contractors work independently at your home.

Nick here your AeroBarrier contractor- MERV13 and MERV 15 air filters remove viruses from the air - may be an attractive add to homes as part of an ERV and tight house

We understand the importance of social distancing and want to institute a 1 person (worker) per house during the shutdown. can this be done without penalty?

Is someone working with the State officials to place some employee employer covid workplace standards to minimize exposure and let us get back at it with some rules to follow. We need to learn to work with this virus in a safe manner. We all want to get back to work. Would guidelines in place make it more likely for the State to ok homebuilding?

Thanks Mike S.

Can I get permission to record?

We have two homes 90% finished where the people will be homeless if we can't finish. One is a doctor moving to Michigan from out of state and the other is a husband on active duty and the wife and children are living in a temporary situation. Is there any situation where these would be allowed?

host is recording

on 3 28 2020 the department of homeland security said single family homes were essential infrastructure business

How can we obtain a copy?

we are recording this townhall and will make it abvailable to everyone

Thanks

we are involved in affordable income, 9% tax credit, renovations for low income seniors. Can that work continue?

Great idea Chris Weir. That would allow some work to continue!!!

That is NOT HELPFUL AT ALL TO LET PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY THINK THEY WANT TO DO.

I will send lisa a copy of 3 28 20

The construction shut down is non effective. Many construction workers are now doing cash side jobs in occupied homes without permits and still collecting unemployment. Please let them come back to work on non-occupied homes while maintaining proper distance and separate vehicles to keep safe.

How do we secure material on my job site. The best method is to continue the framing process.

Are the reports of Ticketing and License Administrative action true. Do you have any proof of folks getting licenses pulled for getting caught working?

I received this link to a national decision on residential discussion. Why isn't this consistent within the State of Michigan as well?

http://nahbnow.com/2020/03/dhs-designates-residential-construction-as-essential-infrastructure-business/

What are we doing to adapt to be able to work with this virus present over the next 12 months. home and hide doesn't seem sustainable. I do understand minimizing exposure is important.

Most of the cases are in Detroit and the 5 cities around Detroit. The Governor is making the whole state suffer.

Are we able to get clarification from local municipalities on work that is allowed? Should we reach out to local Sheriff?

Does the governor have the authority to fine or put contractors in jail for up to 90 days if contractors are found working on a project?

We need to suggest guidelines to keep construction workers safe!

What is the fine $$$?

Is there any guidance to financial help, should employers apply for UE Insurance or try to get a grant or loan. Is it one or the other?

Misdemeanor fine is set at $500 in Michigan law

I have 5 jobs where I can keep my employees safer than if they went to the grocery store which we address in the letters to are government officials

This should not be a political decision on any front. The entire purpose is to keep people safe. Let's come up with ways to keep residential construction safe vs. simply shutting everything down.

i

house member Isaac Robinson passed away from many many more complications than just COVID 19. COIVID 19 was a last straw. Not trying to sound insensitive, but that's the truth

the original executive order included the Cisa essential job list. seems like consistency would then use the new CISA list?

is it true of the rumors in Washtenaw county is suspending licenses if you are working?

It is not clear if the fine could be charged "per occurrence" or "per number of offending individuals on the site"

did you get your 10,000.00 already from the SBA

To TEMPORARILY waterproof and secure out partial frames, will take more expense in purchasing large tarps and still need pretty large groups of man power to put in place. seems more practical to use that manpower to continue using the material that is on site and proceed to a point where our homes are dried in and locked up.

Is that the loan that is forgiven or do we have to pay it back?

Does putting employees on unemployment disqualify companies from Payroll Protection?

What's the name of the $10,000 loan again?

Wondering how this will impact commercial construction specifically

We are an LLC partnership and we are

. If all $349 billion designated to support SBA is allocated to the PPP program and was divided equally among the small businesses in the US (30 million) then it is only $11,666.67 per company…not a lot, but it does provide funding for loans that the bank would typically not do (payroll, operational expenses, etc.).

We are a 2 person LLC partnership- can we pay ourselves with the SBA loan because of lost business

If we as an association submit covid safe workplace guidelines to the state, would the state me more likely to allow homebuilding to continue contingent upon new guidelines being followed? miosha could enforce them.

Believe it or not, some of us cannot lay-off ourselves.

Is the 7a loan instead of putting employees on UE

How does the sick time rule work when your employees have already been laid off and have applied for and gotten unemployment?

what was the sick time rule again

How are commission only sales rep affected

what was the name of the $10K loan SBA

Unemployment claims raise premiums, if we file unemployment as an employee/officer of sub “s” will that affect rates?

Is the sick time something our employees must apply for, or is it something that is obligatory?

EIDL

Is the Federal Sick Time that starts on April 1 for only those employees that have COVID 19, symptoms of that, etc.? Or do you give this pay to all my employees?

1099 workers (commissioned sales rep) can apply for Michigan unemployment

So on Payroll Protection you apply, get it approved, and is disperses but MI is still shut done and we can’t work. Do we still need to hire everyone back to qualify for paying all them the 8 weeks after is disperses? Even though they will not be able to work? Just get them back on payroll anyway?

Unemployment website: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241---,00.html

Really appreciate you keeping HBA members and the public informed on the HBA Grand Rapids website! Hoping that residential construction can be given another review for acceptable practices during the COVID-19 epidemic besides just emergency stuff for sanitary, etc. This is very short sighted to halt everything. If certain activities do not meet ability to social distance, etc. then they should not be able to be done. But as a compromise, think other activities that can be done to protect all and within spirit of the executive order should be allowed to continue.

Federal Sick time that starts April 1 is only for those that experience COVID -19 Symptoms, etc.

From Michigan Unemployment website:NOTICE: Self-Employed Workers, Gig Workers, 1099-Independent Contractors and Low-Wage workers - DO NOT APPLY AT THIS TIME. Applications will be open in the next few days. If you already applied for unemployment benefits, you DO NOT need to reapply.

My CPA told me that if your employees sign up for unemployment that your rate will not increase

is it true that if you have already laid employees off and they filed for unemployment then they aren’t eligible for the 80 hour payments or the extension fmla?

Jeremy, that is not true.

The webinar will be available to all HBA members statewide

Again, that webinar will be Friday, April 3rd from 10a - 11:30a

I would like to clarify about both SBA loans. Some information was not provided correctly

To Clarify- the governors stay at home order does not make your employees eligible for the 80 hours ETO. According to my CPA and lawyers.

As far as the $600 bonus to unemployment, do we know if that applies to employees that have reduced hours that are taking a partial unemployment benefit?

The governor’s executive order 2020-21 section 8 states “For purposes of this order, critical infrastructure workers are those workers described by the Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in his guidance of March 19, 2020 on the COVID-19 response (available here). Such workers include some workers in each of the following sectors:” On March 28th that guidance was updated to include residential construction. While the governor references the previous March 19th guidance it’s obvious the governors intention was to follow CISA guidelines as to what is critical infrastructure, therefore necessarily her order has changed. If she continues to not provide any additional guidance HBA should notify absent any changes to her order the industry intends to move forward with resuming it’s work.

http://www.purelansing.com/businessrelief Here is the link for the Small Business Relief Grants

Do you take your employees off of unemployment and pay them via the SBA loan? How does that work?

Can you do the EIDL loan and the Paycheck one; are they mutually exclusive?

"ESSENTIAL WORK" can be completed. It is for you to decide if it is essential!!!

The client is using the living room as a bedroom and bathroom. The addition provides a main floor bedroom and bathroom. Who do you ask for clearance ... police, building department.. who?

Is it true that the Legislature needs to approve a shelter in place order if it exceeds 30 days?

What are we doing to learn how to work with this virus. It will be touring the globe for the next 12 months. Let's adapt and keep at it!

Jeff rantham asks:

The client has been in the hospital twice in the last 45 days and is on oxygen.

Her interview on WOTV8 she specficially stated that new home construction was NOT essential. There is NO gray area!

City Attorney is interpreting our community’s rules via building dept.

Thank you Bob for your comments on checking with local officials. As a building official I have been fielding calls from area contractors in Emmet County on what can continue and what should stop. Each project is individual and should be looked at on a case by case basis. Local code officials can work with their local police to keep the essential projects moving to a safe and weather tight state.

Most City and Country Building Departments are closed with Inspectors not working during this shutdown. Even if the Governor allows residential construction there will only be a certain point in the construction we can go until those offices reopen.

Any word from Grand Rapids area local officials?

Jeff Brantham asks if there was any invitation any legislatirs staff to listen to the town hall and hear contractors concerns?

Good point Charlie

We are 95% commercial and industrial and all of our projects have been shutdown and secured.

are commercial work has stop and the ones upcoming as put it on hold until indefinitely.

If your employees work and contract COVID19 is my company held liable? Is there a waiver that I could have my employees sign that says my company is not held liable?

Bob/Lee - This is Kevin with Pulte Homes. Does the Governor fully understand the long-term negative impact this order will have to the trade base in SE Michigan? Specifically, the longer that "transient" trades, such as Framers, Masons, etc., sit at home, there is an elevated risk that these trades will leave the state to find work and it will be nearly impossible to get them back. This will also force unnecessary cost increases in the labor market once full home production is allowed to resume. Thank you, Kevin

why can't there be a compromise with the governors office. All sales offices can remain closed. No new permits shall be issued either. However any permits that are already issued work may continue with strict social distancing rules, etc.

social shaming is probably the bigger risk.

It is CRUCIAL that our approach to seek further clarification be framed in the context of OUR HOME OWNERS or FUTURE HOME OWNERS...in her letter to the Trump administration for disaster aid, she even said: “... A private residence is one of the safest places for Michiganders to be right now...”

Lee and Dawn can we request the Governor to open parts of the state where the cases are low after April 13. Essentially everything other than Wayne Oakland or Macomb

what about opening the UP after the 13th?

Could we ask them to limit people per job site....even if it is just one person? Then it's safe. There is a lot we can do with one person per site.

I agree, can we open parts in the state where the cases are low?

How does this Governor's order to stop construction/home building compare to other surrounding State's direction? I know Ohio Contractors can continue Construction

I have a friend who is a arborist and the county sheriff told them to stop. I do. it know if he was issued a fine.

I invite those willing to reach out to the Governors office about MSU telling students to remove their belongs out of the dorms by the 14th to get a refund or by the 30th. MSU is requiring people to move about when under a Stay Home Stay Safe order.

Please anser the question regarding UE vs loans

I second Ken

Clarify the 80 hour sick time

I have a concrete wall that is ready to pour and the dirt has started to full in on the forms that are all set up, and causing a safety hazard. Can I pour the wall?

Colin Herren- what was the name of the $10k sba loan?

EIDL

I believe Washington State is shut down as well.

I waterproofing an essential service

$10k loan EIDL

Other states (Ohio/Indiana) are not restricted but seem to be offering ways to safely bring workers on job sites (ie only one trade on site at a time, etc) Can HBA offer to the governor a "safe" process to bring trades on projects?

Why if the construction industry is shut down... why are Lowes, Home Depot, & Menards allowed to be open?

Yes MikeS, Washington state is now shutdown for construction (they were open for awhile)

Is waterproofing an essential service? Leaking basement

Can you please clarify the paid sick time leave. If employees are already receiving unemployment are we/employers still responsible for this paid sick time?

long term she may be campaigning for VP

Can we put a document together for everyone with State and National Gov Relief Programs?

Suggestion- if staff could create an FAQ from this chat and share later that would be helpful.

Thank you Bob for your hard work and expressing these concerns

sba.gov to apply for the 10K Economic Injury Disaster Lan

Hi Steve. Call me afterwards.... 248-996-0052

Is the 80 hour sick time for those employees that have COVID19? The 80 hour sick time is not for healthy employees?

The link that was sent earlier for the grant is just for Lansing area. I'm in Kent County

Advocating to keep working and earning vs. being safe and stopping the spread. A real soul searching

contractors should be donating all of their protective gear to hospitals and healthcare workers.

Thank you Lee for stressing that

i think we need to focus on the houses going up currently and how it will affect those homeowners with the governor. not as much about out businesses

What does the Gov. expect families to do that are in the middle (or end) of a new construction build, but has a rental agreement ending? Isn't that putting families at risk by becoming homeless?

Steve: From FAQ clarification for 2020-21: "...Construction workers may also undertake projects that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of a residence during the emergency..."

as we look pass this virus should we be concerned with material delays ans material price increases

This will be covered at the webinar on Friday at 10

tell her to raise her hand

Agreed Troy!!

is the 80 hours paid by us or the government?

So we have to provide the 80 hours of sick time, but not immediately?

Our fire victim clients will run out of Insurance ALE allowance (Additional Living Expenses) and will loose their temporary housing if we cannot finish their homes asap.

Will the gentleman that intends to layoff his employees this week still be eligible for the PPP?

i second ipad(3)'s question

It is my understanding that the $10k loan is an advance on the EIDL. Not a separate loan.

I heard from MIWAM that the waiver to not seek employment is not required right now - it is waived.

From what I have read EIDL loan disqualifies you form the paycheck protection loan.

THanks for clarification Colin

Special thanks to everyone who has stepped up and spent time trying to help us understand where things! Bob, Lee, Dawn, Diana, Mike, Mike, Colin! Another reason people should join the HBA. Keep it coming!

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/workers#workersrights

I second this: Special thanks to everyone who has stepped up and spent time trying to help us understand where things! Bob, Lee, Dawn, Diana, Mike, Mike, Colin! Another reason people should join the HBA. Keep it coming!

Agreeing with Neal......Are the two loans mutually exclusive. EIDL and PPP. Can you do both?

Thank you for that answer

I think you need to let your employees know to tell the unemployment office they are not working due to Covid19

I agree w Jason !!! Special thanks to everyone who has stepped up and spent time trying to help us understand where things! Bob, Lee, Dawn, Diana, Mike, Mike, Colin! Another reason people should join the HBA. Keep it coming!

Hi Ron: where are you located?

Is there an exemption for under 50 employers for the Sick Pay

one of our insurance members confirmed that this will NOT affect rates

I own one man show corporation with no employees. Am I still eligible for stimulus package ?

We are looking at the CARES Loan but from what I am hearing we may be better off to lay employees off and then apply for the CARES loan and when we receive that bring employees back and pay them?

I have stopped two projects

Rhonda, you can apply for an exemption if you can prove that it would threathen the viability of your business moving forward, but will not be easy to prove

Does PPP cover expenses beyond payroll? What about insurance, rent, utilities, etc?

what is the interest rate we will pay for either loan

If not, should we be more forused on EIDL? Can we do both?

can you do unemployment and the SBA loan while you waiting to see you get the loan

Once we get the Payroll Protection loan we have to use it in the immediate following 8 weeks. If we still can’t work in MI do we need to put guys back on payroll (off unemployment) even though they can’t work?

Any information on Employer's deferment of their share of 2020 payroll taxes - 50% of those payments in 2021 and the other half in 2022?

How as employers do we file for unemployment on the site? Is there a specific spot for employers

Jeff, I believe you enter as a claimant. not employer

Would the people speaking please list your first and last names? Also, what group you are with? We can only see your first names for several of you. Thanks!

Reminder that Friday's webinar on April 3rd, 10am to 11:30 will also address many of these HR/payroll/loan programs...detailed information including link will be sent by tomorrow.

My gutter guy just texted to ask if it was OK to install them on a new house tomorrow. We ALL need to communicate with our Subs and keep them home.

How to we determined they're furloughed? Is there something we need to send them in writing?

Thank you for your service to the members. This has been very informative.

Vs just laid off

If you are on this call and are not an HBA member. This is one of the critical reasons the HBA is here. I highly encourage you to join to help ensure this type of industry support continues.

if your subs were also HBA members they would know the same rules you do.

Thanks for clarification Bob and Colin

I will not be able to draw an income during this as a sole proprietor as my expenses will exceed my business receivables continue to trickle in. Can I apply for unemployment? I do not see where UIA has options yet for unemployment for the sole proprietor

Thank you State HBA team! Got to jump off.

I filed today as a claimant and it said my amount I would receive was $0.00

I'm disappointed some determinations can't be made by the association on essential situations, probably due to liability. Would be easier if we could group together on some of the basics. but I understand

So, road crews working on sidewalks is allowed 😀😀

Need an HBA membership drive! This is why you belong.

I will have one also specifically covering unemployment that I can send out.

Thanks for this Zoom meeting. Very informative. Keep up the good work!

Thank you

Thank you state HBA! You all have really stepped up.

THANKS for your help and support you guys are great and working hard to get us support and answers

thanks

Thank you for the great information on some of the programs in place to handle payrolls, etc.

Thank you, very informative!

Thanks to all staff for everything you do for us. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to our leaders. Many folks are relying on your diligence!

thank you all

Thanks to the team

Thanks guys, go geet em!

Thanks all! Stay safe

Thank you for the help and guidance!

Thank you

Thank you to HBA of Michigan for all of their hard work they are doing for our membershiip