2/1/04 Update - LAW OFFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>NEWS - FEBRUARY 1, 2004</B></div> <div> (Volume 4, Number 1)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> - IDOT to eliminate paper Plans/Proposals</div> <div> - New State employment laws take effect</div> <div> - JULIE Excavator Safety meetings</div> <div> - Going wireless?</div> <div> - IL Environmental Literature- Order Forms</div> <bR> <div> 1)  <U>IDOT to eliminate paper Plans/Proposals</U></div> <div> I received this from IDOT late Friday:</div> <bR> <div> "In addition to the paper Plans and Proposals the Department already offers, starting with the <B>March 5, 2004</B> Letting the Department will be offering Plans and Proposals electronically. Plans and/or Proposals may be downloaded from the Department' s Web site at no cost.   (More info is at  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.dot.state.il.us/desenv/030504/030504noticeletting.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.state.il.us/desenv/030504"><U>http://www.dot.state.il.us/desenv/030504/030504noticeletting.html</U></A></FONT> )"   </div> <div> "Plans & Proposals may also be purchased on CD-ROM for $35 per letting set.  (letting set = all plans, proposals and addendums pertaining to specific letting). Firms wishing to bid directly to the Department MUST request Authorization to Bid (BDE 124). Prospective bidders must also submit an Affidavit of Availability (BC 57).   Firms downloading Plans and/or Proposals that do not wish to bid directly to the Department will not be placed on the Not For Bid list unless they request to be added to the list. Such requests shall be made by submitting a Request for Authorization to Bid/or Not For Bid Status form. (BDE 124INT) </div> <div> At some future time the Department will offer electronic Plans and Proposals ONLY. "</div> <div> <B>For more details call:</B> Roseanne Nance of IDOT, email <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:nancer@nt.dot.state.il.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:nancer@nt.dot.state.il.us"><U><U>nancer@nt.dot.state.il.us</U></U></A></FONT> , phone (217)785-5875,  Fax (217) 557-1085,1287</div> <bR> <div> 2)   <U>New State employment laws take effect</U></div> <div>         Two new employment-related laws will have an effect on Illinois employers (including contractors and engineering firms):</div> <div>      - The Illinois Equal Pay Act, applicable to outfits employing four or more employees</div> <div>      - The Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), requiring all state and local agencies, plus private employers employing fifty or more people, to allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to victims of domestic violence, or to employees whose family member is victimized by domestic violence.</div> <div> State law requires that notice of the Acts be posted in a conspicuous place (usu with the other EEO notices).  The "EPAVESSA" .pdf attachment includes both of the required notices.</div> <div> <B>For more details go to      </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/news/epa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/news/"><U>http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/news/epa.htm</U></A></FONT> (Equal Pay Act)</div> <div>                     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/vessa/vessa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/vessa"><U>http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/vessa/vessa.htm</U></A></FONT> (VESSA)</div> <bR> <div> 3)  <U>JULIE Excavator Safety meetings</U> are scheduled for Thursday, 2/5 in Matteson, and Monday, 2/12 in Elmhurst.  Call JULIE at 815.741.5000, or log on to their website at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.illinois1call.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.illinois1call.com"><U>www.illinois1call.com</U></A></FONT> to sign up.  Other dates are also available.</div> <bR> <div> 4)   <U>Going wireless?</U>  If you are interested in wireless Internet and computer access (a/k/a "WiFi"), ASA Chicago is planning a seminar on WiFi, led by Howie Piersma, IT head for Pepper Construction, one of the most technologically-savvy construction companies in the area.  The seminar is <B>April 21</B>, at the Arthur Gallagher office in Itasca (near IRTBA's building).  If interested, pls call or e-mail us, or call Virginia of ASA Chicago (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.asachicago.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asachicago.org"><U>www.asachicago.org</U></A></FONT>) , at 847.827.8336  (Note:  the newly-announced ASA Illinois (American Subcontractors Assn) has no connection to this event, sponsored by the Assn of Subs and Affiliates - Chicago (ASA-Chicago).  The latter broke off from the national ASA association several years ago.)</div> <bR> <div> 5)   <U>IL Environmental Literature- Order Forms</U>  IL-EPA has a number of free brochures explaining Illinois environmental regulations, and how to stay out of trouble.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Quote for the day:  "Study the past if you would define the future"  - Confucius</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Law Office of Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> <B>16335 S. Harlem Ave., Suite 400</B></div> <div> <B> Tinley Park, IL  60477</B></div> <div> <B>708.923.9735, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net"><U><B><U>gordanlaw@att.net</U></B></U></A></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B><U>www.gordanlaw.com</U></B></U></A></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>