The Janaury meeting of the Board was convened in accordance with its notice to the Secretary of State, the Bergen Record, the Record of Hackensack, the Trenton Times, the Courier Post and the Star-Ledger and was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.

President Cohen convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. A roll call was taken and the following attendance was recorded for these minutes:

PRESENT: Linda Cohen, Joseph Grodman, Michael Higgins, Gary Iavarone, Jerry McMullin, John Valeri, Esq., and Jane Kenny

EXCUSED OR ABSENT: NONE

PUBLIC ATTENDEES: NONE

Also in attendance: Dorcas K. O=Neal, Executive Director, Susan Berger, Deputy Attorney General, and Monica Carrington, staff.

Examination Review was held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (See apprentice matters)

I. APPROVAL OF PUBLIC MINUTES

The Board reviewed the Public Session Minutes for November 14, 2007. On a motion by Gary Iavarone, seconded by Joseph Grodman, the minutes were unanimously approved as submitted.

II. OLD BUSINESS

a. Changes were made for three meetings during 2008.

The May 14, 2008 meeting was rescheduled for May 7, 2008. The October 8, 2008 meeting is rescheduled to end at 12 noon. The November 12, 2008 meeting was rescheduled to November 19, 2008.

b. I/M/O Mark Pasquini - The Board is awaiting receipt of employer=s statement, curriculum vitae, and an updated certification/verification of optical experience. No information was provided for the January 2008 meeting. It was the consensus of the Board to deny Mr. Pasquini=s request to sit for the March 2008 Ophthalmic Dispensers Examination until he submits the requested information.

III. APPRENTICE MATTERS

a. The Board held examination reviews for the September 25-26, 2007 examination from 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. The following candidates attended this review:

Sarah Passero-Morrelli Christine Passero Lisa Rossi
Robert Tryon Ali Elhabbak Valerie Lee
David Mandel Raul Cruz Leah Barrios
Rochelle Corsaro Angela Nazarian Elayne Wilder
Galina Cernavska

IV. STATUTES AND REGULATIONS

a. The Board reviewed N.J.A.C. 13:33-9, Registration of Out of State Contact Lens Sellers. On a motion by John Valeri seconded by Jay McMullin, the Board unanimously approve the proposed rule as amended to be published in the New Jersey Register.

V. NEW BUSINESS

1. Greg Bevelock, Esquire representing LUXOTTICA presented aspects of a proposal for online training courses at J. Sargent Reynolds in Richmond, VA. The school is accredited by Commission of Accreditation.

Also in attendance were Joseph DeZenzo, Associate Vice President of Optical Development and Relations, Joseph Chirico, Regional Manager for Pearle Vision, Kathy Prevas, Field Performance Consultant and Regional Manager and Patrick Phelan, Esq., Senior Attorney for Luxottica Retail.

The representatives from Luxottica stated their goal is to help their employees pass the New Jersey State examination the first time. Presently, there are three schools in New Jersey that offer the Ophthalmic Science Degree Program, none of which have the distant learning program. Mr. Bevelock stated that he is aware that Raritan Valley Community College currently has two courses online with 80 percent brick and mortar, 20 percent distance learning. Luxottica=s representatives advised the Board that only 40 students per semester can register online with J. Sargent Reynolds. They would then complete an apprenticeship (lab) at a Lenscrafters locations. De Kalb Technical College in Clarkston, GA also has a distant learning program. The Board thanked Luxottica for its presentation.

b. The Board reviewed the Division of Law Billing as informational.

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VII. OTHER

ELECTION

Linda Cohen, Michael Higgins and Joseph Grodman were unanimously re-elected as President, Secretary, and Treasurer respectively.

There being no other business to come before the Board, on a motion by Gary Iavarone seconded by John Valeri the Public Session was adjourned and the Board convened in Executive Session for the purpose of receiving counsel, to review one apprentice matter and two matters of new business.

The Board reconvened in Public Session. The next scheduled meeting is February 13, 2008. There being no other business to come before the Board, on a motion made and seconded the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dorcas K. O'Neal
Executive Director

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