Meeting Minutes from January 4, 2011
Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board
Executive Committee
Minutes
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
3:30 p.m.
Liberty Place, Room 112
Present:
Thomas Baldrige, James Black, Steve Fries, Sharon Leese, Craig Lehman,
Not Present:
Eric Horn, Donald F. Johnson, Jr., Jean Martin, Linda Kreider (Ex-Officio)
Staff:
Joyce Lenox, Andrew Garner, Scott Sheely, Kim Sullenberger, Lori Rank, Rod Kopp
Operators Representative:
Trish Link
Guests:
William Moulfair, Joe Shiffer, Gary Grube, Robert Patrick
Call to Order
Sharon Leese called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m., thanked everyone for coming, and asked everyone to introduce themselves.
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes from December 7, 2010 meeting
Minutes approved unanimously on motion from Tom Baldrige and second from Steve Fries.
Discussion Items
Discussion of Allocation of training Funds
Scott Sheely informed the Committee that he has temporarily put a hold on ITA spending until the staff can analyze the impact of some new training options that have emerged, in particular, an online training resource called Metrix Learning. He expects to open ITAs again within two weeks.
Discussion of Communications with Corbett Transition Team
Scott reported this assignment was not as intensive as expected but very interesting. He wrote the section of the report that has to do with the workforce system. The Corbett administration is expected to implement many of these changes in the first 90 days with some already being prepared for legislative action.
With people exhausting unemployment and with anticipated changes by the new administration, there could be a huge impact on the WIB and the PA CareerLink with regard to demand for services. Lori reported 325 people and 400 today in the PA CareerLink. Bill Moulfair reported traffic has picked up in many of the PA CareerLinks. With these kinds of numbers, the staff is looking at how to streamline services to the clients with the same amount of staff.
Discussion of Topics for Board Meeting for 2011
Scott asked for topic suggestions for the 6 Board meetings for 2011. The following suggestions were given:
- Long and short-term recession and recovery strategy short and long term
- Tour of the PA CareerLink
- Budget report in March...outlook from the new administration
- Connecting with schools on what their career services are.
Discussion of Need for Strategic Planning
There was a discussion of whether to do an update of the Strategic Plan this year. It was decided to extend the March Board meeting to do strategic planning.
Action Items
Approval of the November ARRA Expenditures
Rod Kopp reported the only ARRA money left is for the Green Energy Sector Project and Drop Out Initiative in partnership with the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center. Spending for both is within expectations.
Motion approved unanimously for Approval of November ARRA Expenditures on motion from Jim Black and second from Tom Baldrige.
Approval of Contract for Janitorial Services
Kim Sullenberger reported that, with the new lease, cleaning services expired on December 31, 2010. A request for proposals was put out with all proposals due back on December 28, 2010. The Board received six valid proposals. After reviewing the proposals, the top two companies with the lowest prices and highest ratings were invited to a further meeting. The committee recommends accepting the proposal submitted by Farrell's for 3 years at $33,000 a year. Annual increases are held to a maximum of 3% after completion of 2 years. The current contract with Spotless for the WIB space will end on July 31, 2011 with Farrell picking up these rooms at that time. All bids came in below expectations. Lori Rank also checked the three references submitted with the proposal.
Motion approved unanimously for Approval of Contract for Janitorial Services on motion from Steve Fries and second from Jim Black.
Executive Session
The Executive Committee went into an Executive Session at 4:15 pm to discuss matters with no action taken and returned to executive committee meeting at 5:50 pm.
Approval of Reorganization of Local Management Committee
Upon returning from Executive Session, Chair Sharon Leese tabled the Reorganization of the Local Management Committee with the consent of the Committee.
Approval of Bidding the Contracts for WIA Title I and EARN Programs
Chair Leese entertained a motion to open the bids for the WIA Title I and EARN programs as soon as possible in anticipation of those contracts ending on June 30, 2011. Some discussion ensued over how bid notices would be sent and to whom as well as whether there would be any requirements from bidders to hire employees of LETA, the current contract holder.
Motion to bid the contracts for the WIA Title I and EARN programs made by Tom Baldrige with second from Steve Fries.
Commissioner Craig Lehman proposed an amendment to invite LETA to bid on the contracts and to include language in the Request for Proposal that would strongly encourage the contractor to hire LETA staff in the event that LETA was not the successful bidder.
Motion to amend made by Craig Lehman and second by Jim Black. The motion was defeated by a 2-3 vote with Lehman and Black voting for it and Leese, Baldrige, and Fries voting against it.
On the original motion, the motion was approved by 4-1 vote with Baldrige, Leese, Fries, and Black voting for it and Lehman voting against it.
Kim Sullenberger advised the group that the Board uses the procurement processes approved for third class counties on Pennsylvania. Craig Lehman asked that some language be included in the RFP that if additional staff is needed to fulfill the contract that LETA employees be considered. The remainder of the Committee concurred. Question was asked if the RFP is open to anyone who wants to bid and the answer was yes.
Adjournment
The Executive Committee returned from Executive Session and adjourned at 6:05 pm.
