Meeting Minutes from May 3, 2011
Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board
Executive Committee
Minutes
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
3:30 p.m.
Liberty Place, Room 112
Present:
Thomas Baldrige, Steve Fries, Eric Horn, Sharon Leese, Craig Lehman, Jean Martin, Linda Kreider (Ex-Officio)
Not Present:
James Black, Donald F. Johnson Jr.,
Staff:
Joyce Lenox, Andrew Garner, Scott Sheely (by Phone from DC), Kim Sullenberger, Lori Rank, Rod Kopp
Operators Representative:
Guests:
Gary Grube, William Moulfair, Anna Ramos, Doug Schmidt, Mark Hendrickson
Call to Order
Sharon Leese called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m., welcomed everyone, and asked everyone to introduce themselves.
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes from April 5, 2011 meeting
Minutes approved unanimously on motion from Eric Horn and second from Tom Baldrige.
Discussion Items
What is the right Size for the Workforce Investment Board?
Scott Sheely reminded everyone the State has revised the Workforce Investment Board composition requirements which would allow for a change in the size of the Board and which organizations need to be represented. He reported that trying to move the process along via e-mail did not work because of other issues that arose. Does the Board want to keep the three optional members? Does the Board want to cut back to the ten required public and non-profit members? Should we continue to have two representatives of each of the Industry Partnerships? By keeping the optional members, cutting back to the mandatory ten members, maintaining the 51% private sector mix, and keeping representatives from the seven industry clusters, Scott felt the number could be reduced over the next two years to 27.
The Executive Committee decided to recommend to the Board at its May 19 meeting a reduction of the Board size to 27 with the transition taking place over the next 2 years and private sector staying at 51%.
The Executive Committee recommendation to reduce the size of the Board to 27 over the next two years was approved unanimously on motion from Steve Fries and second from Tom Baldrige.
Review of Draft Budget
Rodd Kopp reported a very preliminary budget with no firm numbers at this time. The Adult funding increased 3%, Youth increased 2.3 %, and Dislocated Worker increased 10% in the tentative figures that we have. These increases are based on the rapid and relatively late rise in the unemployment rate in Lancaster County. Welfare funding was cut 15%. There is still Young Parent Demo Grant money left and the Industry Partnership grants are estimated at $160,000 or down 80%. We did have an increase in WIA funding but the budget still dropped from $7.5 million this year to $5.5 next year due mostly to the almost $1 million anticipated loss in Industry Partnership money and the loss of $ 1 million in ARRA money.
As for expenses, the only money budgeted for ITAs are for carryover from this year. No new funding was allocated for this purpose to date. There will be no major increases in staff to handle the influx of Unemployment Compensation clients when the General Assembly adds the work search component to the Unemployment Insurance law in the near future. Restructuring the PA CareerLink with the current staff should take care of this need.
Scott mentioned that grants from foundations have helped with funding in recent years with the overall budget being about 1/3 WIA, 1/3 Welfare and 1/3 other funding. With the funding being tighter, social enterprise or fee for service options will need to be examined as another funding source. The Finance Committee has met and decided to ask for spending authority in July with final budget figures to be presented at the September Board meeting.
Situation with Current Board Member
Scott reported that Aimee Urban was representing transportation sector on the Board and that, as of May 3, she has started working for an advertising agency. Per the by-laws, she must resign when she changes industry representation and jobs. The Executive Committee is in full agreement. She will resign from the Board as of May 3, 2011.
Action Items
Approval of the March ARRA Expenditures
Rod Kopp reviewed the March ARRA Expenditures report for July 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. The Green Energy Grant has expended $47,246. This grant is for Lancaster and Berks Counties and is good until December 2012. We have been awarded another $157,500 but have not yet received it. The Youth Dropout Recovery grant has expended $82,752 through March 31, 2011. The majority of this grant is for Lancaster Career and Technology Center to do training. Another $52,000 has been expended for this grant but has not been invoiced by LCCTC yet. There is another $65,000 from WIA to fund overhead on the Drop Out Recovery grant for a total of $200,000.
The March ARRA Expenditures was approved unanimously on motion from Tom Baldrige and second from Eric Horn.
Approval of '11 Resource Sharing Agreement
Doug Schmidt reported the 2010-2011 budget for the PA CareerLink was presented to the Partners in February and the Investors in April with both approving it. Changes in the budget include a full time security guard that was previously covered by the Commonwealth. All Partners agreed to keep the security guard at a cost of $35,000 for the year. Expenses changed due to the new lease figures changing from $16.84 per square foot that included Janitorial for the last 10 years to $15.89 per square foot without janitorial services this year. Janitorial services and supplies are broken out separately.
The '11 Resource Sharing Agreement was approved unanimously on motion from Tom Baldrige and second from Steve Fries with Craig Lehman abstaining from voting.
Approval of EARN Contract
Kim Sullenberger presented the motion from the Local Management Committee with Gary Grube, Chair of the Committee in support. EDSI was chosen as the top rated proposal for the contract as EARN Operator. Four proposals were received on time and one was late. The review committee read, rated and reviewed the four proposals.
EDSI has committed to offering an on-site job fair for current staff impacted by the contract award. EDSI will provide all referrals from the Public Assistance office to the PA CareerLink with job search, life skills, mentoring, and training for the number of hours required to participate and get a job. The Corporate Center will continue to provide community service and continued work experience along with Job Club.
Gary Grube mentioned this was a very intense process with lots of hard work to read and rate the proposals. The LMC is very satisfied with all the answers they received on the questions they presented to EDSI when meeting. This was an unanimous decision by LMC
The proposal was originally for $1.5 million but will be adjusted each year based on funding. EDSI operates many programs throughout PA. Staffing is about the same number as current EARN program. All feedback on reference was very positive with all saying they work well with other WIA providers in other CareerLinks. Expenses are lower as less wages are used for staff. Upper level management is sharing expenses with other locations. Craig Lehman questioned why the WIB is voting if LMC can choose to override the decision. Answer was to show support for the LMC's decision.
The EARN Contract was approved on motion from Local Management Committee and second from Eric Horn by Sharon Leese, Steve Fries and Eric Horn. Tom Baldrige and Jean Martin abstained from voting. Opposed was Craig Lehman.
Approval of WIA Title I Contract
Kim Sullenberger presented the motion from the Performance Committee to support ResCare as the top-rated proposal for the contract as WIA Title I Operator. Five proposals were received on time and one late. The review committee of eight read, rated and reviewed the five proposals. There was consensus that this was the best proposal. After meeting with ResCare for clarification of questions, the Committee recommended this proposal to the Executive Committee.
ResCare is a national contractor operating in 22 states including PA. ResCare is now operating our Arbor program and is doing good work. ResCare gave a great presentation focusing on areas of enhancement and offers many innovative ideas. Staffing is about the same as the current WIA Title I program. ResCare has committed to offering an on-site job fair for current staff impacted by the contract award. The proposal was originally for $998,348 but will be adjusted each year based on funding. Question was asked about Job Club and being a nationwide model, why would you change it? The Job Club will be continuing under the new contractor with a few changes as of July 1, 2011
The WIA Title I EARN Contract was approved on motion from The Performance Committee and second from Steve Fries by Sharon Leese, Steve Fries and Eric Horn. Tom Baldrige and Jean Martin abstained from voting. Opposed was Craig Lehman.
Craig Lehman suggested that even though no LETA employees were funded by County it is costing the County money in closing LETA. Tom Baldrige wanted it mentioned that he abstained because he felt he did not have enough information to make a decision on the contractors. Discussion was held on how else to get the information out to people without having it make public before the decision was finalized. There is no clear way to handle this process.
Approval of Cap for Metrix Certifications
Kim Sullenberger brought a motion to cap the amount of funding per individual associated with the new online training programming called Metrix Learning. The PA CareerLink can provide a license for $50 per person. However, there are advanced certifications that may require additional expenditures. To give providers some guidelines and policy to stand behind, it is being proposed to put a maximum funding cap of $900 per customer on Metrix certifications. This will cover at least 2-3 certifications per person. This would follow the policy of caps on ITA training that are already in place.
The cap for Metrix Certifications was approved unanimously on motion from Steve Fries and second from Tom Baldrige.
Staff Reports
Youth Coordinator
Andrew Garner reported to date there are 98 scholarships for TANF families for the Summer Career Camps. A total of 140 are available. All high poverty schools were presented with the information on camps and scholarship availability. The Industry Tours are being put together for June with companies representing manufacturing, renewable energy, advanced solar, turbines, a farm with manure digester, communication, and construction. Youth providers were monitored in April and the Youth Council is looking to renew all the contacts for one year. These will be brought to the next EC meeting. The after school program awarded through an RFP to Neighborhood Services is to serve 15-20 TANF youth. Currently, there are 17 enrolled with 3 college mentors working with the youth.
PA CareerLink Administrator
Lori Rank reported for the third quarter of the fiscal year, the PA CareerLink saw 3,100 first time visits and 66,000 return visits. Last year, there were 80,000 yearly visitors. Lori announced there are some retirements coming up. Norm Brower who has been with the state 25 years is retiring June of 2010 from Veterans Services. Doug Schmidt who is the Assistant Regional Manager of BWDP will be retiring also.
Executive Director
Scott Sheely reported ......
- The revised UC legislature is moving through the General Assembly. This will increase referrals to the PA CareerLink by requiring a work search component to the law.
- The Industry Partnership legislation is expected to pass the Senate in the next two weeks and move on to the House for approval. At this time, however, all of the funding has been zeroed out by the House Republicans.
Discussion opened about the Executive Committee being a public meeting. Anyone can attend but no information will be given out prior to the meeting. All proper procedures for RFP's have been followed. The Executive Committee is acting on behalf of the Board. All Committees are given the authority to review and make recommendations.
Adjournment
The Executive Committee adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
