Meeting Minutes from July 13, 2010
Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board
Executive Committee
Minutes
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
3:30 p.m.
Liberty Place, Room 112
Present:
James Black, Donald F. Johnson Jr., Sharon Leese, Maureen Lewandowski, Craig Lehman, Eric Horn, Jean Martin, Steve Fries (Ex-Officio)
Not Present:
Thomas Baldrige, Linda Kreider
Staff:
Joyce Lenox, Andrew Garner, Lori Rank, Scott Sheely, Kim Sullenberger
Operators Representative:
Trish Link
Guests:
Doug Schmidt, Anna Ramos
Call to Order
Sharon Leese called the meeting to order at 3:36 p.m., had everyone introduce themselves, and thanked everyone for taking the time to come. Scott Sheely officially welcomed Sharon Leese as Chair and thanked her for taking on the position. Sharon Leese and Scott Sheely thanked Jim Black for his services over the last two years as Chair.
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes from June 1, 2010 meeting.
Minutes were not approved at this meeting.
Action Items
Discussion Items
Briefing on Unemployment Compensation and Job Policy
Scott Sheely reported he submitted a letter to the editor in response to comments in the local newspaper about Way to Work and the job situation. He believes that many of our local issues revolve around the lack of a proactive national jobs strategy that goes beyond just extending unemployment benefits which now extend for 99 weeks. The focus needs to be on supporting employers as they add people during the recovery.
He is leaving tonight for Illinois and a meeting with Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of Labor, where he hopes to float this idea. Maureen Lewandowski mentioned that welfare claims have spiked in the last two weeks with people coming off UC. Jean Martin suggested that, with the current Way to Work program, young people who don't have children are not fitting into the system in finding jobs. A better approach is needed.
Briefing on Industry Partnership Legislation and Funding
Scott Sheely thanked Tom Baldrige and the Chamber for endorsing the Industry Partnership legislation. The House passed the legislation unanimously but the Senate is holding it up as part of the budget negotiations. Senator Brubaker is sponsoring a new Senate bill which complements the House bill and which already has 18 co-sponsors. The PA WIB Association is pushing for legislation to recognize IPTs as a formal structure and finding a place in the budget.
In the new budget, IPTs have been approved for roughly the same budget amount as last year. The amount of the funding should be known over the next two weeks with training to start soon.
Briefing on Rollout of TANF Emergency Program
Anna updated everyone on the progress of the Way to Work program. The end date for all the funding is September 30, 2010. Recruiting has been going on for the last month with six intake sessions occurring during the day and evening. Over 450 intakes have taken place. Eligibility requirements of having a child to support or in the household have been an obstacle for many. Getting paperwork back and completing Ready 2 Work is another concern with 173 incomplete intakes and 90 people who have been approved but have not finished the Ready 2 Work requirement. There have been 75 participants assigned to sites.
At the "meet and greet" sessions, some prospective participants are being hired on the spot. There is lots of interest from employers wanting individuals to finish R2W. Scott mentioned we do not want to lower the standards or the whole program will not be successful. We will continue to place people until around August 13, 2010. He wanted to inform the Executive Committee that all the money may not be spent. Scott Sheely commended Anna and her staff's response to get this program going.
Update on Close-Out of 2009-2010 Financial Records
Kim Sullenberger reported there are contractors that have not submitted bills yet...mostly non- profits and schools. The reports are due next Friday, July 23, 2010.
Report on Educator Tours and Career Camps
Andrew Garner reported the Industry Tours visited nine STEM related businesses with 82 teachers from 11 districts, OVR, Arbor, LCCTC, IU # 13 and the Chamber. Penn State provided Act 48 credits. Teachers were surveyed on how to use this information and implement it into the school curriculum. Many attendees did not realize there were so many high tech jobs in Lancaster.
The Career and Technology Center camps had very low self-paying attendance this year. Attendance of 213 from 11 districts and 1 charter school included 179 TANF scholarship students. Tuition doubled from last year and could explain the low number of self-paying attendees. The School District of Lancaster camps had 246 students from seven districts attend the STEM-oriented program.
Progress Report on New Lease
Scott Sheely reported a Letter of Intent has gone to Ed Drogaris accepting the terms of the lease as negotiated. The Drogaris attorneys are working on writing up the lease. A final copy will come to the Executive Committee for approval. It will be a 10 year lease with flexibility to downsize if the need arises.
Staff Reports
Youth Coordinator
Andrew Garner reported he is now the coordinator for the Ag Mobile Education Lab that works with the K-12 system. The Youth Council at their July meeting will be looking at the Youth TANF to see if they will continue to fund the Career Camps and other activities.
PA CareerLink Administrator
Lori Rank reported the CareerLink is staying consistent with their numbers with 863 new starts in June and 4,035 returns. With the UC problems there have been more people coming in frustrated and wanting to talk with a representative. There is going to be a R2W graduation on July 14, 2010 with over 200 graduates. They will be recognizing the Way 2 Work participants and encouraging employers to participate in the program.
The CareerLink improvement plan is progressing with the frequently asked question going on the website and a portal for veterans is being developed for the website. Staff development training is going to be done on domestic violence, crisis intervention, diversity and harassment training. Erin Fries, a returning intern who has graduated will be working with customers on their math skills in the Ready 2 Work area.
Lori Rank also wanted to get some feedback on a fall job fair since the Chamber is not having one this year. They will support the CareerLink if we have one. Tentative date would be October 6, 2010 and open to the public. This would also reach out to the people coming off the Way 2 Work program without employment. The Unemployment Compensation staff has reached out to CareerLink and offered to take staff there and do some observation to hear what is happening on their side.
Executive Director
Scott Sheely reported:
- • The COE in Production Agriculture was successful in getting the Farmer and Rancher occupational code on the statewide High Priority Occupation list. This is justification for ag curricula being certified. An Ag Education Summit was held on 7/12/10.
- • All of the Industry Partnerships have been working with EDC, the Keystone Innovation Zone, Lancaster Community Foundation, and Lancaster Prospers in the innovation area.
- • The Lancaster County Clean Water Initiative is a new project of the COEs in Production Agriculture and Renewable Energy along with a host of community partners. We will be supporting some training related to the Chesapeake Bay clean-up this program year.
Kim Sullenberger reported that the Commissioners have approved the re-nominations to the Board and that the Board will be able to do business on Thursday, July 15, 2010. She reported the state budget has been passed.
Adjournment
The Executive Committee adjourned at 4:54 p.m. with Sharon Leese thanking all who came.
