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Workforce Development Board

Meeting Minutes

Broome Center

4119 N. Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48505

Friday, August 22, 2008

8:00 a.m.

PRESENT: William Churchill, Jr., Lewis Driskell, Jeff Deason, Kevin J. Keane, Jimmy King, Norwood Jewell, Willie W. Middlebrooks, Renita Mikolajczyk, David Miller, Lawrence Moon, Vera Perry, Jerry Ragsdale, C. Frederick Robinson, Amy Roddy, Mary Sumpter, Khalil Saab, Cunesha Sanders, Gary Smith, Susan Theakston.

ABSENT: Ed Donovan (excused) Erik Eastman (excused), Cheryl Gifford, Longino Gonzales (excused), Robert Hardy (excused), Suzanne Howell (excused), Clarence Pierce (excused).

STAFF PRESENT: Alicia Booker, Craig Coney, Sherry Adair-Goble, Helen Brown, Scott Remenec, Eunita Mixon-Wingfield, Emma Noel, Shirley Eichenberg.

OTHERS PRESENT: Attorney Peter Goodstein.

CALL TO ORDER:

Chair Jimmy King called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:

Chair Jimmy King called for a motion to amend the agenda. Amy Roddy moved to accept the EAG update as an addition to the agenda. Kevin Keane supported the motion.

MOTION PASSED

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Quincy Murphy addressed the board.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

· State Representative Richard Hammel gave an update on the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program.

· He is excited about the work the WDB is doing and with the changes he’s seen in our service delivery area.

· Colleges are having problems addressing the high demand among students interested in the NWLB initiative The State is aware of the problem and is currently working to clear the waiting list by identifying resources.

· Representative Hammel spoke about a pilot being discussed with Mott College that will leverage additional general fund dollars currently expended on students receiving food assistance. Federal funds will reimburse an additional 50% of training cost.

· There will be an additional 50 million dollars earmarked for the JET Plus initiative. The dollars will flow into Genesee County and six other counties across the state.

· Vera Perry asked what we are doing to meet the needs of prisoners re-entering our community. Representative Hammel responded that the State has funded a program called the Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative that aims to address the workforce development needs of this population.

· Chair Jimmy King thanked Representative Hammel for his support.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Jerry Ragsdale moved to accept the minutes of the July 25, 2008 meeting as written. Kahlil Saab supported the motion.

Chair Jimmy King called for discussion. There was none.

Call for a vote on the motion to accept the July 25, 2008 minutes as written.

All present voted AYE.

MOTION PASSED.

ACTION ITEMS:

I. Approval of Audit Firm Contract:

Vera Perry moved to approve the contract with Plante Moran for the 2008 audit. Lawrence Moon supported the motion.

Chair Jimmy King called for discussion. The audit will start in September and will take at least 6 months.

All present voted AYE.

MOTION PASSED.

II. Recommendation of Comp Card Services:

Lawrence Moon moved to recommend Chase Bank to provide Comp Card Services.

Vera Perry supported the motion.

Chair Jimmy King called for discussion. Vera Perry wanted to confirm that the card would be available to use only for tuition.

Chair Jimmy King called for a roll call vote.

19 yes

Unanimous

MOTION PASSED.

III. Recommendation of Career Advancement Account Services:

Career Advancement Account Services received a $300,000 grant in February of 2008 to serve dislocated auto and manufacturing workers.

Lawrence Moon moved to recommend Mott College.

Jerry Ragsdale supported the motion.

Chair Jimmy King called for discussion. Renita Mikolajczyk asked why Baker of Flint was not chosen. Their proposal was for $826,817. The amount available was $300,000. Mott’s proposal was for $287,014.

Chair Jimmy King called for a roll call vote.

18 yes

1 abstention

MOTION PASSED.

BUDGET UPDATE:

I. Shirley Eichenberg presented the Career Alliance budget update.

AGENCY UPDATES:

A. EAG: Fred Stanley-Career and Technical Prep plans were accepted by the state. Plans have been made to purchase CEX software for auto mechanical training.

B. MDLEG Rehabilitation Services: No Update.

C. Department of Human Services: No Update.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

President’s Update:

· DLEG will be monitoring the fiscal department in October.

· $514,000 in disallowed costs has been reduced to $488,000 due to the rent undercharges.

· Board certification is ongoing. We have 3 vacancies on the board.

· We are working to streamline employment services within the one stop.

· We are at 36 staff and are working to further reduce that number.

· We are interviewing for the HR Director Position.

· We are preparing for union contract negotiations.

Chair’s Update:

Jimmy King thanked everyone for attending. He has received a letter of resignation from Alan Hartter of GM due to his relocation to Indianapolis. Jimmy King thanked Mr. Hartter for his service and a job well done.

The next meeting is September 26, 2008. Chair Jimmy King called for a motion to adjourn.

David Miller moved to adjourn the meeting. Kahlil Saab supported the motion.

All present voted AYE.

MOTION PASSED

ADJOURNMENT:

Meeting Adjourned: 9:14 am

Kevin J. Keane

______________________________

Kevin J. Keane, Secretary

Date: September 26, 2008

“An Equal Opportunity Organization. Auxiliary aids and services, including accommodations, are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.”