E.U.P. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Preliminary Minutes

January 15, 2004

The E.U.P. Workforce Development Board meeting was held at the State Street Village Inn in St. Ignace.  Workforce Development Board President, Jim Wagner, called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.

Workforce Development Board Members Present:

Bosbous, Tony
Feil, Jim
Goldthorpe, David
Hazel, Jill
Hoffman, D J
Holt, Jeff
Storey (Alt), Jennifer
McLaren, Carmen
Halvorsen (Alt), Joe
Prpich, Jen
Raappana, Sandee
Ramsay, Dave
Smith, Ken
Ufer, John
Wagner, Jim

Workforce Development Board Members Absent:

Blue, Cheryl
Daniels, Betty
Gibson, Beth
Maas, Ernie
MacDonald, Louis
Shimmens, Pat

Bold names denote private sector.

Guests Present:

Boger, Carol
DeTour, Ed
Hatfield, Tim
Karst, Nance
Sutter, Bill

Staff Present:

Wilcox, Kim
Worley, Gwen

There was no public comment addressed at this meeting.

The minutes of the December 4, 2003, Workforce Development Board meeting were approved as submitted following a motion by Jill Hazel and support by Tony Bosbous.

The next item on the agenda was the election of officers.  Director Worley indicated that the current officers have agreed to serve again if elected.  The current officers are Jim Wagner (President), Tony Bosbous (Vice President), Jeff Holt (Secretary), and Jill Hazel (Treasurer).  As there were no nominations received from the floor, Tony Bosbous moved to close nominations and cast ballot for the re-election of the current officers.  Jeff Holt supported.  Motion passed.

A modification to the Work First TANF plan was described.  This modification involves an increase in TANF funds to include transportation-to-work funds, formerly known as Project Zero.   The funds total $36,715 with no administrative funds attached and will be subcontracted to Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action and the E.U.P. Transportation Authority to provide transportation between and within the counties.  Tony Bosbous moved to approve the Transportation-to-Work modification.  Jeff Holt supported.  Motion passed.

The Michigan Works! System Plan was reviewed.  This plan describes the method of operation of the Michigan Works! office.  Director Worley indicated that the only change required from last year’s System Plan was the addition of the Consortium’s website address.  Jeff Holt moved to approve the Michigan Works! System Plan as submitted.   Jill Hazel supported.  Motion passed.

There was no committee report regarding possible fees for enhanced services to employers as this committee has yet to meet.

Ed DeTour and Tim Hatfield of Northern Transitions provided an update of the Work First, Welfare-To-Work, and Non-Cash Recipient programs.  A handout was distributed detailing the year-end total of types and costs of supportive services provided to eligible participants.  Overall, the program is operating as expected.

Bill Sutter and the WIA Adult Coordinator, Nance Karst, of Consolidated Community Schools provided an update of the WIA and Employment Services programs.  The programs were briefly described and it was noted that there will not be any WIA incentive funds received this year as one performance benchmark was not met.  There are a total of 17 performance benchmarks required to be met for the WIA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs.  The benchmark not met this year was the Older Youth Average Earning Change in six months.  Bill indicated that his staff is working on this issue and hopes to meet all objectives in the coming year.

Bill and Nance also explained how the performance standards drive the official participation numbers down, as many more people receive services than the enrollment numbers would indicate.  No one leaves the center without some form of service, but it would be counterproductive to officially enroll that number in WIA or Employment Services.

  Another program Consolidated Community School Services subcontracts is the Employment Services/Reemployment Services program.  One of the areas of concern of this program results from the Unemployment Agency closing.  Unemployment claimants must register on the Talent Bank, which is verified by the Employment Services staff.  In order to file unemployment claims, claimants must now file for unemployment benefits via the telephone or internet.  Unfortunately, the lack of availability of an unemployment agency person to answer the claimants’ questions and understaffing of phones at the claims center has resulted in many challenges for the center staff.  It was mentioned that this problem is a Statewide issue not a local one as many claimants are having problems obtaining benefits.

Several informational items were reviewed.

Under new business, the concerns of the Unemployment Agency situation for both employers and claimants were discussed further.  Director Worley indicated that the Center Staff has been encouraging business representatives and claimants with ongoing problems to contact their local legislators of these problems to be made aware that they still exist.  Tony Bosbous moved that Director Worley compose a letter on behalf of the WDB to the Governor, local legislators, and the Unemployment Agency Director of these growing concerns.  Jeff Holt supported.  Motion passed.

Also under new business, Director Worley indicated that the next Workforce Development Board meeting would be on the same evening as the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet (February 19).  When this has occurred in past years, the WDB met at 4:30 p.m. prior to the meeting and then attended the Chamber Banquet.  Arrangements will be made to obtain a meeting room on February 19 prior to the Chamber Banquet.

Director Worley mentioned that a meeting has been scheduled for January 26 to discuss the issue of skilled labor recruitment.  Representatives attending this meeting include Precision Edge, Economic Development Corporation, Sault Schools, and Lake Superior State University.

The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m. following a motion by Dave Ramsay and support by Jeff Holt.

                          Signed                                                                                       2/19/04

            Jim Wagner, President                                                                   Date Approved

E.U.P. Employment & Training Consortium

Prepared by Kim Wilcox