E.U.P. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Preliminary Minutes

May 17, 2007

The E.U.P. Workforce Development Board Meeting was held at Studebaker’s Restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie.  The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Workforce Development Board President Jill Hazel.

Workforce Development Board Members Present:

Lynn Beard
Carol Boger
Tony Bosbous
Gary Deuman
Shirley Farnquist
Jill Hazel
Aaron Hopper
Jennifer Storey (Alt)
Valerie Povey
Sandee Rappana
Dave Ramsay
Pat Shimmens
Susan Sliger
Ken Smith
Barbara Weber

Workforce Development Board Members Absent:

Henry Guzzo
Jeff Holt
John Ufer
David Weber

Bold names denote private sector.

Guests Present:

Yves Hamel
Bill Sutter

Staff Present:

Gwen Worley
Kim Wilcox

There was no public comment addressed at this meeting.

The minutes of the March 15, 2007 , Workforce Development Board Meeting were approved as submitted following a motion by Aaron Hopper and support by Carol Boger.

A modification to the Food Assistance Employment & Training Supportive Services Plan was reviewed.  This modification reflects an increase of $1,036 for this Plan.  With this increase, funds for the Food Assistance Supportive Services Plan total $1,500.  The Administrative Board approved this modification at their meeting on April 23.  Tony Bosbous moved to approve this modification.  Shirley Farnquist supported.  Motion passed.

Director Worley described an amendment to the WIA Comprehensive 5-Year Local Plan.  This amendment indicates that the Consortium could request a Work Flex Waiver to transfer up to 10% of WIA Dislocated Funds to provide Incumbent Worker Training.  This is an allowable transfer of funds that needs to be reflected in the Plan.  This amendment was approved by the Administrative Board at their April meeting.  Dave Ramsay moved to approve the amendment to the WIA Comprehensive 5-Year Local Plan.  Ken Smith supported.  Motion passed.

Director Worley provided a brief update of the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative.  She mentioned that the Consortium’s Intent to Bid as the Fiduciary for the Upper Peninsula has been sent to Lansing for approval.  The MPRI Plan is due in June and the Program is tentatively scheduled to begin October 1.

In relation to the MPRI program, Director Worley described the Community Placement Program.  This is a new program in which pre-release services will be provided to offenders up to two months prior to their release date.

Workforce Development Board Members provided comments of the suggested bylaw changes which were mailed in April for their review.  Director Worley indicated that the MPRI program requires a representative from this program be appointed to the WDB.  Due to this appointment, a membership bylaw change would be necessary.  There are currently 12 private sector representatives on the Workforce Development Board.  It was proposed that the private sector representatives be reduced to 11 and to create a MPRI representative.  In doing this, the Workforce Development Board would still be meeting the State’s membership requirements.  Dave Ramsay moved to approve the bylaw changes as submitted.  Pat Shimmens supported.  Motion passed.

The possibility of changing the Workforce Development Board meeting date from the third Thursday of each month to the second Thursday was discussed.  As there were no apparent conflicts, Tony Bosbous moved to change the WDB meeting date to the second Thursday of each month.  Ken Smith supported.  Motion passed.

A Memorandum of Commitment with the EUP Great Start Collaborative was described.  This memorandum supports the EUP Intermediate School District ’s efforts to focus on Early Childhood Education Programs.  Aaron Hopper moved to approve this Memorandum of Commitment as submitted.  Pat Shimmens supported.  Motion passed.

Workforce Development Board Members held a general discussion of the workforce needs and issues at the local and state levels.

Several informational items were reviewed.

As there was no new or old business, the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. following a motion by Gary Deuman and support by Aaron Hopper.

                      Signed                                                                                    6/14/07

           Jill Hazel, President                                                                     Date Approved

    E.U.P. Workforce Development Board