WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (WDB)

Of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties

Meeting Minutes

Sarvis Conference Center

1231 E. Kearsley

Flint, MI  48503

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

10:00 a.m.

 

PRESENT:  Michael Zelley, Barry Bomier, Mark Stevens, Erik Eastman, Larry Ford, Cheryl Gifford, Tom Gilbertson, Gary Gosaynie, Robert Hardy, Jimmy King, William Middlebrooks, David Miller, Edith Prunty-Spencer, Khalil Saab, Zachary Tomlinson, Barb VanTol, and George Wingfield

 

STAFF PRESENT:  Pamela Loving, Alicia Booker, QB Pittman, Craig Coney, Sharon Bowen, Tanesha Malone, William Hetchler, Pam Beebe, Lila Lipscomb, Margaret Broden, Debbie Rose, Jamie White, James Robinson, Eunita Mixon, Helen Brown, Peggy Kendrick, Sherry Goble, Sally Savage, Lou Lethbridge, Koya Clemons, Mary Housley, Carol Piesko, Kelly Fry, Candice Miller, Vicki Spencer, John Rhymes, Andre Hatter, and Nichole Abdul-Aziz

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Peter Goodstein and Bruce Griffith

 

I.                   Meeting called to order at 10:12 a.m.

 

II.                PUBLIC COMMENT:  Michael Zelley recognized the new board members; Willie W.  Middlebrooks, his alternate Darlene Middlebrooks attended in his absence, and Zachary Tomlinson.

 

III.             ACTION ITEMS:

 

A.     Elections of Officers for 2004.  Existing officers were listed.

Chair:              J. Michael Zelley

Vice Chair:     Edith Prunty-Spencer

Treasurer:      Jimmy King

Secretary:       Katie Wolf

It was asked if anyone would like to nominate themselves or anyone else for any of  these offices.  It was asked three times, and no one answered.  A motion to keep the existing officers to serve for one year was made by Mr. Khalil Saab and supported by Ms. Cheryl Gifford.

 

MOTION PASSED

 

B.     Approval of WDB Minutes of October 24, 2003 was moved  by Mr. David Miller and supported by Mr. George Wingfield.

 

MOTION PASSED

 

C.     Executive Committee Salary Recommendations for Ms. Loving:  Mr. Zelley stated that he had heard back from some of the board members, and encouraged all of them to get their comments to the executive committee which will be meeting next week.  He told them that there is a handout in their packets that highlights Pam’s performance over the past two years.

 

D.    Approval of Authorization:  Mr. Zelley signed a document that Ms. Pamela Loving, President/CEO of Career Alliance, is authorized to negotiate and sign any and all contracts, leases, and legal documents on behalf of the WDB.  A motion to accept that authorization was made by Mr. Wingfield and supported by Ms. Edith Prunty-Spencer.

 

MOTION PASSED

 

IV.              Subcommittee Reports

 

A.     Economic & Community Development Initiative:  Mr. Barry Bomier stated that he and Cal Wright shipped information from the YouthBuild Conference, in St. Louis, back to Nichole Abdul-Aziz.  He stated that he and Cal Wright feel that they made about 60 or so useful contacts while they were there.  He also indicated that they have not yet heard about the YouthBuild grant funding.

 

B.     Shiawassee Sub-Committee:  Mr. Gary Gosaynie reported that the committee met the first Friday in November at the Shiawassee Service Center.  He stated that they had a good meeting, with good representation, and a good cross section of the community.  Minutes from that meeting were in the board packets. 

 

C.     EAG update:  Mr. Gary Tower was not present so there was no update given.

 

D.    FIA Update:  Mr. Mark Stevens was present for Ms. Denise Chambers.  A lot of cuts are being made, with a lot of supportive services cut.  He also stated that there is discussion about cutting health services for adults.  The FIA is on a hiring halt, so they are short staffed.  In fact, he said, the only things they are not short on are customers.  There are not as many people who need cash assistance, but there are an increasing number of health & support customers.  The state is being very secretive about what the cuts are going to be… they just know that there will be more of them. 

 

E.     Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) update:  Mr. Don Dees was present for Ms. Suzanne Howell. The cash matches are in place, one of those is for the mentoring program for Disabled People with CAI.  He also offered congratulations to CAI for their ODEP award for disabilities and stated that they look forward to working with us. 

 

V.                 President’s Update:  We have requested money from the Mott Foundation for our YouthBuild.  Ms. Loving was told that the request has gone forward and will be looked at in their December meeting.  She received a call from the state, the department that approves our board, and they said that out of all the MWA’s, our recertification package was the only one submitted that was perfect.  The Unemployment Agency has moved.  We have added a cancer support group and 85 parking spaces at the Broome Center.  On October 30, she met with the Harwood Group while in Washington.  They are looking for a partner to take over some of their work as they leave a 10-year commitment with the Mott Foundation.  Ms. Loving announced Carol Piesko’s new position as the ODEP Director. She will have a report at the next board meeting.  Dr. Lawrence Kent of the 1st Presbyterian Church, told an individual about CAI and he now wants to donate some Flint property to us.  She is active in Governor Granholm’s Community Challenge.  She spoke about the newly formed neighborhood association in the Damon/Moore Street Area.  Some police officers discussed their options and how to handle a neighborhood watch.  She announced that some staff and Board members would be going to Dayton to work further on the YouthBuild.  Ms. Loving will make the same presentation as in Washington to the US Department of Labor in Chicago.

 

VI.              Chair’s Update:  Mr. Zelley offered a welcome back to Board member Robert Hardy.  He spoke about the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Grant.  He stated that ODEP has about a 60-80 million budget and they issue this money in the form of grants for inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.  ODEP invited us to Washington to speak.  They were overwhelmed by the One Stop when they were here recently.  He said that we do a great job in the public sector, but we need to do a better job of serving people with disabilities in the private sector.  A committee has already been formed and many of the Board Members will be asked to participate.  Our goal is to eliminate the barriers for people with disabilities and get them into the careers of their choice.  He spoke about the visitors that CAI is having.  Senator Carl Levin will be here to visit and Mr. Zelley would like the full engagement of our board.  Also, there is to be a luncheon on December 16 with Ms. Jaye Balthaza, MRS Director.  She is coming to Flint in order to tour Career Alliance and; we will be having a holiday luncheon for the Board.  Tom Gilbertson will be retiring from Bank One, but he will still be around and representing the Bank in the community.  

 

Ms. Loving stated that the county has given us 3 parcels of land and that we will be constructing the arches for NorthPointe Village very soon. 

 

Ms. Spencer offered her congratulations to Mr. Zelley and informed him that the Board is proud of him.  She stated that he has exceeded all of their expectations.

 

VII.           Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________________

Ms. Katie Wolf

Secretary, Workforce Development Board

 

 

 

Date:  _______________________________