DELAWARE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD

Christiana Hilton – Newark, DE

Board Meeting – November 1, 2005

9:30 a.m.

Attendees: Chairman John McMahon, Jeff Bross, Ed Capodanno, Sen. Charles Copeland, Pat DiEmidio, Hon. Judy Cherry, Pat Creedon, Craig Crouch, Fernando Guajardo, Dr. Ben Hsu, James Hutchison, Hon. Sandy Johnson, Sam Lathem, Robert Lau, William McCloskey, Carole Orr, Jim Randall, Benjamin Shaw, Debra Singletary, Dr. Diane Sole, Duane Wayman, Hon. Valerie Woodruff, Dana Shreve

DOL Staff: Bob Strong, Betsy Archer, Diane Brooks, Tammy Burton, Bob Clarkin, Tom Smith

DWIB Staff: Patty Cannon, Gwen Jones

Guests: Bill Abernathy, Bernard Dworski, Bob Goodhart, Andrea Guest

Welcome and Introductions – Chairman John McMahon

Call for a Quorum – Chairman John McMahon

Approval of Minutes – Motion made by Duane Wayman to approve the June 7, 2005 Board minutes. Seconded by Sec. Sandy Johnson. Motion carried.

Scheduled 2006 DWIB Meetings – Chairman McMahon reviewed the schedule of Board meeting dates for 2006.

DWIB Agreement - In your packet you will find an Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governor and the DWIB. Please review this document.

University of Massachusetts Amherst - Work Environment Index, 2005 Study – This is a study which describes the factors that determine a decent workplace. Judy Cherry explained that this is the first time a study has been done on worker environment. This is 2004 reporting data and you will see that Delaware ranked first.

Annual Report Narrative - Please see the Annual Report Narrative which was submitted to US DOL.

Occupations for Active Apprentices – Please review this US DOL report which ranks apprenticeship occupations nationally.

WIA funds to Dislocated Workers – Tom Smith reported that Dislocated Worker expenditures are moving rapidly and there is more money in the Adult funds than needed. DOL is requesting to move $340,000 to dislocated workers.

Also DOL would like to change the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) from 100% to 130% in order to be able to serve some of the adults who are being turned away because of their income level. The Executive Committee voted to raise the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) from 100% to 130% for family levels 1 – 5. Level 6 will be mixed and levels 7 – 10 remain at 100% of the LLSIL Income Level.

Committee Reports

Financial Oversight Committee - Chairman McMahon reviewed the fiscal report for the period 7/1/05 – 09/30/05. Motion by Ben Shaw to accept the report as given. Seconded by Duane Wayman. Motion carried.

Employer Relations Committee – Chair, Pat Creedon – Surveys have gone out to employers to capture data with regard to business. We plan to meet with the Chambers to see how we can market to business through them.

Performance Measures and Customer Satisfaction Committee - Chair, Jeff Bross reported that we have met the minimum requirements in all categories. We continue to have difficulty meeting the Dislocated Worker and Older Youth Earning change.

Proposal Review and Certification Committee – Chair, Duane Wayman presented the Department of Labor’s request to move $340,000 from Adult funds to Dislocated Workers where it is needed. Motion made by Ben Shaw to move the funds to Dislocated Workers. The motion was seconded by Sec. Sandy Johnson noting that this is a one time approval. All in favor. Motion carried.

In addition, two other requests are made: 1) To allocate BC funds to cover the shortfall of youth in the amount of $163,688 and, 2) Approximately $55,000 be paid to the City of Wilmington to settle their PY2003 contract. Motion by Jeff Bross to approve $163,688 to cover youth shortfall and to also approve $55,000 payout to the City of Wilmington. Seconded by Dana Shreve. All in favor. Motion carried.

Duane Wayman reviewed the Funding Guidelines for the upcoming RFP. The following changes are to be made items:

#6 Note One Stop Centers expanded hours

#7 100% back to 95%

#11 Change to 45% of youth funding

#15 Change in verbiage on linkages

#19 Remove – 19 is a duplicate of 18

#25 Remove (RFP process – not ITA)

Debra Singletary stated that if there is an interest in looking at the cultural disparities of counties and funding decisions that are being made, she would like to participate in the discussion. There was some discussion.

Incentive Grant - Sec. Valerie Woodruff reported that we received an incentive grant for reaching performance levels and that in order for incentive to occur DOL and DOE had to

be successful in meeting their goals at the same time.

Public Relations and Community Outreach Committee - No report.

Youth Council – Chair, Dana Shreve reported that a decision will be made soon with regard to the youth contracts. The youth council will be meeting to discuss contracts in time for the RFP to be distributed.

Comprehensive Economic Development (CEDS) Update - Bernard Dworsky – from the University of DE reported on CEDS. A year ago, the University of Delaware was approached by the Delaware Economic Development Office to put together a CEDS for Delaware. Judy Cherry believes we need to put together an overall plan with specific objectives and action items for DE. We have four committees (NCC, Kent, Sussex and an overall state committee). The CEDS committee will exist as a statewide body and will stay in place to review progress of the State. Meetings are open to the public.

State of Delaware’s Strengths:

· A strong cherished feeling to maintain quality of life

· Strong workforce motive and innovation

· Good area for meeting economics

Issues:

· Caliber of education K-12

· Affordable Housing

· Transportation – Traffic congestion, transportation to work (impediment)

Labor Market Information – Ed Simon reported that we need economic diversity in Delaware and that the issues mentioned by Bernard Dworsky are known issues (i.e. Housing, Education Attainment and Transportation).

The economy is fairly good right now. Rising prices for energy and heating oil continue. Locally there is a consolidation of financial services and a lot of uncertainty with major manufacturing. There is strong job growth in construction, retail trade, hospital and healthcare. Ed concluded by talking about job training, and presented a list of wages for different occupations.

Chairman John McMahon announced that Fred Sears and Bill Mcloskey have resigned from the Board.

Old Business – None

New Business – None

Adjournment - Motion by Sec. Johnson to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ben Shaw. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.